“Spooky Season” (where teams wear black uniforms near Halloween) isn’t limited to college football — the New York Jets will have their own special Halloween costume this Thursday Night, when the will debut their all-black uniforms against the Houston Texans.
As you’re likely all aware, the Jets redesigned their uniforms for this season, introducing what are essentially white and green throwback uniforms to their “Sack Exchange” years. But they didn’t stop there: they further introduced a new, all-black alternate (as well as Super Bowl III throwbacks). They wore those SBIII throwbacks on October 14.
The new BFBS uniform replaces their previous all-black uniform (which was originally paired with a green helmet — the Jets added a black shell in 2022).
At first glance, the uniforms look very similar. But the previous uniforms had the “pointy” striping of the previous set, whereas the new uniforms use the symmetrical striping from the current Sack Exchange uniforms. The helmet has also changed from the previous style to the current style.
Let’s take a few looks at the new black uniforms.
The black helmet has a satin finish, green “JETS” logo, outlined in white, and a metallic green facemask. Even in the closeup shots, the green fairly blends into the black. The thin white outline might help to make the logo more visible, but it’ll probably still appear almost solid black from any distance.
The black jersey features two green stripes on each shoulder cap, plus a fairly thick green collar. Front and TV numbers are white, with a thin green outline (thankfully the Jets chose to make the numbers white with a green outline, rather than the reverse).
The rear of the jersey has player NOB in solid white.
The pants are black with a thick green stripe. Socks (or whatever hosiery the players select) are also solid black.
Pretty black. Obviously we’ll need to actually see these on the field of play to render a final judgment, but it feels like most of the green elements will simply blend into the black, giving the uniform an almost all-black appearance. But, as noted above, with the white numbers, those will have maximum visibility (therefore accomplishing the most basic purpose: to identify the players).
Discounting the BFBS nature of the uniform, how does it look as a uniform? Well, I will leave that up to you to decide, but to me, this isn’t one of the better BFBS efforts. If its purpose is to actually appear mostly black, then it isn’t particularly attractive — unless of course trying to appear all-black is a feature and not a bug. In that case, it probably will succeed.
The Jets are one of the few “one color plus white” teams, so they don’t really have anywhere else to go besides green and white uniform elements, so the black uniform (which takes the white numbers from the green jersey and everything else from the white uniform) is about the only way to go if the Jets need a third color. Their other option — which some have suggested — would be to make a third uniform in silver (gray), which could play up the whole jet airplane motif. But alas, the BFBS will probably do much better on the retail side of things. And no matter what you think of these uniforms, there probably isn’t much reason to exist other than to move more merch.
I will give the Jets this: they picked the absolute perfect day to wear the all-black uniforms: Halloween night. We kind of excuse college teams for going BFBS in the week surrounding Halloween, so I’ll grant the Jets the same courtesy with this. If they only wear the black alternates once this season (and I am pretty sure this is only night it’ll be worn), then 10/31 is certainly the best time to do so.
Interestingly, last season the Jets only wore their black uniforms once. That was on the day after Thanksgiving, which is commonly referred to as “Black Friday” in the retail industry. So if the Jets must wear BFBS, then wearing them on Halloween (and Black Friday) are probably the two best days to do so.
Here are a few more photos of the new black uniforms:
What do you guys think of the black alternate? If you discount the BFBS nature, what do you think of the look solely as a uniform? And did the Jets pick the best possible date for its debut?
Love to have your thoughts!
I’d like to see these with the green helmet. The thick green collar would probably act as a nice bridge between a green shell and the black jersey. The matte black shell looks dull especially with the white stroke around “JETS”. Too bad. Another boring BFBS uni.
green helmet and green pants (with a black stripe) and this is a really good BFBS uni. just like how the lions’ BFBS uni is great with blue pants.
Couldn’t help but notice the maker’s mark is also white, as opposed to green. Gotta make sure that swoosh is visible, right?
Can something be legacy if it’s brand new?
White stripes with green trim would look okay, but not very Jets…
It’s black which is BASED off the legacy set. That’s how I read it.
A gloss helmet would look better. The commanders all black set isn’t that great but the gloss helmet keeps it from being a disaster.
It’s a frustrating one as a Jets fan (among other things). I don’t hate the concept, but a few things
*Can the helmet please match numbers? If you’re doing green text with a white outline then do green numbers with a white outline?
* Additionally, can could we do Black over green pants, I think as the Bengals proved black over a color really pops
* Finally if you’re going to go nutty with the Black why not lighten up the green? The unis already goofy but if you went like electric green it might end up in a so bad it’s good way and solve the contrast issues.
It’s a frustrating one as a Jets fan (among other things). I don’t hate the concept, but a few things
*Can the helmet please match numbers? If you’re doing green text with a white outline then do green numbers with a white outline?
