Good morning Uni Watchers, and welcome to the first Monday Morning Uni Watch of the 2024 Season.
The NFL kicked off the 2024 season Thursday night and played their first ever game in South America (Brazil, to be exact) on Friday, leaving us with thirteen games yesterday. Most teams went with their primary home and road uniforms, but several debuted new looks, combos or alternates. Probably no uniform was as universally panned as the New York Giants’ “Century Red” throwback/hybrid — a uniform they’re wearing to celebrate their 100th Season for one game only (and after the way they played, I’m sure most Giants fans are glad it’s a “one and done”). Three teams debuted new-for-2024 uniforms (Broncos, Lions, Texans), while the Bengals debuted their new orange pants. And the Seahawks opened their season wearing their gorgeous throwbacks as well.
Lots of games to look at, so let’s get started. Following the uni recaps, I’ll have a new MMUW feature (although it’s not new to Uni Watch): the first 5 & 1, NFL edition.
Here we go!
We had a pretty good looking opening game this Thursday evening, when the defending Super Bowl Champion KC Chiefs took on the Baltimore Ravens in KC. As they have (or haven’t) done following past Super Bowl victories, the Chiefs did not wear any kind of special patch commemorating the achievement. The only disappointing thing about this game was the Ravens wearing white socks/tights with their white pants. But this is the in thing to do these days in football.
As expected, the Eagles debuted a brand new combo: black/white/black with white socks. The Eagles had to ditch their black helmet last season when they added a kelly green throwback (and kelly green helmet), but because they changed the wordmark on their jerseys, that actually counted as a uniform redesign, allowing them to wear a third helmet this season. So the black helmet returned.
After teasing us by wearing gold pants in all three of their preseason games, the Saints reverted to going gold over mono-black for their season opener vs. the Panthers. It’s really just a terrible look, but the players (and fans) like it, so we’ll probably see it plenty this season. Carolina countered by going silver/white/white (a very solid look), but unfortunately went with white socks/leggings/compression pants. This is another look — and not just for the Panthers — we probably should get used to seeing. As you’ll see below.
The long-awaited debut of the Giants’ multi-year throwback, which they nicknamed Century Red, happened in Week One against the Vikings. Even if you’re a fan of the uni (as I am), this was not a particularly attractive game. The Giants red/blue helmets and jerseys didn’t pair well with the tan pants and the Vikes going purple/white/purple with purple socks didn’t help matters. Fortunately for those who didn’t like the Century Red, it’s a one and done uniform. As they’ll wear on all their uniforms all season, the Giants sported a “100 Seasons” patch on the jersey. They did have a pretty sweet midfield logo for this game too.
As threatened promised, the Bengals debuted their new orange pants, which they mercifully paired with black socks. I love orange and teams who wear orange pants, but combining them with an orange helmet and jersey was just a bit too much orange for me. If anyone was hoping the Patriots would wear their silver-gray pants with the white jersey, they were again disappointed. And the socks for the Pats were all over the place, with some players going with blue and others with white. The white jersey/blue pants combo is somewhat tolerable when the Pats have white lower leg stylings, not so much with blue. The Patriots finally added captaincy patches to their uniforms for the regular season.
Mono-black for the Falcons as they opened their season against the Steelers. Steelers lineman James Daniels wore a guardian cap for the regular season opener against Atlanta that had front numbers. (H/T to L.J. Sparvero for the Daniels pic.)
I know a lot of you are down on the Texans new uniforms — especially the road jerseys with the bull horns, and I’m not particularly a fan either. And while I wish they would wear red or white socks with the blue pants, I’m liking the uni a bit more each time I see it in action. I’ve even become a fan of their thick/thin pants striping. The uni is a couple tweaks away from becoming a modern classic.
Of all the possible uniform matchups between these two teams, yesterday’s game was about as good at it can get, with both teams wearing their best combos. There are a lot of problems with the Cardinals uniforms, but their road white is actually fairly decent — if they’d just wear some red socks with the all-whites, it would be immensely improved. Sure, it’s not ideal when both teams wear white hats and pants on a bright, sunny day, but I shouldn’t complain. Aside from wearing red socks, the only thing wrong with the white uniform is the silver stripes; make those black (and have stripes go black/white/red/white/black), and you’ve got a very nice uniform. Oh, and take “CARDINALS” off the sleeve stripes too.
