A plastic football helmet has a shell with a left earflap in a left side region and a right earflap in a right side region, each ear flap having a non-circular ear hole, and an offset area defined on a top edge by a top banked portion and on a bottom edge by a bottom banked portion, the offset area extending continuously from the right ear flap, across the rear region, to the left ear flap. The non-circular ear holes are in the offset area. Both the top edge and the bottom edge of the offset area curve upward from the right ear flap to the rear region and curve upward from the left ear flap to the rear region. The top edge and bottom edge do not meet at any point such that offset area begins at an open right end in the right earflap and ends at an open left end in the left earflap. Cheek support are attached to the earflaps to improve retention of the helmet and provide protection to the cheek area against blows.