Good morning, Uni Watchers, and welcome to Week Two of MMUW. I hope everyone had a pleasant weekend.
There weren’t any real uniform surprises in Week Two, but a few pleasant looks saw the gridiron — none more welcome than the Washington Commanders debuting their new gold pants against the Giants. The Commanders are on year three of their rebranding, but for their first two years, the team’s primary uniforms consisted of burgundy jerseys and pants, and white jerseys and pants. Although gold pants had been part of their uniforms for more than half of their history, the team hadn’t worn gold pants since 2018. So when the team announced they were bringing back the gold pants in July of this year, folks were understandibly overjoyed. And they didn’t disappoint — they looked sublime yesterday.
Even if they did give off some serious USC vibes…
In other uni news, the Patriots made good on their silver-gray pants tease, and the Lions looked like the Lions again. But there were some bad looks as well. Here we go…
This game was thisclose to being spectacular, uni-wise. The Dolphins broke out their aqua throwbacks and yes, they should make them permanent, but we know that’s not happening. If only the Bills hadn’t gone with blue socks for that yoga pants look; it kept the game from being aesthetically perfect. Granted, the white/red/white stripe on the pants helps, but how much better would they look if they wore those with striped white socks?
Really nice looking game in Minnesota yesterday between the Niners and Vikes. The Vikings are a couple tweaks away from a really nice, modern classic. I’ve even grown to like the asymmetrical pants striping, but until they ditch that stupid bespoke “sail” number font, they won’t approach the “classic” part of modern classic.
The Patriots broke out the silver-gray pants for the first time this season (and only the fourth time ever in this uni set), and they look so much better than when they pair their navy jerseys with navy pants. I just hope they don’t equate the silver-gray pants with losing (they lost 23-20 in OT yesterday), and instead focus on how good they look. And while most of the Seahawks wore navy socks (for the yoga pants look), a couple guys went with plain white socks, and boy doesn’t that look much better too?
And speaking of pants making a big difference in a team’s overall appearance, yesterday the Commanders debuted their new gold pants, and boy howdy, what a difference they make! They looked so good I can’t even complain they don’t have stripes. I sincerely hope they wear the gold pants at home for every game (including when they go BFBS). In fact, I bet the gold pants would actually work, although they’d probably look too much like the Steelers if they tried that.
If you’re a fan of process blue socks, this was a game for you. I just wish the Chargers had gone with their gold pants instead of white, because from the waist down, it looked like a Spiderman meme.
I guess you can’t argue with the results (New Orleans crushed dem Cowboys 44-19), but for the love of all that is holy, can the Saints please STOP with the black pants/socks with the black jerseys (or the white jerseys, but it’s worse with the black). They wore gold pants for all three preseason games (with both white and black jerseys), but yet, once the games count, they default to this.
It really doesn’t get much better than this, uni-wise. About the only thing wrong with this one was the Colts wearing white hosiery. But other than that, a beautiful game. Seriously, you could have frozen someone sixty years ago, thawed them out, and they would instantly recognize both teams without a second glance. Two timeless uniforms, for sure.
There really oughta be a rule that if your pants don’t have stripes, you’re forbidden to wear same color socks. The Jags’ unis ain’t great, but if they would just have worn black socks, this would have looked much better.
Are we starting to see a pattern here? The Titans were yet another team to wear white socks with white pants. *Sigh* … On the other hand, the Jets looked incredible in their Sack Exchange unis, and this was the regular season debut of their new green jerseys. I expect the Jets to make a bunch of the “good side” of the 5 & 1 this year…but will this game be their first?
After going Monolulu blue for their season opener, yesterday the team wore their Sunday best against the Buccaneers. This is just such a good look, you’d need to go back at least 20 years to see them look this good. Now, that won’t always be the case (in fact, it’s arguable that none of their other combos are all that great), but when they go silver/Honolulu/silver-gray, they look fantastic.
Pretty good looking game between da Raidahs and the Ravens yesterday, but once again, we have another team wearing white hosiery with white pants. Yes, I know today’s players don’t share my sartorial preferences, but I just don’t get the appeal.