Another pleasant surprise, uni-wise, came in yesterday’s Bears-Titans tilt, with both teams in what are probably their best looks. The Titans unis are still terrible, but going navy/white/light blue (with navy socks) is their best look. They still need to blow the unis up and start over, but color-wise, this was rather pleasing.
From the waist up, this was a good looking game. Unfortunately, both teams went solid white from the waist down. It looks particularly egregious on the Jaguars, since their white pants are stripeless. Black socks on the Jags and aqua socks on the Dolphins would have helped this immensely.
The Seahawks opened their 2024 season by sporting their gorgeous throwbacks. And yes, the players who wore those originally never went with untucked shirts and biker shorts, but there’s no denying this is a gorgeous uniform. The Broncos, of course, have a new uniform set this season, and their white jerseys look outstanding with orange pants (one of their three pants options). Unfortunately, we may be seeing them in white/white with white leggings a lot. They’re far from the only NFL team to favor this look (see the above games for others), and I know it’s in vogue now. If they’d just have sported blue socks, it would look so much better. Especially when the Seahawks looked so so good.
This game was might-tee-fine looking, with the Chargers in what is arguably the best uniform (certainly a Top 5) in the NFL, and the Raiders in their classic road kits. The Raiders also debuted their 65th Season logo as a jersey patch (they’d gone patch-free in preseason). Not only do both teams have classic looks, neither team (well, most players) wears same-color socks/pants, which is increasingly becoming a rarity in the NFL.
Yesterday featured another good looking game between the Browns and Cowboys. There really is something to be said when both teams wear contrasting color socks and pants. Even though a few Cowboys went with white socks, it still contrasts with their blue-ish pants.
We know the Commanders will at some point break out their new gold pants, but yesterday wasn’t the day. Maybe, since the game was in Tampa, they’re saving them for their home opener. So, instead of the Commanders in gold pants, or the Bucs in pewter pants, we got both teams in white pants. So long as both teams wear contrasting color socks, it’s not a bad matchup. But it would have been great if one of the two teams had worn colored pants.
Sigh. After looking really good in their preseason road uniforms, and even better in their new home uniforms, the Lions decided to open their regular season — a Sunday Night game no less — in their Monolulu Blues. This could have been a fantastic-looking game (especially with the Rams in their best look), instead of a blue overload. Thank the heavens the Rams didn’t wear blue pants too. Yes, I know the Lions beat the Rams in the playoffs last season in their Monolulu Blues, but c’mon man: you have an incredible new blue over silver-gray uniform, wear it for your season opener!
Phil, I couldn’t agree more about the Lions. They finally get a redesign where they look like they’re SUPPOSED to look and they run out in Monolulu Blue (my new all time favourite UW term!). I’m not a football guy, but this was a really good read.
Yeah, that was really disappointing to see the blue pants and socks on the Lions, especially after seeing how Michigan got blown out in their mono-blues the day before.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t surprised as the Lions players seem to like the monolulu blues which they refer to as the “blueberries.” I think it is a look that will stay for a while:
link
Week 1 illustrates to me just how badly the NFL needs a rule mandating that the visiting team must wear both jersey and pants that contrast with the color of the home team’s jersey and pants. In part because color contrast helps spectators and officials distinguish between players, but mostly because it would force visiting teams, apparently against their ubiquitous preference, to wear better uniform combos.
Absolutely! I used to keep track of how often a team would (apparently deliberately) wear the same color pants as their opponents, and even going with alternates to do so, until it became just too common to highlight. The NFL has always been mocked for its attempts to standardized behavior and aesthetics, but it has left this and the equally annoying matching pants and socks situations run amok. Kneel if you want, choreograph a celebration if you must, but by God can we please have some civilization here!
Way too much mono garbage. Saints and Lions…shame on you.
Totally agree. I’ve really come to realize how much better it looks when sock and pants colors contrast. The yoga pants/unitard thing looks terrible. I think it’s kind of flown under the radar how well my Bengals have done in this regard. They nearly always (or always!) contrast socks/pants. And usually all the players (or all of them) wear the same.
GTGFTS: Jan 1, 1967. NFL Championship game. GB 34, Dal 27. Packers punch their ticket to Super Bowl I.
All I could think about seeing the Cardinals’ uniform was that it made Marvin Harrison Jr.’s transition from THE Ohio State to the NFL less of a shock. /s
Some Week One Thoughts:
1. Giants would have looked better in their regular helmet.
2. I really dislike the asymmetrical pant striping on the Broncos, Rams, Vikings and Texans. It all looks like they ran out of one color fabric.
