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i've contacted dave kohler of scp auctions to let him know that the unitas "gamer" he has listed, consigned by and including a letter from unitas' son johnny unitas jr., is so riddled with glaring problems that there's not even a remote possibility that it could be the real deal in my opinion.
first, the fact that it was manufactured by gladiator athletic equipment is alone enough of a deal breaker (especially considering the type of gladiator helmet it is). unitas sported riddell helmets throughout his career with the colts which is convincingly and undeniably supported by the ample film footage and photos available of unitas, one of the nfl's most photographed icons. The unitas game photo (below, right) shows the riddell manufacturer’s mark you would expect to find on an authentic unitas gamer as opposed to the gladiator mark found on the auction helmet (left):
here’s a better look at the type of riddell manufacturing mark that would be found on an authentic unitas game used helmet, depending on the year used. note that the “KRA-LITE, MADE IN U.S.A.” matches the above game photo on the right:
the auction helmet is fitted with two additional chinstrap snaps mounted to the helmet shell - this is another immediate deal breaker in terms of the helmet’s authenticity. the only chinstrap snaps that would be found on an authentic unitas helmet would be the two mounted to the facemask. unitas (nor any other quarterback from that era) would have worn a helmet fitted with four chinstrap snaps. the auction helmet is also fitted with a nose snubber, which protrudes from the front lip of the helmet. unitas’ helmet from this era (1970-1972) was not fitted with a nose snubber:
further, the letter from johnny unitas jr. states that the helmet is from the early 1960’s. this is not possible given that gladiator did not begin manufacturing football helmets until the late 1960’s. also, the “riddell” font on the chinstrap and facemask was not introduced until roughly 1970. as such this helmet could not be from the early 1960’s nor could the chinstrap and facemask be original to an early 1960's helmet as the letter states. unitas wore helmets with this profile (rounded, "tk" style) from 1956-1963 (which can be eliminated) and then again from 1970-1972. The top photo shows the riddell chinstrap and facemask fonts found on the auction helmet, a font that wasn’t introduced until about 1970. the two photos on the bottom show the riddell font used in the early 1960’s through the late 1960’s, before the font was changed to what appears on the auction helmet:
these are just a few of the glaring issues that easily disqualify the auction helmet from being an authentic unitas gamer, there are many, many other issues that i didn’t bother to address. I also believe, considering the interior condition of the helmet, that it was never used during competitive play at any level regardless of the exterior condition and despite claims in the lot description. the lot description also incorrectly states that gladiator helmets were made by riddell - this is not true. gladiator was an independent sports equipment manufacturing company, started in the late 1960's, that competed directly with riddell and other sports equipment companies of that era. in the mid to late 1980's, riddell purchased gladiator along with other failing helmet manufacturers - but during the unitas era, riddell had nothing to do with gladiator.
there are countless autographed unitas helmets in circulation dressed as colts helmets, many are even authentic nfl model helmets that unitas signed for fans, albeit not authentic unitas game used helmets. but given that the auction helmet was consigned by unitas’ son, it is certainly possible that it may have very well originated from the colts’ locker room. but if that was the case, the auction helmet would most likely be nothing more than a rejected gladiator salesman sample that colts equipment manager fred schubach put together to look like a unitas gamer, a practice that was not at all uncommon during that era.
this is the sixth unitas “game used” helmet that has surfaced at auction in the last five or so years and none have been the real deal. further, this helmet is much less convincing than most of the others that have surfaced.
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