Falcons Clarify Throwback Helmet Design After Social Media Graphic Draws Backlash

The Atlanta Falcons will feature vertical stripes down the middle of their throwback helmets during Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Atlanta Falcons confirmed that a vertical red, black, and gold stripe pattern will appear down the center of the team's throwback helmets for their upcoming game against the San Francisco 49ers. A social media rendering posted Wednesday placed these stripes behind the franchise's black-and-white bird logo, leading to online comparisons to Nazi Germany imagery. The team subsequently updated its X and Instagram profile photos to display the red retro helmet without the background vertical bars.

According to Marc Raimondi of ESPN, the specific color palette references the team’s 1966 inaugural uniforms, which featured gold, white, and black striping on the pants. While the Falcons have utilized the retro logo annually since 2009, this specific graphic presentation sparked significant controversy. The organization declined to comment on the backlash, and the NFL did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the social media post.

Atlanta is scheduled to wear the throwback logo this Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The franchise, owned by Arthur Blank, has a history of supporting Holocaust remembrance; Blank donated $1.5 million to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2023 through the Molly Blank Fund. The vertical stripes will remain a physical part of the helmet design despite the removal of the specific graphic from team profile headers.