Gladiator Hydra Flo GHH Football Helmet Custom Kansas City Chiefs Willie Lanier

Vintage and original Gladiator Hydra-Flo football helmet, customized into a true one-of-a-kind collectible to replicate a game worn helmet used by Hall of Fame Linebacker Willie Lanier of the Kansas City Chiefs!

Mr. Lanier began his career in 1967 with the Chiefs but soon had issues with concussions. Throughout his career Chiefs equipment managers customized his helmets to help prevent concussions by cutting 4 inch wide strips from the thick padding from the shoulder area of shoulder pads, then glued that padding into place, then covered that padding with elastic red tape.

Mr. Lanier began his career wearing the RIDDell RK2 helmet, but then moved to the Gladiator helmet during the 1970s, presumably because of the style of padding. He continued to wear Dungard cage style facemasks throughout his career. Of course the Chiefs switched from gray to white facemasks for the 1974 season, so that later combination of Gladiator and white DG-140 mask is the set up we have attempted to recreated in this beautiful specimen.

The decals used for helmet are thin mil, and have the narrow black border, just as the Chiefs used during this era. As you might imagine, considerable effort went into the research and building of this helmet. Although we did not use padding from shoulder pads, the padding is almost identical in width and thickness to what Mr. Lanier wore, and we used red elastic tape just as the Chiefs might have. Please note: we are not claiming this helmet was issued or worn by the Chiefs or Mr. Lanier.

Mr. Lanier played middle linebacker for the Chiefs from 1967 through 1977. He won postseason honors for eight consecutive years, making the American Football League All-Star team in 1968 and 1969 before being selected to the Pro Bowl from 1970 through 1975.

Mr. Lanier won the NFL Man of the Year in 1972. He was selected to both the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams, and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Helmet will make a stunning display, and looks like it just came off the field!

Item pictured is the one you will receive. We only have one of these items. All of our helmets are for display purposes only! They are not to be used or worn for competitive play. Westbrook Sportscards has been in business since 1988.