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The NFL will prevent the New Orleans Saints from wearing their alternate white helmets as often as fans are hoping for

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Adam Holt | Last updated Jul 11, 2025 1:23 AM ET

The New Orleans Saints set the NFL world ablaze with their recent announcement of a new alternate helmet. The white cap is set to be worn with their "Color Rush" uniforms. Because of an NFL rule from their 2024 update regarding new alternate helmets, the Saints are limited when it comes to the new lid.

NFL rule regarding alternate helmet

New Orleans will only be able to be worn with that particular uniform set. It won't be allowed to be worn with their normal all-white set, nor their traditional black jersey with white, black, or gold pants.

The second and third helmets, referred to as “alternate color helmets,” can only be worn with one of the team’s authorized optional uniforms (classic, alternate, and/or color rush), per the memo. “If either alternate color helmet is paired with a Classic uniform, the helmet colors and designs must be historically compatible,” the memo said.

-- The Athletic

The reviews are in:

They're perfect pic.twitter.com/XJQIhPf9T6
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) July 10, 2025

I’m told this will only be worn with the color rush uniforms https://t.co/NUthkeMR78
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) July 9, 2025

With that, they will only have limited opportunities to wear the new helmet, which has received a ton of positive feedback from fans so far. That reception isn't just from fans of the Saints, either. Tons of NFL media, as well as fans of other teams, have noted how sharp the new lids will look, especially with the "Color Rush" uniforms for New Orleans.

How often could New Orleans wear the new helmet?

Last season, the Saints wore their black alternate helmets with that uniform set. They did not work well with it, honestly. New Orleans wore their "Color" Rush set just twice last season. We will see if this new helmet pushes them to wear it a bit more often in 2025.

The white helmet will join New Orleans' traditional gold helmet as well as a black alternate option the team unveiled in 2022. The black helmet didn't seem to bring much luck to the Saints, though: New Orleans has an 0-4 record in games when it dons the black lids. -- ESPN