While last weekend featured three throwback uniforms, Week 10 of the NFL season will include the debut of three new alternate helmets (Texans, Jaguars, Ravens). The Texans will debut their new “Battle Red” helmets, along with their new red uniform.
This is one of two alternates the Texans unveiled when they introduced their new designs back in April.
The new red helmet uses the same “horn” design which appears on the team’s white jersey. That same design will be on the new red jersey as well.
It’s a cool concept, but immediately there’s a bit of a problem. The horn pattern on the helmet goes in the opposite direction as the horn pattern on the shoulders of the jersey.
The rest of the uniform is very red.
I expect the team to come out in mono-red, as we saw at the unveiling. Here are some closer looks:
The design of the red uniform is fairly straightforward — basically mimicking the pattern found on the white uniform, with shoulder horns, “TEXANS” wordmark, and bespoke font on front, and NOB and custom font on back. The pants design is also the same as on the white and blue pants, only with a color swap.
Because the helmet has a metallic finish, it remains to be seen how well it will color match the jersey under the lights of NRG Stadium.
And although it’s expected the Texans will do the full-red look, it’s possible the team could pair the red helmet and jersey with white pants and socks.
At the time the Battle Red uniforms were unveiled, here’s what Paul had to say:
I kinda dig the helmet. Fits in with the Rams, Vikings, and Eagles, right? But the jersey horns still don’t work, the number font still sucks, and mono is still a bad NFL look.
I pretty much agree with that, and I love the finish on the red helmet. But it’s VERY red (even if the team were to go with white pants/socks). As someone who doesn’t particularly like red uniforms, I am kinda curious how this will look in action. I don’t want to go so far as to say it’s “so bad it’s good,” but it has that sort of vibe. My only real complaint is that direction of the shoulder horns and helmet horns don’t match up. I get what they’re trying to do, but the execution is lacking.
Unfortunately, since the Texans are debuting this uniform against the Lions, this will probably be a mono-red vs mono-white game. The Lions have been undefeated in their all-white road uniforms, so they’ve worn them for every road game this season. I don’t expect they’ll wear their blue or silver/gray pants with the white jersey, at least not until they lose in them.
What do you guys think of the Battle Red uniforms? Should they go full-mono or pair them with white pants/hose? Will you be watching this game because or in spite of the unis?
Potential mono-red vs. mono-white (helmet aside)? It’ll look kind of like 11 Kens vs. 11 Ryus.
HA-DOOOO-KEN!!!
I have to see these on the fiel…, ah who am I kidding – these are just awful, more so with the red pants.
The blue bullhorns get swallowed up by all that shiny scarlet.
Like all their uniforms, these are so much lesser than the previous (and rather serviceable) neo-classic alt.
I think I’ll call these Crimson Cowpies instead of Battle Reds.
I actually like these, and I think the helmet is done well. The horns going the opposite direction on the sleeves is a big miss though. Even a mono-navy bull head logo would have been a better choice on the sleeves
Cannot stand this helmet for multiple reasons but I also wonder if this isn’t the best example yet of the tail wagging the dog in terms of the helmet graphics fitting into the sculpting of the helmet. The horns on the sleeves (which the helmet seems to be mimicking) have a gentle curve toward the point while the helmet horn curves very sharply to the point of doubling back on itself, which incidentally or not keeps it right inside the vent holes of the helmet. The curve is closer to the curve on the bullhead logo horns but still looks even more exaggerated than that. Makes me wonder if the helmet sculpting was the reason for that.
My biggest complaint is the lack of balance of white in the uniform. If you’re going to have white in the pant stripe and number stroke why not make the inner-horn-stripe on the shoulders and helmet white? All of the white on the bottom-third of the uniform, makes it feel unbalanced. Here’s a mock-up:
link
Totally agreed. And I would even like to see the pants stripe mimic the horns but having the thing white piping in the middle, and maybe even curve and come to a point like the horns as well (though that could be overkill). Same thoughts for the white uniforms too.
‘pants stripe mimic the horns by* having the thin* white piping in the middle’
This will be a hard game to watch.
Agreed
And a hard game to listen to as well with Collinsworth on the call
The Lions have been undefeated in their
all-silver/white/white road uniforms, so they’ve worn them for every road game this season.They lost the NFC championship in them, and yet they still think they’re lucky?
The only thing worse than uni superstition is inconsistent uni superstition.
But that NFC championship game was last season and with a different uniform. This year with the redesigned uniforms they are undefeated in mono-white (which stinks but is true).
Wear the red helmet with the blue jersey.
Be like the Texas Rangers and lean into that “Are they a red team or a blue team? Yes.” reputation.
IMO, the best uni combo the Texans have ever worn was the red helmet with the color rush set vs Arizona last year. So I totally agree.
I’m sure we were going to get the mono-white treatment from the Lions anyway. Yawn…….
I think these all red uniforms should be called the Texans’ “bloody rare” uniforms
… Or “Pink in the middle” uniforms
That should be their primary helmet decal
This game might already be locked in as the “And 1” for the week.
Looking ahead at what’s already announced and what I’m anticipating…
Yeah, I’d say its already the clubhouse leader. But I still need to see them on the field. Going against Detroit in what is almost assuredly going to be silver/white/white/white (and stripeless white pants, to boot), it’s already half-way there.
There is nothing about this that works for me. First off, I HATE metallic helmets. I also hate Alt Helmet For The Sake of Having An Alt Helmet.
Too much red. The horns don’t work, especially since they’ve got horns going in opposite directions. I hate mono unis. This would be marginally improved by pairing the red jersey with white pants, but not if they’re going to pair white pants with white socks.
Hard pass on all of this.
I do hope that these are utilized more often for the responses it generates on this site.
It brings joy!
I am interested to see how these will look on field. Hoping that the helmet works because I love the concept. All red isn’t usually pretty but it’s been a look of the Texans for a while. I am really liking their new set of uniforms in general, including the horn design on the white jersey. They are distinct and look very much Houston Texans.
All uniform critiques aside I think it would be great if they did a red vs blue game
YES!! I’m always shouting we need wayyyy more color vs color in all sports in America. Soccer does it right. Just have every piece of uniforms not clash for either team. Maybe one day.
Also, this game would look great with the Texans in blue/red/blue/red and the Lions in silver/blue/silver/blue.
Yuck!! However after yesterday’s election they’re appropriate.
That helmet is awful. Swap it for the standard navy, and you’ve got a pretty good uniform, although I would prefer navy pants or socks.
The helmet and jersey stripes need white outlines, but wait: this is an awfully ugly uniform anyway.
These are terrible. Needs more white in the helmet and jersey. Hopefully white pants and blue socks. Could look ok if lions wear blue pants.
That helmet is cool looking and I like the jerseys too, I would personally go with the white pants here as I think that looks clean. Also good to see nearly every comment hating on this uniform and helmet set, let’s at least see it all together on the field before everyone loses their mind on a team trying out a new look!
I think those helmet horns have promise, but the all-red, metallic helmet, and lack of contrast really drag this one down for me. I would prefer the white pants with these.
I don’t think I’ll come around to the sleeve horns, although it seemed like a good idea. Horns on both the sleeves *and* helmet seems excessive.