Georgia football helmets through the years

The Georgia Bulldogs’ football helmet is one of the most recognizable in all of sports.

It projects strength, features clean lines and conveys a timeless, iconic image. It’s crisp and clear in both the color combination and in the union of the G and the red oval.

Through the years, Georgia has had different looks to its headgear. But since Vince Dooley arrived in Athens in the 1960s, the Georgia helmet has become a well-known, iconic figure on any given Saturday.

Here’s a look at Georgia’s helmet variations since 1941.

1941-55: The silver helmets era

Coach Wally Butts, center, helps University Bulldogs, from left, Charley Trippe, Frank Plant, Ardie McGlurek, Walter Ruark and Ken Keuper prepare for a game on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1943 in Pasadena, California. AP Photo

Wally Butts was the head coach at Georgia from 1939-60. In Butts’ third season, 1941, Georgia began to don silver helmets instead of black, something that remained in place until Vince Dooley took over in 1964.

The move from black to silver helmets is said to have been the result of the forward pass becoming more prominent. Colored helmets made it easier to spot a teammate down the field.

1956-58: Georgia features a red stripe for the first time

In 1956, Georgia’s helmets featured a stripe for the first time. It was a red stripe running down the middle of the shell.

1959-63: The stripe is gone

Head coach Wally Butts of the University of Georgia, center, poses with players, from left, Jimmy Vickers, Frances Tarkenton, Pat Dye and Don Soberdash in Miami on Sunday, Dec. 27, 1959. AP Photo

After featuring the red stripe for three seasons, Georgia retired that look for the time being.

1962: Georgia features a logo for the first time, but just for three games

Nobody knew about this until the game began, and it was the first time Georgia ever featured a logo on its helmet. But it was only used in three games that season.

1964–1977: Vince Dooley introduces newly designed "G" on the helmet

University of Arkansas quarterback Scott Bull (19), is hauled down by Brad Thompson (71) tackle, and Dicky Clark (87) end, of Georgia, during the first quarter of the Cotton Bowl game in Dallas, Texas, Jan. 1, 1976. Bull gained three yards on the play. (AP Photo

Vince Dooley took over as head coach of Georgia in 1964. In 1963, he worked with artist Anne Donaldson to redesign the “G” on the helmet that you just saw above. It’s the same “G” still used today.

Also, in 1971, Dooley introduced helmet stickers to recognize academic and athletic achievements. For Georgia, these came in the form of white stars and black and white bones, according to UGASports.

1978-95: Slight redesign

Nov. 1, 1980; Athens; Georgia Bulldogs running back Herschel Walker (34) against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Sanford Stadium. Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

There was a slight redesign of the helmets in 1978. The new helmets featured the “Dawgs” placard above the facemask.

1991 Independence Bowl: Georgia wears black facemask

The seniors had one request for their final game at Georgia: A black facemask and black center stripe.

1996-2000: Georgia brings back the black stripe

Jan. 1, 1998; Tampa, Florida; Georgia Bulldogs receiver Hines Ward (19) in action against the Wisconsin Badgers during the 1998 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Paul Chapman-USA TODAY Sports

Dooley retired from coaching in 1988, but remained as athletics director until 2004. The Dawgs added a black stripe to the helmet, surrounded on each side by white, and kept that look until 2000. Looked clean, but some argued it was too gimmicky.

2001-Current: No more black stripe

Georgia running back Zamir White (3) celebrates with Georgia tight end John FitzPatrick (86) after scoring a touchdown off a blocked punt during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Arkansas and Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. Online Athens

It’s clean, projects strength and is an iconic image. I don’t think there’s a more recognizable helmet in all of sports.

Mark Richt also began rewarding two types of stickers to the back of helmets: White bones for athletic accomplishments and black bones for academic accomplishments.

In 2016, Kirby Smart made the change to no longer award these stickers.

Keep scrolling for some of Georgia’s alternate helmets and a few memorable decals.

2009 against Florida: Georgia wears black helmets

The Georgia Bulldogs defense celebrates against the Florida Gators at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on Oct. 31, 2009 in Jacksonville, Florida. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

You can’t tell me these don’t look cool. It was the first time UGA ever wore these black helmets. (Georgia used to wear black helmets until 1941)

Mark Richt surprised the players in the locker room with the black pants and black helmets, but it did not work. Georgia had its butt kicked by Florida, 41-17.

“New helmets and black pants ain’t going to make you win the game,” said Florida linebacker Ryan Stamper after the game, who had one of Florida’s four interceptions.

2011 vs. Boise State: Nike Pro Combat Uniforms ... No, just no.

Aaron Murray #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs passes against the Boise State Broncos during the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome on Sept. 3, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Yeah, let’s never do this again. And they did not even work. Georgia lost 35-21.

2011: Georgia honors Larry Munson with helmet decal against Tech

Georgia wore helmet stickers to honor Larry Munson, who passed away earlier that week from complications from pneumonia.

Georgia beat Georgia Tech, 31-17, that day as Munson, ‘The Voice of the Bulldogs’, looked down on his beloved Dawgs.

2013 vs. LSU: Georgia pays tribute to the late Paul Oliver

Former Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver passed away on Sept. 24, 2013 in Marietta. To honor the former Bulldog, UGA placed a decal on its helmet that read “#8 PO.” Georgia beat No. 6 LSU 44-41 in one of the greatest games ever played in Sanford Stadium.

2014: Georgia honors the late Dan Magill with helmet decals against Clemson

A special decal was worn on the Georgia helmets in the 2014 season-opening win over Clemson honoring Bulldog legend Dan Magill who died a week prior at the age of 93.

The decal spelled “MAGILL” with the Georgia power “G” used in the lettering.

An Athens native, Magill began his 60-year association with University of Georgia athletics as a baseball bat boy in the 1930s and continued in numerous roles until his retirement in 1995. During his tenure he served as sports information director, head men’s tennis coach and founder of the Georgia Bulldog Club.

2015: The Devon Gales "33"

Oct. 3, 2015; Athens, Georgia; General view of the number 33 on the helmets of Georgia Bulldogs players for Southern University injured player Devon Gales during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Sanford Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

One week prior to Georgia’s 2015 game against Alabama, Southern University wide receiver Devon Gales suffered a paralyzing spinal injury after colliding with kicker Marshall Morgan.

Georgia would go on to place a “33” sticker on its helmets to honor Gales.

2016: Kirby Smart's leather helmet after his first game

Sept. 3, 2016; Atlanta; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart puts on the Old Leather Helmet after the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Georgia won 33-24. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Kirby smart rocked the Old Leather Helmet after his first game as head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs. UGA beat UNC in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game.

Remember, Smart opted to leave behind helmet stickers rewarding players for their athletic and academic accomplishments when he took over as head coach.

Both the 2017 and 2021 College Football Playoff decal

A detail image of the helmet of Stetson Bennett #13 of the Georgia Bulldogs before the game against the Michigan Wolverines in the Capital One Orange Bowl for the College Football Playoff semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 31, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Mark Brown/Getty Images

How could we forget this? Now this is a good look on the Dawgs’ helmets.

Related: Who had the power G logo first – Green Bay, Georgia, Grambling…..or was it Rye High?

And my favorite ... the no helmet look

Sept. 7, 2013; Athens; Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley (3) runs after losing his helmet past South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker T.J. Holloman (11) during the second quarter at Sanford Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Chubb #27 of the Georgia Bulldogs carries the ball after losing his helmet on a hit by Kevin Dodd #98 of the Clemson Tigers at Sanford Stadium on Aug. 30, 2014 in Athens, Georgia. Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

[vertical-gallery id=42697]

1

1