What the Heck!!!!
 

Can somebody tell me what this is on Y. A. Tittle's helmet?

Y. A. Tittle - November 22, 1954 - SI's Pro Football Covers of the '50s, '60's - Photos - SI.com

In 1954 the trainer for the Forty Niners was counted on to keep Y. A. Tittle in the lineup after the legendary quarterback suffered a severely broken jaw against the Pittsburg Steelers. The trainer modified Tittle's standard Riddell "RK" helmet by adding interior padding, a custom fabricated handle type stabilizer bracket and the Riddell clear Lucite face mask.

http://www.helmethut.com/49ers/Tittle49er.html

http://www.helmethut.com/49ers/tittle%20002.jpg

From the front it looks like a handle off a screen door. Got to protect that Million Dollar Backfield.

A harbinger of things to come........

I imagine the trainer thought it was the best method to ward off a direct hit to the jaw. I doubt in those times many of them were ATC certified.