Almost every time the Cardinals play at home, we’re virtually guaranteed at least one team will look terrible. Well…thanks to the Rams in their bone (dishwater) over blue, we got the worst possible matchup.
More photos (if you dare) here and here.
This was low-key one of the best looking games from yesterday. And unless Cincinnati goes full White Bengal, they always wear color contrasting pants and socks. I know some of you aren’t fans of the Bengals unis, but I am a big fan. And of course, the Chiefs almost always look good.
The Broncos wore white at home yesterday (a rare occurrence), which had the potential to be a looker. Unfortunately, they decided to pair their white jerseys with navy pants and hosiery, thereby making it less-than-spectacular. And interestingly, this USA Today graphic actually included an image of the Broncos in last year’s uniform. Note that while the parentheses stripes weren’t great, at least they wore blue socks with white pants. Other than their one preseason game wearing orange pants, they’ve yet to wear contrasting hosiery/pants. They really need to rethink this decision.
What better way to close out Sunday Night than with another team to wear white hosiery with white pants. The Texans, as is their tradition, wore white for their home opener, this time showing off their new uniforms to the home crowd. And da Bears? Well, they decided they’d wear their orange alternates on the road for some reason. It’s not a terrible uniform, but that orange bucket is a bit too much. I think they looked better a couple years ago when they paired that jersey with their midnight navy helmets.
Ketchup and Mustard is an improvement for the ‘manders, but the uniforms still need work. I still get more Minnesota or Central Michigan vbes the “WFT”
I expect fauxbacks after 5 years are up. The old name isn’t coming back, but bringing back the old look otherwise would go over very well with the fan base
I actually disagree on the idea of fauxbacks (and not just because of the implication of the old name). I think one of the big reasons the Commanders new brand has been so rocky, is because it’s not “it’s own thing”, and can’t be disconnected from the strong visual brand from before. The Commanders need to strike out on their own and create a NEW visual identity that’s wholly their own. It’s why, despite how ugly they are, I respect what they’re trying to do with the white and black unis.
Yeah. At this point their “new identity” just feels like a knockoff. An imitation. They need to just do a complete overhaul. New colors, new branding. Maybe tweak the colors? The Seahawks and buccaneers did it successfully.
I’ve just felt that they need to go back to the dark burgundy and metallic gold. That burgundy shade was really unique.
Guess the Game from the Scoreboard
link
Wednesday, May 17, 1967 Chicago White Sox 5 Minnesota Twins 4
Notice they hadn’t added the pinwheels to the faux rocket launchers yet.
Second week in a row that Aiden Hutchinsen has worn an incorrect Swiss flag on his helmet. The Swiss flag is one of only two international flags that is square. His sticker is rectangular!
Hi John, I also noticed that disproportionate Swiss flag (thank you grammar-correct!) sticker on Hutchinson’s helmet during last week’s SNF game. Your comment led me to think that I remember seeing a Swiss flag during the recent Paris Olympics — either during a medals ceremony or the opening or closing ceremony, maybe in another flag-decorated venue — that was not correctly square. And I thought then, how strange for the Switzerland-based IOC to not have the correct flag of its home country on display — unless it’s an aesthetical issue to have all flags (except Nepal’s double-tail) the same size? Maybe that’s the same thought the NFL — the outfit that fines players for an untucked shirt tail! — had in allowing players to honor their heritage with the second national flag sticker. Doesn’t mean it’s right, though.
Really disagree on the Bengals white uniform. There are more than a few problems with it, but the most noticeable is that it just doesn’t match with their orange helmet. There is so little orange in the rest of the uniform it looks like the helmet belongs to a different team. It seems pretty clear these white pants and jersey were designed to look good with their white alternate helmet. I have no problem with a black and white uniform to match a black and white helmet. But if that is the case that jersey and pants should be an alternate design. Their standard white jersey and pants should feature more orange, like they had for the rest of their existence. The black tiger stripes over white on the jersey/pants just do not work with the stripes over the orange in the helmet.
