Of all the great throwbacks NFL teams wear, I think the one that gets the most “Just Make Those Permanent!”-type comments are those worn by the Miami Dolphins. I’m sure that’s as much a testament to how great the throwbacks are, as much as it is to folks thinking it might be time for a redesign.
Anyway, it’s that time of year when teams announce their uniform schedule, and the Dolphins have announced the dates for their throwback games. It’ll be one in the white jersey and one in the aqua jersey (one is a Thursday Night Football game and the other is the Thanksgiving Night game):
They will wear the aqua throwbacks against the Buffalo Bills at home, in Week 2 (September 12), on Thursday Night Football.
And on Thanksgiving (November 28), against the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau Field, they’ll sport the throwback whites.
I don’t know what specifically it is about these throwbacks that I like so much, but they both look great. Aqua and orange are such a good color combo — and perfect for Miami — and even though the stripe patterns don’t match, it just works. It’s just one of those things I can’t quite articulate.
Anyway. I’ll be the first to say “Make These Permanent.” I’m sure I won’t be the last.
Here’s an idea:
Do a slight modernization of these, in the spirit of the Chargers (and to a lesser extent, Rams). Keep the exact same shades, maybe just some flow to the stripes, etc. In my opinion even the current number font would be fine. Go white or aqua on the facemask.
Then have an alt in the spirit of the Miami-vice style, but swap the black-blue-pink for white-aqua-orange somehow.
Done. Classic.
I mean or they could just do these full time. But if they are hell bent on not, then yes, I agree!
I’ll be the first. MAKE THESE PERMANENT.
Can’t they wear each of them three times? Just do that, and then make them permanent.
So, no Phil, you won’t be the last to say that today.
These are so close to perfect.
If they ever move back to this as the full-time identity (and they should), I’d love to see them 1) unify the striping on helmet/sleeves/pants/socks, 2) make the shoulder numbers and main numbers match (get rid of the filled-in orange areas on the shoulders on the 0s, 9s, etc) and 3) most importantly use the final evolution of the original logo, the 1989-1996 version.
Came to say the same thing about the shaded coloring on the shoulder numbers. Hadn’t noticed that before, but it’s a weird feature.
I imagine it was a matter of practically regarding hand-cutting the number backing at smaller sizes, rather than a design choice.
I think what I prefer about these vs the current sets is two things. First and foremost, I much prefer the darker(?) shade of teal they use. The current one always looks washed out to me. Although the throwback helmet logo is the “‘fins I know and remember”, I don’t mind the current logo at all. Second, it’s the stripes, particularly on the sleeves and socks. Really, if they kept the current set and just made the teal darker, I think it would be much improved. By the way, all this from someone who despises the Dolphins.
I feel like the shade of the current color looks so different in various lighting, and it is far too blue, to the point where in some lighting you’d definitely just consider it a shade of blue rather than teal/aqua which is a blue/green. The old shade, which I think is more aqua than teal, definitely has way more green to it, and feels more unique, and is the color I think of with the Dolphins. The current shade is more of a 90s expansion team riding the teal trend, its a generic teal.
I may be the only one, but I prefer the current jerseys to the throwbacks. I never liked the old dolphin logo, too cartoony for me.
You’re not the only one! IMO the throwback is quite good, but their current set is fantastic. For me the thing that really, really works is the brightened up colors. The current shade of aqua really “pops” in a satisfying way that the old darker one never did for me. And I like the logo too.
If they switched to aqua facemasks, their current look would be a perfect uniform. Love their standards; throwbacks have a worse logo, a worse (than white) facemask, and I really don’t like the TV numbers with holes all filled in with orange on the shoulder. Stripes on all parts are just meh. Keep what they have 100%
might be alone in this but part of why I like these so much is the striping does NOT exactly match. It gives it character – I don’t fully understand the notion that helmet/sleeves/pants all have to have the same exact striping. Seems like that would be boring across the league.
I was thinking about it and I think for me: 1) as long as the same colors are represented, the striping patterns can differ on these 3 elements and I’ll still potentially like it. 2) it’s when the colors are not the same that it feels off, like the Packers’ white helmet. agreed, that should have yellow so that all 3 striping areas have the same colors represented
might be alone in this but part of why I like these so much is the striping does NOT exactly match. It gives it character – I don’t fully understand the notion that helmet/sleeves/pants all have to have the same exact striping
You are not alone.
These full time but with the 1997 logo update (minus the navy accents). Immediate goes to a top 5 uniform.
I think the owner is the main obstacle to making these permanent. The fans want it, I’m sure the players want it, and I bet nearly everyone in the building wants it. But the owner likes that new logo.
The one reason I like them so much is the fact that orange is a LOT more prominent than their current set. Their current set is just too aqua/white. Nothing just really there to set them off. The current set isn’t bad. But could use a little more orange.
“Just Make Those Permanent!”
The current uniform set they wear is way too bubblegum, in my opinion. I’d be happy if they just went back to the uniform set they were wearing prior to this one. Go back to the old logo as well. The new logo just doesn’t work for me at all.
I think one aspect of why these are so appealing is the combination of the classic, old school template (block numbers, stripes, gray facemask) with a unique color palette that still looks modern. It’s a phenomenal combination.
If there going to make something permanent they should use the 1980’s version which had the wider pant stripes. That design with the current color would would awesome.
It’s a crime they’re not wearing these vs. the Jets. It’d bring back a lot of memories of some tough games.
There is no financial incentive for them to “MAKE THESE PERMANENT”. Fans are buying both the ‘current look’ merch and the ‘throwback’ merch. If they switch, the current look isn’t good enough to become instantly vintage, so the fans will only buy the throwback merch and they lose a revenue stream. The current look is solid and the throwbacks are so good that they are an event. Why would they give any of that up?
Wait! The throwbacks without the “Miami Monorail” on the helmet? Count me in. The throwback helmet with the actual dolphin on them are great.
I just adore these, please combine them with the current logo and stop redesigning anything.
Please make these permanent.