Good Thursday morning, Uni Watchers. I hope everyone had a peaceful and reflective Wednesday.
Last week, I took a look at what would happen if teams whose uniforms are BFBS decided to mix and match their BFBS elements with their primary uniforms. I think that showed that while one or two combos might look all right, by and large, BFBS is designed to be a uniform unto itself. And on Tuesday, I took a look at what would happen if teams decided to mix and match their Color Rush uniforms with their primary uniforms, AFC Edition.
As we saw then, there were a couple combos that haven’t ever been worn that might look good paired together, but most of the mix/match combos are best left as concepts. Will the NFC mix/matches fare any better? I’ll leave that to you to be the judge. As I noted before, the point of this isn’t to advocate for (or against) any of the mix/match combos seen below, but to see whether or not they’d even be viable options.
Graphic templates from the wonderful Gridiron Uniform Database.
Let’s take a look.
NFC East
Three teams in the NFC East meet the mix/match CR/alternate/primary criteria: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders.
DALLAS COWBOYS
The Cowboys have a white alternate helmet as well as a “color rush” uniform, but for this, we’ll just look at combos with the white helmet. I’ve paired their dark (navy) jersey with the white pants, as well as their gray pants (which they normally wear with the navy jerseys). I also tried the CR jersey with the gray pants, as well as their white primary with the white pants. The first three look fine, but the white jersey with royal numbers — despite not looking too bad above — doesn’t work with the alt helmet and white pants.
Should They Do It? The only one I wouldn’t mind seeing is the white/navy/white/navy combo.
With a midnight green and black helmet, plus black, green and white jerseys and pants, the Eagles can mix match with several different combos. All four on the top row, and the first two images in the second row use various combinations with the black helmet. The final two (bottom graphic) mix/match with the green helmets. It’s difficult to tell, since the midnight green helmet can look black under certain lighting conditions, and is very dark regardless. And throughout its run, the Eagles have tried almost all combinations. Because all three jerseys and pants have black, green and white, the mix and match would work well. Personally, I don’t like when the Eagles wear black elements (it’s fine as an accent color), so I’d prefer they don’t mix and match. But it would work if they did.
Should They Do It? Maybe once or twice a season, mix in a little black.
The Commanders have a lot of options at their disposal, with burgundy and black helmets, burgundy, black and white jerseys, and burgundy, gold and white pants. The first two sets were actually part of my earlier BFBS mix/match piece, while the last set of four mixes and matches the white jersey and white pants with the black elements. Of all 12 possible looks, about the only ones that I think work are pairing the white jersey/black pants with either helmet. But any mix of the burgundy and gold with the black wouldn’t really work, since the BFBS uniform is designed to stand alone. The white jersey/black pants combo seems like it would fit the best, but even that’s a stretch.
Should They Do It? No, they should not.
NFC North
All four NFC North squads feature CR or alternate elements that could be mixed and matched.
CHICAGO BEARS
With an alternate orange helmet and jersey, plus alternate orange striped socks, the Monsters of the Midway have a few different mix/match options at their disposal. I’m not a big fan of their current orange alternate, though I didn’t mind it when they originally paired the orange jersey with midnight blue helmets and striped socks. I certainly wouldn’t want to see every combo pictured above but the navy/orange/navy/orange piques my interest a bit. The rest are best left un-mixed/matched.
Should They Do It? Probably not.
The Lions have a bunch of options due to two helmets, three jerseys and four pants, but because their blue helmets have a black lion decal, they’re designed to be paired with the black jersey, and either blue or black pants. Likewise, the silver helmet as well as blue and white jerseys have no black, making mix/match pretty much unsuitable. However, since their black, blue and white pants have no stripes, mix and matching those is a bit easier, but the only combo that truly works is the blue/black/blue/black. And that is actually a combo the team has teased, but hasn’t yet worn.
Should They Do It? The blue/black/blue/black, yes. Any other combo, nope.
For some reason, the Packers introduced a white helmet this year, ostensibly to create a “Winter Warning” icy white alternate. But the helmet striping doesn’t match the striping on either the jerseys or pants. This may have been one of the dumbest fashion faux pas in the NFL. Pairing the white helmet — which matches nothing the teams wears — with any of their primary uniform elements is just wrong.
Should They Do It? Never. Not ever. No.
The Vikings have also introduced a new white helmet this year, but unlike the Packers, they actually created a uniform to pair it with. So it’s not going to pair with any of their primary uniform elements.
Should They Do It? Hell no.
NFC South
Two teams in the NFC South fit the mix/match criteria: Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, both of whom have alternate black helmets.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Since the Panthers introduced their black helmets last year, they’ve worn them with an all-black uniform and this season, wore the black helmet with Process blue shirts and trousers. I’m not a fan of the decal on the helmet, but it works well with almost every possible combo the Panthers can assemble. But just because they can, doesn’t mean they should. Still, because every jersey and pant has black, Process blue, white and silver/gray, all possible combos would work.
Should They Do It? Sure, why not. The Panthers would probably go an entire season without wearing the same helmet/jersey/pants/socks twice. Let them be the Oregon Ducks of the NFL.