Absolutely agree. I would add that black socks don’t make this set better. They only exacerbate the problem. Orange socks would be preferable, for me. In genera, however, I am of the mind that matching jerseys and pants look goofy as hell when paired with contrasting socks. I don’t get the hatred for the “leotard” or “yoga pants” look but looking like you’re wearing a spring wetsuit over tights makes sense? I think it looks silly. If the jersey and pants are going to be matching colors, please go all in with the socks too.
I dislike the Vike’s number font, but the black face mask is their worst idea. IMO
I can’t say the number font is a big problem for me, but they need to slap a white or at least yellow facemask on the helmet and fix the pant stripes.
I somehow never noticed the black face mask. A yellow mask would look amazing.
I’m a Giants fan who watched the entire game against the Commanders. The gold pants are a massive improvement, but I kept saying “those pants need stripes.” It would be much better if they have classic burgundy/white/burgundy stripes gong down the sides. But either way, the gold pants should be worn with the burgundy jerseys every time. Much much better, but then again, the bar is extremely low.
This weekend had so much white! Now the Colts do it mostly right- I would kill for teams bringing striped socks back.
Denver’s blue white blue combo is just wrong (not to mention the non-helmet stripe)!
If they can make solid color leggings instead of socks, they make can make leggings with stripes. Contrast and/or stripes would elevate almost all these uniforms. Hoping that the next generation of American youth flips the script and clamors for stripes and contrast-colored socks.
Panthers fan here (I know…) – in a vacuum, I love the panthers brand – name and colors and all.
While watching the game I also noticed how similar the chargers blue was to panthers blue. Made me think how non-unique the panthers are and how they are kind of “stuck” in the nfl uni-verse.
– if they emphasize too much silver/black, it’s too much like raiders
– too much on blue/silver, almost exactly like lions (also a big cat!)
– if they tweak their blue more towards old aqua – too much like jaguars (also a big cat!)
idk… just a rambling thought. wish it were different or more unique like the michigan panthers…
Contrast in that game was terrible. If the Panthers wore their black jerseys and the Chargers wore their yellow pants, it would have been easier to tell the teams apart.
Ditching the silver helmet is the first thing that would help them. Carolina blue, black, or even white would be better. I think their ideal uniform would be blue helmet, blue jersey, and white pants. Go with traditional white and black UCLA style stripes on the jerseys, with numbers on the sleeves.
Totally agree that they don’t have a solid and unique identity as is. Nothing about their look is bad, it is just bland and unremarkable. Light blue and black work so well as combo, and yet they are using so much silver and white.
Go full on Steelers look… Black helmets, black/white home/road jerseys and process blue pants home and away.
Would be a unique(ish) NFL look and avoid the washed out silver/white look. Silver and black as throwback.
Agree with Greg and I think The Bengals should wear the white pants with the orange stripes and also get an alternate white jersey featuring orange stripes. That uniform combo with orange socks would look way better.
Pretty great looking weekend of sports. Great coverage everybody who contributed.
OK, I got it. You don’t like the pants and the socks to be the same color.
As a 33 year old Jets fan, I don’t think I’ve ever been hit with a wave of nostalgia like I have with the Jets wearing these uniforms. It’s very satisfying, especially coming off their last uni set.
Sometimes Paul used to talk about athletes who just looked “right” in their uniform. That picture of Nabbers with #1 makes him just look “right.” His form, his stride, his eyes, the stiff arm, and the long #1. Something about him is just a joy to watch aesthetically (and athletically. If the Giants can get on okay QB he’s gonna have a great career).
Though I really miss the gray pants with the whites. The white looks super sharp with the blue tops but a little too monotone with the road whites.
GTGFTU: Sunday, January 8, 2023, Vikings (29) at Bears (13), at Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Bears in all blue is a relatively uncommon combination. I saw the Nike swoosh, so I knew it had to be 2012 or later. That narrowed it down to 4 games, One in 2022, two in 2017, and one in 2016. The 2016 game and one of the 2017 games featured navy socks as opposed to white, leaving us with two games. I then went to the player on the right wearing #17. It’s QB Tim Boyle. I identified him because it appears the ball is being snapped to him, and he’s the only bear to wear that number in those two years that’s white. He played for the bears in one game in 2022, that very game against the Vikings
One word for the Bears Pumpkin Spice look.
