Game Used, worn 1976-7 Houston Oilers Riddell Suspension TK model helmet attributed to long-time NFL defensive back Mike Weger.  Weger, the starting Strong Safety of the Detroit Lions for several seasons, was traded to Houston to finish his career. Weger, drafted by Detroit out of Bowling Green, started his career wearing a Riddell suspension helmet and Riddell BD9 model 2-bar facemask with the Lions, and preferred to have the same style helmet when he joined the Oilers.  The Oilers were excited to land the veteran and he was named one of the starting safeties for the Oilers but an injury in the fourth game against the Saints ended his season. He played a total of 15 games in the two seasons with the Oilers, finishing both seasons on the IR. 

The helmet offered is a Riddell TK style suspension helmet.  While many NFL players were wearing Micro Fit and other padded models of helmets, Weger preferred the TK for its lightweight design as well with the familiarity of the only style helmet that he had worn since High School.  The helmet has a manufacturing mold date of 1974, and with the Oilers changing to white helmets for the 1975 season, it was one of the first white Oilers helmets used on the field of play. 

The helmet is original and complete including the chinstrap.  The helmet was drilled for a cage style facemask and was used in camp and the preseason by what looks like a number of different players it's first season.  The right side of the interior of the helmet is marked with various numbers that do not appear on any of the Oilers regular season rosters, including #13, a very faded #66, and what looks like a scribbled out #25 - see 3rd pic below.  On the left side of the helmet is Weger's #28 along with what I believe is a 698 inventory number, and a red circle with a plus symbol inside - see pic below.   We have seen these numbers along with the red circle/plus on two other Oilers helmets from the period including a 1976-77 helmet that we still own attributed to #21 John Hadl - see 4th pic below of the Hadl helmet interior. 

The size 7 helmet is in excellent display condition exhibiting a nice amount of wear on the exterior front, striping, and side logos.  The helmet is complete with the interior suspension, chinstrap, well-worn leather jaw pads in a medium size, and Riddell BD9 model plastic 2-bar facemsk used by Weger.   The mask has a datecode of 1974, as it was clear the Oilers were done buying 2-bar masks by the 1976 season, and is secured to the helmet using its original hardware.  The mask exhibits great wear with black, red, and blue transfers to the gray bars - signs of the hard hitting Weger against the AFC rivals. The striping and logos are original to the helmet, properly positioned, and adered well with no lifting.  The red side stripes are 1/2" wide as used by the Oilers from 1975 when they first wore white helmets, through the 1979 season.  The Oilers changed the width of the red stripes to 3/4" wide for the 1980 season to further accentuate the change from gray to their new red facemasks.  A great suspension helmet from a very desirable team on the collector's market, of a solid NFL veteran with a great story to tell. Not many like this one remain today..    Wow.