The red stripe on the Dallas Cowboys helmets is part of their Salute to Service/Military appreciation initiatives. Historically, the Cowboys have worn helmets with a red stripe to honor U.S. military members and Medal of Honor recipients. The red stripe first appeared in 1976 to commemorate the United States bicentennial and was revived in 2021 as part of the NFL’s Salute to Service program. These helmets are typically paired with other patriotic decals and a Salute to Service ribbon, and they represent a tribute to current and former service members.