* Additionally, can could we do Black over green pants, I think as the Bengals proved black over a color really pops
* Finally if you’re going to go nutty with the Black why not lighten up the green? The unis already goofy but if you went like electric green it might end up in a so bad it’s good way and solve the contrast issues.
A uniform that truly matches the awfulness of the team wearing them.
NFL should have set it up for the Jets to play the Bengals, Broncos, Browns, Bears or Bucs in orange. (Yep, these orange teams start with B).
Really seems like the Bills should be required to add orange to their uniforms!
Maybe do the reverse of the numbers and have a thin white outline on all the green stripes to make it stick out a little bit, but if they look completely black with just a white number that’s actually kind of cool (and something the Raiders should do!)
Completely unnecessary. Let the Jets look like the Jets…….
They look like themselves every week since 1969…losers.
Taking away the BFBS part, it isn’t horrible. Obviously the mono nature is also a problem, but paired with green or white pants it wouldn’t look awful. I guess the biggest problem is the shade of green they are using is too dark to properly contrast with black. They don’t need to go Seahawks neon green, but a brighter shade of green might actually be visible on tv, and would look pretty good.
Oy; here we go.
In a vacuum the black uniforms aren’t terrible, but would be better with green helmets and socks. They might even be halfway-decent with white pants, green helmets, and green socks. Or green pants, green helmets, and black socks. Of course I wouldn’t want to encourage the Jets to try any of these combos; the less we see the black jerseys/uniforms, the better. And if I ever see the black pants with the white jerseys again it’ll be too soon. I wouldn’t put anything past this dysfunctional organization.
What I’d like to see is a phasing-out of the black alternates in favor of a green-jersey throwback. Maybe the NFL will allow a fifth uniform, viz., “home” and “road” throwbacks in addition to a “Color Rush” or other alternate.
P.S.: The Jets are actually the *only* “one color plus white” team in the NFL; the Colts come close but they have gray facemasks and a black maker’s mark. In other sports the Red Wings, Maple Leafs, and Nets leap to mind; Yankees too, if you don’t count gray as a team color.
The they introduced the stupid black elements with the prior set, I said more than once that green/black/green would actually look pretty nice. Here, they could go black./green/black and look ok too. Why pass up an opportunity go all crappy mono though? Seems to be a trend for everyone.
Eagles and Jets fascination with going green/white/black is baffling. It is an awful look for both teams.
Leave the black pants to the Ravens.
We kind of excuse college teams for going BFBS in the week surrounding Halloween
We?
You and Terry do, but I don’t. As one reader said, would you excuse teams for ditching their colors and wearing red and green in December? Anyway, I’ve seen better, I’ve seen worse. It’s just another run of the mill boring BFBS uni.
Speaking of boring, does Every. Single. Team. have to reference AC/DC when revealing their all-black uniforms? Now I have to get that screeching song out of my head. Again.
At least the Jets finally acknowledge they’re in New Jersey by saying Gotham City instead of New York.
link
The team stinks, the QB stinks, the uniforms stink…
They play like shit, might as well look the part.
Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic
Just
End
The
Stealth
Just in time to officially mourn the loss of the season.
Played college ball briefly at Hawaii in the June Jones era. I believe we did this concept pretty nicely.
“…they don’t really have anywhere else to go besides green and white uniform elements, so the black uniform (which takes the white numbers from the green jersey and everything else from the white uniform) is about the only way to go if the Jets need a third color.”
They need to consider that beautiful Obsidian green :)
I’m right there with you, Wade. And go Riders on Saturday!
Top 5 uniform IMO!
This will be Aarodg’s new scapegoat for the Jets’ next loss.
I think the more we bitch about these mono-black/mono-white uniforms, the more of them pop up. It may be Karma coming to get us LOL
From a business standpoint this is brilliant.
“Legacy”? What legacy? The only legacy we have is losing and firing head coaches… :-(
It’s quite rare that this site generates such (deservedly so) negativity not just towards an organization that uses its team as a write off, but the entire fan base and culture.
I actually like the green helmet logo outlined in white, think it pops more between the two darker colors.
Would look better (as far as that is possible for a BFBS uniform) if the stripes on the jersey and pants were thinly outlined in white. Plus green socks. The idea of this jersey over green pants is not bad at all but then with the green helmet please. The derision (and sometimes blatant hate) directed at the Jets in these comments is indeed remarkable. Not a Jets fan myself but I have respect for their long-suffering fans, even if the ones we usually see on television tick a lot of stereotype boxes. Waddaya lewkin ad?
These jerseys would pop if the players wore green sleeves, socks, and gloves, but of course that would ruin the point of BFBS.
I don’t mind the Jets’ black jerseys in themselves, but it’s certainly a missed opportunity.