Yuk
The Broncos were a huge disappointment in how they looked and how they played. The franchise continues its rudderless downward spiral in the post-Bowlen era. White jerseys over blue pants is how you choose to debut your new unis at home to the Broncos faithful in the regular season? Inexcusable.
Orange over white was the only choice.
When I first flipped on the game I thought the Broncos were the Texans.
Some minor quibbles here but the Colts in blue pants would be money. And I have some issues with the Jets: the number size seems too large, the collar width is comical, and the pant stripe needs a white stripe down the middle. There’s a pattern here with their set and it just seems….clunky. Very 80’s and not in a good way.
Agreed, something looks off with the Jets.
The Titans could have really made their game look a lot better if they had just worn contrasting pants. Wish more teams would not wear white pants against a team with white pants IF they have an option not to.
Heck, navy socks would have made this game a top 3 in the 5&1 IMO.
Tennessee has to be contemplating returning to their Oilers look full-time,right?
I’m thinking an overhaul is coming. And, probably with a return to the original Titans uni. But, my guess would be to add a lot more red.
Obviously the Commies need a whole new set, preferably one that’s as close to a classic look as they can get without costing them a new stadium deal, but kudos to whoever at the organization saw the quick-fix with the gold pants. I daresay what they wore Sunday rises to the level of “okay, actually.”
If you lined up the “road” (white) unis for Houston, Atlanta and Denver, can you really tell them apart?
Agreed. The lack of originality exhibited with these three is disappointing. Dark navy is way overused in the NFL. Not as bad as MLB helmets but it’s bad.
If you look at the Saints pics you’ll see that their uniform numbers are different shades.
Titans, Jags, and probably the Colts: I’m sure all made it a point to wear as much white as possible, since they were outdoors in the hot sun.
I agree with practically everything you’ve said here, Phil, especially concerning the poor hosiery choices by some teams. But, damn, that is my favorite Chargers combo by far (white pants)- The only thing missing and preventing perfection is a gray facemask.
“Seriously, you could have frozen someone sixty years ago, thawed them out, and they would instantly recognize both teams without a second glance.”
Yeah, and they’d think the Colts were still in Baltimore and the Packers still played some home games in Milwaukee.
I’m actually really impressed with how the broncos uniforms looked yesterday. While I think matte can be overdone lately, I think the way it matched the navy pants looked so good. Having seen the uniforms on tv and “in motion”, I think the sleeve design matches bronco logo well. The stripes on the pants were the only thing that looked a little off at times…and sure, the socks matching the pants.
Seems like white over navy was a let-down to some, but temps were in the 85-90 range with full sun – so it can get pretty hot. That could be reason why they went with this combo. The eagles often do white over white for home games during preseason/first couple weeks when it’s hot.
If heat was truly an issue, then why didn’t they wear their white pants – or even the orange pants – with the white jerseys? Either of those would have been ostensibly cooler than the dark blue pants. And either would have looked better for home use. Instead, the Broncos looked like they were the Chicago Bears playing on the road.
It seems so silly to me that, in the uni-verse, so many people insist on calling yellow ‘gold.’ There is precisely one NFL team that has gold as a primary color: New Orleans. Washington, Pittsburgh, and Green Bay wear yellow. As A New England fan, I find it similarly silly to refer to their pants as silver. Grey is definitely more accurate. The helmets are a tougher call, but the pants are grey. And the dreaded old ‘silver’ jerseys were just white, but dirty.
49ers are gold too. Actually makes sense with the whole miners/gold rush thing.
Yup, you’re right. That too is gold. Forgot about them. So two teams with gold, and a handful with yellow. Yet only the yellow teams seem to push the ‘gold’ fantasy.
Phil, you have upset this lifelong Bucs fan. OK, I get that you love the Lions’ look from yesterday — I do, too. But, not ONE word — good or bad — about the Bucs’ traditional road look, which is rare this early in the season but perfect for them — as is their record!