3. Unless I was looking for them the Guardian caps faded into the rest of the game.
The Broncos have one truncated stripe and one full length stripe. The other three teams have two full length stripes. I don’t mind the two stripe look at all, actually, but I loathe the truncated stripes.
The Eagles were wearing a weird two stripe thing that tapered down into one stripe on their black pants. Very off-putting.
GTGFTU – September 25, 1994 Rams beat Chiefs 16-0 at Arrowhead.
… more background, as part of the 1994 NFL 75th celebration the LA Rams threw back to their 50’s look, making a rare color-vs-color NFL matchup for that era. The Chiefs then as now have very little uni history to throw back to, though they may have used a thinner pants stripe. I applaud their decision not to throw back to being the Dallas Texans, something they did in 2009. Totally not a fan of any team throwing back to a previous location.
I hope The Titans rebrand no later than when the new stadium opens. They looks like arena football. They could have merely kept the McNair era duds and added the navy lid and they’d look way better. I have avoided them entirely since they switched to the Greek pencil numbers and ridiculous swooshes etc.
Nothing short of them returning to their Oilers history and uniform chassis will do.
The titans are chock full of issues for me, but the biggest is the literal sword as a yoke. I just wish they would broaden it to a proper yoke that starts wide at the collar and tapers toward the sleeve cuff but never makes a complete point (instead of narrow to wide then back to a distinct point). They can keep the two tone grey/silver as I consider it part of their schtick now. But it needs to be simplified, and if there is going to be any kind of yoke treatment, the collar needs to match the yoke or contrast with the jersey body. A red collar on a navy uni with a two tone grey (proper) yoke, and bolder more standard numbers and call it good for me.
A Patriots player (safety on defense) also wore a Guardian cap with helmet shell-colored cover in game against the Bengals:
link
“I’ll have a new MMUW feature (although it’s not new to Uni Watch): the first 5 & 1, NFL edition”
Actually, I did a few around 2011. I thought I only did it once (and I remember after the first one you wrote something like “Now I see why you usually stick to the college game…”), but I found more than one in the UW search engine.
It’s your first, for sure…and I almost agree with it.
Doesn’t feel like there are enough games for an NFL 5 and 1, maybe a 3 and 1 would be better, or even 1 and 1, which I think would spark discussion in the comments.
I was tempted to do a 3 & 1.
Or something similar I was going to call “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” where I select three games that basically fit that description.
I may end up changing it up next week.
I liked the 5&1– who could argue with the Raiders v. Chargers? I also think, that given the fewer teams, this allows for a more careful consideration of how both teams uniforms look together– I like the Giants fauxbacks and the Vikings roads, but not together.
This was the first time I have watched any NFL games and there were a number of pleasant surprises. The Cardinals looked good (mostly), except for the silver. The Seahawks took me back and it felt fine. The Broncos new uniforms were a welcome relief, socks notwithstanding. My dad concurred, but asked, “what is supposed to be on their shoulders?” “Mountains,” I said. “I don’t get it,” was his reply.
Not feeling the hate for the Giants Century Red uniform. Love the McAuliffe numerals and hope some team adopts them in the near future. But their uninspired play did them no favors.
Did any NY Giant fan break into a “Go Habs Go” chant?
Agreed. I love this uni in its entirety and also think that by sheer originality alone it is better than anything they have worn in the last few decades. Some notes: I wish the blue stripe was up to 25% thicker to allow for larger front numbers. I don’t think they could use this helmet full time as Michigan has basically become synonymous with the winged three stripe design, and the bears have already established their use of the wingless three stripe design for their throwbacks, but I think any of their blue helmets would pair fine with this uni. The tan works fine for me, but I understand if it’s too old timey or just doesn’t feel like the giants to some people. In that case I think blue or light grey pants would solve that problem.
But all in all I think this uni looks great and original without being too Nike-weird.
Same here, it would look better against a team that was in a similar period uni, or at least a clear throw/fauxback, particularly if it were the Packers, Bears, Eagles or Commanders
That may be the Cardinal’s “best look” but the grey being included screams Ohio State to me… not a good thing since they’re NOT Ohio State.
They NEED to wear the red pants! Just sucks that like the Lions… they’re totally blank. I hate this trend. Feels like all Nike cares about is selling jerseys so they ignore the pants.
