re: Most dangerous era of football with actual helmets?

The 70's were brutal.

What defenses could do to quarterbacks, receivers and linemen would be looked at as barbaric today.

Head-slapping linemen, clotheslining receivers by linebackers as they ran their route over the middle, decapitating and ripping off QBs helmets.

Plus those helmets sucked. They would come flying off of running backs heads after just a normal hit, everyone was still putting their heads down...

It's no wonder it was the most difficult decade to score points in the history of the NFL. QBs all had low-ratings, games were low scoring...if you weren't holding a receiver all the way down the field you weren't trying. That's why 70's QBs don't get enough respect as they should from history. Hardest era ever to play QB.

No way head hunting Jack Tatum could play today's game.

Ronnie Lott feasted on defenseless receivers.

Nah man. I saw the Redskins punter get his nose absolutely destroyed with a single piece facemask.

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Not as bad as the 60’s and 70’s..

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I agree with this. Those guys were playing ball at a brutal level and knocking players out of the game by injuring them was pretty common practice. Head hunters, piling on, elbows and forearms to the head, horse collar tackles, hitting receivers crossing over the middle of the field full force while their ribs were exposed reaching for the football, etc.

That's why so many players from that era suffer from CTE, Parkinson's, Alzheimers, broken down joints and can't function.

Look at Earl Campbell who bowled over opponents in his prime. Poor bastard can't even walk today from all the damage he took in his playing days.

Then add to that they really didn't make much money in those days to last a lifetime like so many players today make-------------IF they spend and invest wisely and don't go all bling, most of today's pros are set for life.

I'm sure earl campbell has some football injuries but apparently he was born with spinal stenosis. I always thought his knees and hips had been destroyed. Some of the stories from the game like frank gifford being knocked out show it was a game only for the toughest of the tough
espn article

Here's a link to the Chuck Bednarik hit on Gifford. The hit is at 1:28 of the video.

Chuck Bednarik hit on Frank Gifford

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No way head hunting Jack Tatum could play today's game.

Ronnie Lott feasted on defenseless receivers.

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They would still be All-Pro players in today's game, but they'd have to play under today's rules and that don't take away from their effectiveness as defensive players, just big hitters.

In high school, we were still wearing Ridell suspension helmets in the mid 70's.
No padding except for the little c shaped ones under your ears, and at the bottom of the back. The bottom back one was to keep the helmet from cutting into your neck.