Contrasting socks make you look shorter. Plus white on white on white is the look right now (see every college program).
Just because it’s currently “the look” doesn’t mean it looks good. And it says a lot about the state of the NFL’s visual program when they’re looking to the college ranks for inspiration.
And I disagree that contrasting socks makes players look shorter. Rather, I’d say that mono-colored pants and socks just makes players look like they have noodle legs.
I mean the socks thing is just true of fashion anywhere. Like cuffed jeans or 7/8th leggings vs full length.
But the innovation is happening at the college level since there is more flexibility.
White-on-white is hardly an “innovation”
I don’t think it’s the NFL looking to the college ranks for inspiration as it is the younger generation and their sWaG mentality bringing that silliness to the pros.
IMO It looks as dumb on the college level as it does on the pro level.
And while we’re at it, the bare legs look is dumb as well; thankfully, it hasn’t made its way to the NFL on a widespread basis yet, although I’ve seen a few games where players have gone bare-legged. Needless to say, it looks like shit in the pros, as it does in the college ranks.
I will now go sit in my rocking chair and continue shouting at clouds.
Washington can keep Commanders or change, that part I have no opinion on. But they need to go back to the WFT look and add the gold/yellow pants back. There was nothing wrong with that look.
The Saints are maddening that they tease the gold pants all preseason and now are back to their worst look possible. Those stipeless pants are terrible.
The Cardinals/Rams could have been a pretty good looking game.
A modest proposal – as was {ahem} subtly suggested {ahem} throughout this article:
Do we change the Uni-dentifier from: helmet/jersey/pants to helmet/jersey/pants/(predominant) sock color.
e.g. A description of the Bills as White/White/Blue doesn’t acknowledge the huge swing between: White/White/Blue/Blue and White/White/Blue/White
If the Cardinals just wore white pants, even without stripes, this would be a good look. Even with the stupid gigantic “ARIZONA” across the chest. However, their current white pants wouldn’t work, since they have gray/silver stripes with that color appearing no where on the red jersey or white helmet.
Or, or…they could just wear the white over white for every game! I’d like that.
White pants w/o stripes under the current cardinal top would be ok I suppose.
Lot of good looks this week..
* Jets looked as good as advertised. As Jets fan this is what I wanted and the metallic Green Helmet really adds something
* Washington looks much better but they need to kill the ridiculous wordmark… That’s why you’re getting Minnesota and Central Michigan vibes. College teams should have giant wordmarks, NFL teams should not.
* Pats look much better with the grey and really once the mono issue goes away it’s a nice set
* The Bears have way too much orange there.
*I actually like the Vikes look. The Numbers, while Funky, aren’t a functional problem and they do fit with the the theme for the team.
I wanted to say thanks to Phil and Jimmer for how they have set up the MMUW.
I love the breakdowns of each game, with plenty of photos! The 5&1 catalyzes deeper thoughts and discussion. While there are plenty of opinions on individual team’s uniforms, I really appreciate taking a larger view of the aesthetics of the matchups, fields, and lighting.
Thanks Roudy!
I’m sorry, but no, plain white socks are never a better option, ever. Just no. If white socks have to be worn they need to be striped. I’m so sick of plain white socks.
And #1 in my book was Lions and Bucs. That looked like an old NFC central matchup. Great looking game. The Colts automatically drop in rankings for their egregious use of white socks. Yuck.
Da Bears are 1-4 with the orange lids…… Just sayin’ LOL. I’m using any excuse to keep them from wearing again.
Watched the Washington/Giants highlights last night after reading this, and really couldn’t get on with it. Washington just looks off. The wordmark really hurts them, but the pants really need stripes. Without them, it makes them look unfinished. Although both of these are modern trends, so little hope.
The Giants, on the other hand look worse by the year. The whole uniform looks naff with retro logo and mismatched red/blue just because they were mismatched in the past. The whole look feels 1961 – which is when they started wearing that, and not in a timeless classic way (and it was more jarring because of the modern Was look) . I really think they need a whole refresh. This look can be a throwback, but they need to admit to themselves that it just doesn’t look good.