GTGFTU: Sunday, September 25, 1994, Los Angeles Rams (16) at Kansas City Chiefs (0), Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
That uniform the Rams were wearing caught my eye. It was the throwback uniform that the rams wore in 1994 for the NFL’s 75th anniversary. They only wore it twice, once against the 49ers, and once again the following week at the Chiefs
49ers and Rams should do a color v. color game once a year in those unis.
Didn’t they do something similar back in 2018 for a Color Rush game? The Rams weren’t wearing exactly the same thing but it was close enough. (Minus the unitard look.)
Those Bedazzled Broncos numbers… oy.
Yeah, I was at the game and the numbers were awful on the fans wearing jerseys.
I honestly didn’t notice James Daniels’ Guardian Cap until it was mentioned here.
I’m not sure which of the 5 (well, out of 2-5) I would drop in favor of the Browns/Cowboys – probably Bills/Cardinals – but that was easily the second-best looking game of the week IMO.
That game was definitely in condideration for the best 5. Colts/Texans and Chiefs/Ravens also just missed the cut.
Picking the &1 was actually harder, since the Giants/Vikes had ample competition from Saints/Panthers and Patriots/Bengals.
Re: Browns/Cowboys…. Definitely a reasonable view, but I find myself disliking Dallas’s mismatching silver shades and to a less extent blue shades more and more. It’s kind of once you clue into the use of negative space you become somewhat fixated on it, same with the Dallas’s white uni mis-mash.
GTGFTU: 1994 Week 4 – Los Angeles Rams vs Kansas City Chiefs, Rams win 16-0, both teams (technically) wearing throwback uniforms. Chiefs jerseys are sans stripes.
Great write up Phil! It’s fascinating how much kickoff time, indoor/outdoor, and field type affect the aesthetic appeal of my Chargers’ gold pants – against a classic look like Raiders white over silver, in the sun, and on a hood looking field, they’re immaculate. Put them in an indoor stadium, on an ugly color of turf (Falcons come to mind), against a dissonant color/uniform, or under primetime lights, and they look almost sickly. Games like yesterday’s (and against other good looking throwbacks/classic AFC looks) are just pure aesthetic bliss and make this one of the best looks in the league. Really hoping we can add a navy helmet and early-aughts throwback (ideally to replace the mono navy) next season.
Almost any game played in the Superdome (I’m calling it the Superdome) is an esthetic disaster. Shrink it down by 95% and make it a smoky jazz club instead. A lot of teams are going to be soon on their second new stadium, while the Saints are still stuck in this 70’s clunker.
I’m sorry but I need to speak up in defense of the Giants throwbacks. Are they pretty? No. But are they a faithful-ish throwback-ish to some of the earliest years of one of football’s most historic franchises? Yes!
Yall need to re-find your sense of whimsy. By modern standards are they rough? Sure. but when grading against OTHER distant throwbacks like the leaguewide ones from 1994, or the more recent 2010s Packers, or Steelers bumblebees… I think the Giants look pretty good.
I think that with some slight refinement, these jerseys could easily become a regular alternate. (clean up the shoulder striping, regular helmet, white pants)
I am, too, a fan of orange, and that might be my problem, but I liked the all orange Bengals look. I saw highlights of the game and my wife and I had the same thought. They actually look like Bengal tigers out there. Now, if only there level of play matched their look.
On the other hand, I don’t think there’s ever been an actual bengal tiger on a Super Bowl winning team. I don’t think they are that good at playing football.
If you really want them to look like bengal tigers, you should demand white on the front of the jerseys/pants and orange on the back.
link
I never understood the seemingly singular fascination with the Bengals ‘having’ to look like actually tigers. I suppose they brought this on themselves(?).
Anyway, I’m ok with the orange pants since all the striping on the uniform matches up.
Broncos replaced last year’s ugly road uniform with a new ugly road uniform. Puke. Especially with orange or blue pants now in the wardrobe. Im happy they lost their game in the white out so maybe they will wear an attractive uniform next road game. The Seahawks throwbacks are ok but I’d always imagined how much better those jerseys would be in green where you switched the blue for green and vice-versa.
Is the Chargers’ blue the same shade of blue as the new Honolulu blue of the Lions? They look the same to me but it might just be my crappy set.
The Eagles black are boring because half the teams in the NFL wear black. Way to may white socks out there on opening weekend. It still looks terrible on most teams.
Agreed. The Eagles are a GREEN team! Wear that awesome color! It’s no wonder why everybody loves the Kelly green throwbacks.
