Addendum: We are unsure if this helmet was ever worn by Seau; all we know is that it shows use and he signed it twice.
The late Junior Seau was considered the heart and soul of the San Diego Chargers from his rookie season of 1990 through 2002 when his storied 13-year tenure with his hometown team came to an end. The hard-hitting middle linebacker led the team in tackles nearly every season, earning 12 Pro Bowl nods and 1st Team All-Pro distinction a remarkable six times. This lot features a circa 1999-2002 Chargers Riddell pro model helmet (not the same face mask style worn by Seau or linebackers) that the Oceanside, Calif. prodigy signed twice with his “#55” inscribed.
The Riddell double-bar helmet shows heavy use on the navy-blue shell and face mask, full of abrasions, paint transfers and other contact marks. We are unsure if this helmet was used in a regular-season NFL game or which Chargers player may have worn it. Perhaps it was used only during practice or training camp. The mask style seems to match an offensive skill position player. The Chargers' bolt logo decals are aligned on each side with “Riddell” in red over the forehead. Seau signed in 8/10 gold marker on the right side and slightly smeared silver marker in the left side. A Riddell-branded rear neck pad is present along with a warning label sticker (normally these are clear, not white). The interior suspension padding is all intact and problem-free. It comes with both earpads, but no chinstrap. Interior Riddell manufacturer sticker labels are present but no longer fully legible, having worn off from age and wear.
The Adams-branded face mask is labeled “10/02” in tiny font on the inner-facing side, which we interpret as an October 2002 manufacture date. Since many game helmets were refurbished at season’s end and recertified by the manufacturer for continued use the following year, it is theoretically possible that this helmet was worn by Seau at one time and the face mask was switched out for a different player after he left the team in 2003 for the Miami Dolphins. Guess we’ll never know.
This helmet was sourced from the wife of Junior’s older brother, Savaii Seau, who tragically died in a car crash last year in San Diego County – yet another hardship for the Seau family to endure after Junior’s suicide in 2012. Includes full LOA from PSA/DNA for the autos.