Earlier, we learned the San Francisco 49ers will wear their throwback uniforms for three games in 2024. In the 49ers’ case, they’ll wear their red throwback twice, and their white throwback once.
The Falcons will likewise wear their fantastic throwbacks three times this upcoming season.
The three games will be in Week 4 (Sunday, September 29th, versus New Orleans), in Week 5 (Thursday Night Football, October 3 against the Tampa Bay Bucs), and once again, in Week 16 (Sunday, December 22, versus the New York Football Giants).
The Falcons have been wearing their throwback uniforms for a number of years (with their black shell), but it wasn’t until 2022 that the team was able to pair those uniforms with the period-correct red helmet shell, a throwback to their inaugural season of 1966.
Many Uni Watchers, myself included, feel the team should make these their permanent primary uniforms.
There’s more good news surounding the announcement: it means, for the second year in a row — that the awful gradient alternate jerseys will not grace the gridiron this season. Since a team is permitted to wear alternates a maximum of three times (alternates are defined as throwback/classic, color rush, or third jersey/uniform), the Falcons will max-out their alternate allowance by wearing the throwbacks for three games.
It’s a win/win!
Now let the “Just Make These Permanent!” murmurs begin!
Huzzah!
I think it’s interesting that NFL teams are flocking to the throwbacks and away from gaudy alternates, as well as the color rush uniforms. This is on top of the numerous franchises that have changed their look once the five-year rule was up *because they know those Nike-branded uniforms suck.* You can’t tell me the Falcons didn’t know their re-branding a couple of years ago wasn’t a dud before those jerseys were leaked online.
The Falcons are outright telling us they’ll be next to rebrand in a couple of years.
The NBA is a lost cause at this point, IMO, but MLB, the sport where its aesthetics matter more than any other, needs to move as quickly as possible towards what the NFL and NHL know and as far away from what basketball is doing.
Without red jersey and silver pants this is doo doo deluxe
These are fine, but yeah, I only remember them in red jerseys and gray pants. To me, that is peak Falcons.
Like these, but red jerseys please. Much better look. I also prefer the grey pants, but white looks good as well.
Couldn’t disagree more. The red/black combo saves the Falcons’ look from monotony, and from resembling other teams such as the Chiefs. Moreover, this particular look hearkens back to the new franchise’s wish to combine the UGA and Georgia Tech’s colors into a harmonious whole.
Hoping they add something to the helmet bumper. I don’t know why, but helmets without anything on the bumper always bothers me. Just looks like a space that somethings meant to be in.
I’m not a fan of the red helmet. Sacrilegious around here, I know, but I prefer the dirty bird era uniforms. I have an affinity for glossy black helmets with black facemasks. I wish the Falcons and Jaguars both would return to those fulltime.
I also think of the 1990-2003 black helmets and black jerseys when I think of the Falcons. I guess I’m old enough to have seen them in red helmets and red jerseys they wore from 1971 to 1989, but I don’t remember. And I wasn’t around for the red helmet/black jersey era from 1966 to 1970. I think the red helmets and black jerseys look strange together, but it is distinctive and unique to the Falcons. I don’t mind it as a throwback for a game or two per year, but I would like their primary home look to be black/black/white (not mono-black like they’ve been doing lately).
I want to see any Atlanta uniform that Steve Bartkowsi wore.
Ditch the gold stripe
The gold stripe was part of the original 1966 helmet and was there in acknowledgment of Georgia Tech, also based in Atlanta; disappeared a few years later.
YESSSS!!!
Black/black/silver would be good, too.
Somewhat lost in the discussion of red jerseys or grey pants or black helmets is these throwbacks have the old logo! That bird is such sweet design and the that modern falcon has never looked good to me. Whatever combo they put together, as long as that fresh-ass old falcon is on there it’s a wild improvement. And I love the touch of gold.
Nice look! The old black hat and red jersey is also a great look, though I much prefer silver britches to white.
This is one of the best uniforms in the NFL, in my opinion. Glad they’re stepping back from the gradients.
Adopting these as their mains and dumping the most recent redesign would allow Atlanta to add in options like a black version of the helmet, a red version of the jersey, a white version of the jersey, and grey version of the pants. Then they could play as either red/black/white, black/black/grey, red/red/grey, etc, or some degree of mixing between them.
That would look pretty sharp.
Back when I was doing the 2+3+2+3 project for the entire league, I proposed EXACTLY what you are suggesting for the Falcons
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Red & black helmets, red/black/white jerseys, white/gray pants.
Done and done:
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Sure wish teams would coordinate to wear throwbacks against each other. The Saints could cobble together a throwback to Falcons. The Giants game will be a treat. Tampa Bay could rock their creamsicles – color on color even. Also the Falcons should also have a white throwback jersey so they can take these beauties on the road.
I’m not trying to be the controversial hot take or whatever but: these unis are weak (not ugly, just boring, uninspiring, same old same old, blah). Their current set is really nice looking. It did a lot that was new without doing too much like the Seahawks, buccaneers, now Texans have done with their Nike-ified looks (I feel the same about the jets newfangled outgoing unis as I do about the falcons, actually use the jets with jet flying off the J logo to match the unis and they’re great unis). But alas, we all want mediocre logos and no frills practice jersey style tops with plain athletic font numbers. Same team different color palette. It’s the super tecmo bowl-ificiation of the league.
These are glorious. The current set is abysmal.
The red helmet and black jersey looks odd together for some reason. It just looks too…clashy? I dunno. However, I’ve always thought red, black and white were a great uni combo and the Falcons seem to wear it best.
So, count me in the column of liking contrasting helmets. Since my youth…a long time ago… I liked the look of a helmet that was a different color from the jersey, that took an accent color and made it the major color of the helmet. The Saints “old gold”, the Eagles white, the Red***** yellow and the Falcons red all come to mind. IMO, that bright red Falcons helmet contasting with the black jersey pops in a unique and interesting way that few unis can match. I am thrilled to have them back!
Let’s hope the Bucs wear the creamsicles week 5. That’ll be a good looker for sure.
So close. The Bucs WILL wear their creamsicles against the Falcons, but not in week 5. They’ll wear them at home against the dirty birds in Week 8.
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This particular combination is ok but not great. The red jersey and silver pants worn in the 80’s are way better. The Jerry Glanville era Black helmet black jersey and silver pants looked good too. The red helmet and black jersey doesn’t mesh that well and is a bit of a dud The Red/Red/Silver should be the permanent jersey and the 1990’s Black/Black/Silver the alternate.
I’ve got to disagree. The helmet/jersey contrast is essential if anything, and keeps the Falcons from looking just like other red-only or black-only teams. Viva Tommy Nobis!
Much better than their current regular uniforms. And that old Falcon is still better than the current one.