Helmetgate? Rumors swirl around Buffalo Bills alternate helmet reveal

Buffalo Bills fans may be seeing red, but not on the players' helmets.

With the team expected to unveil an alternate helmet, conflicting reports and fan speculation have filled social media, Bills blogs, and podcasts. If this is a uniform trick play, the Bills have executed it perfectly.

Early reports, including one from Buffalo Rumblings, pointed to a new helmet announcement on July 22. Other stories and social media posts added to the excitement that the red shell, a fan-favorite throwback to the franchise's Super Bowl era, might finally make a comeback in the final season at the current Highmark Stadium.

But on Monday, Buffalo-based media outlet Trainwreck Sports cast doubt on the red helmet rumors. Citing sources, it reported the Bills would instead debut a white helmet with a gray or silver logo.

Since their 2011 redesign, the Bills have largely stuck to a classic look: white helmets, royal blue jerseys, and white pants. The red Color Rush uniforms debuted in 2015 but were paired with white helmets. The standing buffalo throwback helmets haven’t appeared since 2021.

The team has remained silent on both the rumored helmet and a forthcoming alternate "Rivalries" uniform expected later this summer.

What’s going on with the Bills' new helmet?

Here’s what’s known:

• Buffalo Rumblings says the new helmet will be unveiled July 22, citing an anonymous source.
• That helmet is believed to be separate from the upcoming Nike “Rivalries” uniform, which will be worn during one game against a division rival.
• The Bills are among eight teams in the first wave of Nike’s Rivalries rollout, joining AFC East and NFC West teams.
• The NFL describes the Rivalries series as a city-inspired design line, which could mean similarities to the NBA’s “City Edition” or MLB’s “City Connect” uniforms. Each team will also receive an additional helmet as part of that reveal.

Josh Allen’s history of helmet teasers

Quarterback Josh Allen has made a habit of debuting alternate helmet designs during the team’s Return of the Blue and Red training camp scrimmages. In recent years, he’s worn a red helmet with a visor, a matte black shell, and a metallic blue concept, fueling annual rumors about potential alternate looks.

What the Bills say about new uniforms

In March, Bills COO Pete Guelli told WGR-550’s Sal Capaccio that the organization was exploring multiple uniform combinations for 2025, especially with a new stadium opening in 2026.

"I've been involved in a lot of uniform projects, and it doesn't surprise me anymore how excited people get about that. I think this final year at Highmark is more about optionality,” Guelli said. “We want to make sure, ‘What are the combinations that we want to wear?’ and when to strike the right tone with our fans. … It’s a huge important part of our brand.”

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills alternate helmet reveal: red or gray-silver design?