Absolutely LOVED the Giants throwback.. It’s disappointing to read/hear all the hate, but we’re all entitled to do so.
Taking 3 aspects from the early years of a team in existence for 100 seasons is a great idea and the Giants pulled it off. Did the jerseys resemble the Canadiens…. sure, but don’t most traditional uni fans agree that the Habs have one of the greatest sweaters in the NHL? With all the organizations bastardizing uniforms with plain white socks it was great to see an entire team featuring multi-colored stripes.
The number font, close to McAuliffe, was fantastic.. The sock stripes, which many players doubled up, perfectly balanced the jerseys…and the helmet was a classic look that I can’t recall many other NFL teams featuring in their histories. A majority of teams wore tan/khaki pants in the 20’s. Perhaps the lack of color photography 100 years ago and actually seeing what they looked like in an old-school setting taints peoples’ opinions….
Cheers Giants… I’m glad they’re in the rotation for 4 more seasons.
I don’t get all the hate for the Giants’ unis, though I’ll agree the tan pants aren’t particularly good. Why not blue or white?
And speaking of pants, I love the Bengals’ jerseys, but I’d sure pair them with some black pants — maybe with some contrasting orange tiger stripes?
Yeah, I didn’t hate the Giants’ throwback uniforms, and I thought that the game looked fine with a good amount of contrast between them and the Vikings.
So, I read a number of comments about the Brazil game being held in a stadium where green is banned during Corinthians soccer games because their big rival Palmeiras wears green, so it was ironic that the NFL had two green teams playing in that game. It was even mentioned that Philadelphia’s choice to wear the black/white/black combo for the first time reduced the amount of green they would be wearing. But I think that uniform combination was especially fitting because Corinthians typically wears white shirts and black shorts, and Philadelphia was the assigned home team, so they were playing their part by dressing up like Corinthians while Green Bay played the part of Palmeiras. link
In addition to the Lions unfortunately wearing blue pants with their blue jerseys, I thought that the shade of blue looked darker than I remembered them wearing back in the day. Is it just me?
I’m not sure if I’d characterize the shade as “darker” but it has changed. I’d say it’s more vibrant.
But here: see for yourself:
link
Sadly the mono leotard look is what the players seem to like. And why white?
Loved the Giants’ look on paper… The wings in the helmet, the stripy shirt etc… But it looked like a horrendous mess on the field.
It was too busy. The helmet being mainly blue with red and no white to break it up made it look like a different uni to the mainly red jersey with white. And different blues. Then the tan pants on top of it helped nothing.
I think white facemasks and white pants (with blue/red stripes) could help a lot.
And down the road, switch the red and blue on the jersey and it there could be aa nice fauxback Giants look in there.
The sock situation is getting worse and worse. Same thing with the mono uniforms. Very, very depressing.
I wish the NFL would create and strictly enforce a penalty of unsportsmanlike conduct for any player not dressed in the proper socks and not allow him to play until he changes. If he doesn’t put on the proper socks after being notified, then he’s ejected from the game.
Can’t Nike design the tights to match whatever color the team is wearing? Why do so many of the players insist on wearing plain ol’ white?
Not just because my Patriots won, but I really liked the Bengals look yesterday. I hope they don’t sour on it because of the loss. I wouldn’t want them to wear it every week, but you gotta love the gimmick of the tiger team looking like a tiger. The same goes when they wear the white tiger look. In any event, I’m looking forward to seeing the Bengals in Orange/Black/Orange/Black on TNF vs the Browns week 16.
As Phil said, it was far too much orange. Also one feels that they’re one game away at all times in those things from going orange with the socks, too, and just running around looking like traffic cones.
@ Jim Vilk: Eagles in black/white should immediate disqualification from the happy side of the 5&1. Browns/Cowboys or Chiefs/Ravens would have been fine choices, and I say that as an Eagles fan and Cowboys hater.
You mean @ Phil Hecken
I didn’t do this list.
I liked the Giants throwbacks. Not getting all the hate for it.
It’s not brilliant or anything, but it’s solid.
The Eagles in black pants should never be let anywhere near the top 5.
Chargers top 5 uniform…sigh. When will that cliche cease?
Its a mess
Please stop referring to any uniform other than a soccer (or English Football) uniform as a kit. That’s their term all others are called Uniforms ie: American Football,Baseball,Basketball etc.
Also please stop referring to baseball spikes/cleats or Football cleats as boots, again a soccer term.
Thanks