Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns is excited to wear a new helmet. Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers debut alternate black helmet for November game against Falcons

By Adam Stites | Last updated 7/19/22

The Carolina Panthers will set aside their silver helmets for the first time in franchise history later this year to wear a black helmet against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 10.

On Tuesday, the Panthers unveiled the alternate helmets with a teaser video on social media.

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— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) July 19, 2022

"Sometimes guys tap into an alter ego depending on what they're wearing," Carolina pass rusher Brian Burns said, via Panthers.com. "Whenever a team wears all black, or black accessories, it just brings out that dog in them, the evil side.

"When I saw this, I was like, 'This will be tough.' Especially on defense, they call us the dark side anyway, so it brings it all together."

The Panthers have had a black jersey in rotation since the team's first season in 1995 and added black pants to match during the 2012 season. Alternate helmets only became a possibility this season when the NFL changed its rules last summer.

Among the teams to recently announce second helmets are two of the Panthers' division rivals: the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints.

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