Will the NFL one day get rid of the helmet? (USATSI)
Will the NFL one day get rid of the helmet? (USATSI)

The NFL helmet has come a long way since the league first required players to start wearing one back in 1943. 

First, there were soft leather helmets. Then, there were hard leather helmets. Then, in the 1950s, the NFL finally got rid of the leather helmets and introduced the plastic helmet.

The plastic helmet then stuck around for almost 30 years before the molded polycarbonate helmet was introduced in the 1980s.

Although the helmet has been updated since the 80s, not much has changed overall. However, a dramatic change could be coming sometime in the future.

The co-chairman of the NFL's health and safety advisory committee, Dr. John York, recently told the BBC that he can envision a day where players won't be wearing helmets at all. 

"Can I see a time without helmets? Yes," York said.

Although an NFL without helmets could be coming one day, it won't be anytime soon. 

"It's not around the corner, but I can see it," York said. 

For the NFL to get rid of helmets, York said the league would have "to do away" with the three-point stance and have every player start each play from an upright position. 

The idea of getting rid of helmets is an interesting one, especially since it's coming from York. 

Not only does York co-chair the NFL's health and safety advisory committee, but he's also co-chairman of the 49ers, a team that's dealt with the retirement of two players under the age of 26 this offseason in Chris Borland and Anthony Davis. 

Despite those retirements, York says the NFL has actually gotten better as far as player health goes. 

"I think the game has gotten safer," York said after Borland's retirement. 

UPDATE (June 20, 6 p.m. ET): York has clarified his comments through a 49ers spokesman. The co-chairman of the NFL's health and safety advisory committee believes that helmets in American football are part of the culture and tradition and doesn't foresee an NFL where helmets aren't being used.

The 49ers chairman says that there may have been a misunderstanding between himself and BBC reporter Matthew Slater. 

Basically, helmets are here to stay. Except single-bar facemasks, those were banned in 2004. 

As for doing away with the three-point stance, York said he made that statement when asked about possible changes at the line of scrimmage.

The 49ers chairman doesn't foresee the three-point stance going away, but did tell Slater that if there was overwhelming evidence down the road -- evidence that doesn't exist yet -- that the three-point stance is dangerous, then the NFL would consider changing it as they would if evidence showed that any other part of the game was dangerous.