New in 2023
As the 2023 season kicks off, we're tracking all the new helmets we've seen around the state so far.
Class A
Bellevue East will return to silver shells this year, with the Chieftains continuing to use the same BE and numbers they wore on black shells a year ago.
Omaha Westside debuted a second design last year, a red shell look in addition to black. After wearing black in Week 1 in 2023, the Warriors showed off a third design in Week 2 against Grand Island: this white shell look (blank on the other side).
Omaha Bryan has a decal on their helmets for the first time in a long time, as the Bears will wear a B on both sides for the first time in decades.
Fremont appears to have a new look to their lids as the Tigers prepare for their Week 0 rivalry clash with Columbus.
North Platte debuted a new look as the Bulldogs took on Papillion-LaVista South in Week 0.
Omaha Burke has brought back their traditional B after one year without, although its not on the traditional side, as the Bulldogs wear it on the right side opposite gold numbers this year.
Millard North has gone with a twist on their tape-wrap look: blue tape! The Mustangs did this once in 2016, and they wore it at home against Papillion-LaVista in Week 1. However, in Week 2 and 3 the Mustangs were back to white tape.
Millard South has changed things up, as the Patriots replace their block M with Pat the Patriot on one side.
Lincoln Southwest has returned to a past design, as the feathers reappear on the Silver Hawks' helmets this season.
Omaha South has brought the S back to the Packers' helmet this season.
Bellevue West has added more variation to their look this year. After the Thunderbirds debuted a second shell color last year, this year they've varied their facemask colors, with the purple mask on their typical purple shell for a few games, and a white mask for this year's white shell edition.
Grand Island added a black stripe to their helmets for the Islanders' playoff games against Kearney and Millard West.
Upon further research, it looks like the Islanders have been adding this stripe to their helmets each postseason since switching to purple shells in 2013.
Omaha Creighton Prep joined the two-shell game, as the Junior Jays wore this royal blue look at Omaha Central in week 7 and hosting Papillion-LaVista in Week 8.
Class B
Gretna East has gone with this look for the Griffins' inaugural season.
Lincoln Standing Bear won't field a varsity football team in the school's first year as they open with only freshmen and sophomores, but this is the look we saw for a potential Grizzly helmet when the school's colors and nicknames were unveiled.
Norris looks to have changed their stripes slightly for this season, as the Titans add navy to either side of the red.
Omaha Westview has made a small adjustment for the Wolverines' second season, as the claw marks and numbers switch sides of the helmet.
Class C1
Sidney has gone back to black shells after a few years wearing white, as the Red Raiders faced Holdrege in Week 1.
Fort Calhoun has made a small change this season, as the Pioneer logo moves from left to right (and the left is now blank), and the stripe changes to a single orange one.
Chadron has changed their Cardinal logo for this season.
Alliance has replaced their Bulldog paw with this A and added a stripe as well for this season.
Raymond Central has switched from gray facemasks to yellow and changed their Mustang logo slightly for the new season.
Schuyler is replacing their Warriors script with this S logo this year.
Douglas County West has added numbers to the right side of their helmets, which had previously been blank opposite their Falcons lettering.
After a few seasons with blank shells, Omaha Concordia has brought back their Mustang logo to one side and added a stripe as well.
Syracuse has brought back this retro Rocket logo to make a contender for Helmet of the Year.
Class C2
Fremont Archbishop Bergan has a small addition to their decal this year, as a cross now joins the familiar B on both sides of the Knights' helmets.
Doniphan-Trumbull has a new stripe this year, and the Cardinals were blank on both sides in Week 1 against Kearney Catholic.
Tekamah-Herman has traded their Tiger paw for the towns' initials on their helmets this year.
Mitchell has added this 'Tigers' lettering across the block M on the right side of their helmets.
Louisville has added this beautiful railroad track stripe to the Lions' helmets this year. Here's a a top-down look at it.
David City has previously worn their Scout logo on just the right side, but they're now wearing it on both sides this season.
Valentine adds a stripe to the Badgers' helmets.
Logan View/Scribner-Snyder switched to a second look on the right side of the Raiders' helmets at some point during the season (the earliest I found was Week 6), replacing the LV with RAIDERS.
Class D1
Wakefield has updated their look: the Trojan head is now white with a maroon outline on the right side, and is replaced by maroon numbers on the left.
Superior has switched to black shells this year, but kept their Wildcat logo from their red shells.
Hemingford will change things up in 2023: the Bobcats are moving from black to white shells, with a block H on the right side only.
Nebraska Christian has a small adjustment: the Eagles have added a navy stripe this year.
Plainview has switched to white shells this year. The Pirates have worn a similar looking flag logo on their red shells in the past.
Maxwell has debuted one of my favorite new looks of the season, as the Wildcats showed off this gorgeous script logo in their Week 1 game against Morrill.
Freeman has changed out their Falcon wing for the whole bird on the right side of the helmet, keeping the numbers on the left.
Lyons-Decatur Northeast has gone with numbers on one side opposite their Cougar logo this season. It's possible these numbers have a gold outline, but we'll need a closer look at the LDNE helmet to be sure.
Sandy Creek has switched the Cougar logo on the right side of their helmets for a 'Cougars' script instead.
Conestoga has added a stripe to the Cougars' helmets this year.
The Twin River Titans have also added a stripe this season.
West Point Guardian Angels Central Catholic has replaced their Bluejay logo with this look, with a script Jays opposite a cross.
Pleasanton has switched to this Bulldog paw on both sides this season.
Madison wore blank shells with this stripe for the Dragons' season.
Class D2
Elm Creek has replaced their Buffalo silhouettes with the school's EC logo on one side opposite numbers, with a new stripe to go with.
Giltner is using this G-and-Hornet logo on one side this season.
Silver Lake had had blank shells for a few seasons, but the Mustangs are now wearing this SL logo on both sides this season.
Class D6
Shelton has brought back an old S for this year, which replaces the numbers on the left side of the helmet, while the bulldog remains on the right. The Bulldogs will have a new stripe this year as well.
Hampton will honor the 50th anniversary of the Hawks' undefeated 1973 state championship season with the '73 logo on their current black shells.
Wilcox-Hildreth has this new asymmetric design this season. A Falcon fan was kind enough to send us a good look at the logo and letters, that have a thin light blue outline that doesn't show up clearly on our template.
Hay Springs has adorned their helmets with Hawk wings for 2023.
Red Cloud has gone without their stripe this year, and the Warriors have gone with a more metallic gold for their logo.
Arthur County switched to black shells, and the Wolves changed their A from silver to blue.