The Saints introduced an alternate black shell back in 2022, but they’ve only ever paired it with their white fauxback. I’d like them to fix the helmet striping, but it could pair with their primary uniforms, so long as they adjust the shade of gold on the fleur de lis. But until then, they should concentrate on wearing gold pants every game.
Should They Do It? No.
NFC West
Surprisingly only one team in the NFC West meets the mix/match criteria: The Seattle Seahawks. Arizona was covered in the BFBS mix/match, while the LA Rams have only one helmet and already pair their primary and alternates. The 49ers have both a white and red throwback, but no alternate helmet or jersey.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
With a full mono neon green CR uni, the Seahawks could mix/match that with their primary and alternate uniforms. In fact, in both 2020 and 2022, the team did mix/match the neon green jerseys with their blue pants and socks. I hate to admit it, but I didn’t hate it. Still, the neon green should probably not be mix/matched at all, although some of those combos are better than the mono-neon. But that’s not necessarily a compliment.
Should They Do It? Other than the combo they’ve already worn, no.
What do you think? Should the NFL relax its uniform rules even further to permit alternate helmets/uniforms or color rush uniforms to be co-mingled? Do any of the above concepts work for you? Again, the point of this isn’t to necessarily advocate for or against mixing and matching, only to see what combos might be possible if it were.
Love to have your thoughts.
GTGFTS: June 29, 1990. Dodger Stadium. Fernando Valenzuela’s only no-hitter. RIP El Toro.
Only time in modern MLB history when two no hitters were thrown on the same day, as Dave Stewart throws a no-no against the Blue Jays in SkyDome 3 hours earlier.
OK I have to pull Vin Scully in on this one!
“Fernando Valenzuela has pitched a no-hitter at 10:17 in the evening of June the 29th, 1990. If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!!”
Not pictured: Dave Stewart celebrating his no hitter that was completed almost exactly 3 hours earlier in Toronto. Only the second time in MLB history (and only time in the modern era) where 2 no hitters were thrown on the same day.
This is such an interesting experiment. I like to see all the possibilities, but other than the Seahawks and Panthers I don’t want most of those teams to switch up their combos at all.
I wouldn’t Be opposed in principle to gray/black/gray/blue for the Lions, but I would need to see it on the field to be sure.
For (a small handful of) teams that don’t have a great, long-tested uniform set, I wouldn’t mind seeing lots of mix and matching. The Panthers make sense, as you suggested. Titans or Jags, maybe, once they get redesigns.
But that could be a can of worms.
There are some interesting combos and some horrific combos, but my general rules of thumb are these:
1. The only alt helmets that should ever see the light of day are Pat Patriot, Bucco Bruce, the Falcons red throwback, and the Broncos D throwback.
2. The only teams that should EVER wear black are the Panthers, Steelers, Bengals, Raiders, and Ravens. I’ll make an exception for Atlanta, especially if they wear the throwbacks they wore in weeks 4 and 5, but I wish they’d go back to being a red team and not a black team. And I’m okay with the Jags wearing black pants. But in no event should any team ever go mono black.
With that in mind, there are a two combos that are unnecessary but not terrible, and they’re both Chicago. I don’t mind the blue/orange/white/orange or blue/white/blue/orange looks. The rest I’ll pass on.
Panthers are planning on wearing the combo shown in the lede this weekend. While I much prefer the black or blue jersey with silver pants, this one is much better than a black jersey with blue pants,
Well not blue socks
link
I’ve been wanting to see the Cowboys wear their Color Rush jersey with the normal silver helmet, silver pants, and navy socks like they did in 1994 since they brought that jersey back into the rotation. Hopefully they will at some point, though this year being the 20 year anniversary of that season would have been cool
Call me a Vikings homer, but I think this look is great.
Problem with the Eagles is their green is so dark and the nature of the helmet finish, it is incredibly hard to differentiate the black and green helmets, especially when they are wearing the black jerseys.
If Seattle was just navy and neon green the mix and match would work fine, but the heavy presence of gray in the their jerseys and on the helmet logo screws it all up. navy and lime work and contrast well, but adding in a muted gray to the mix makes everything muddled and out of place. Navy/navy/lime/navy would work for them if only the bottom stripe of the hawk logo on the helmet was green instead of gray.
GTGFTU: December 2, 2019, Minnesota Vikings (30) at Seattle Seahawks (37), CenturyLink Stadium, Seattle, WA
The Seahawks played the Vikings, both wearing these respective combos two times actually, once in 2019 and once in 2020. I was able to tell it was the 2019 game by the patch on the collar of Russell Wilson. That patch was only worn in 2019.
Could you please make a Packers combo with yellow helmet, 50s green top with white pants and green socks
That would look great.
Also, where or how did you get these uniform templates? I would like to try this
The bookends of the Dallas concept are 2 I’d like to see (always thought they got it right in 1960 and should have stuck with that)…and are almost perfect – just throw a silver mask on the left one and wear the heck out of that.
Got to hand it to the Panthers for picking such good colors and sticking with that chassis(it’s not all that ‘dated’ – except for the helmet stripes). Every combo looks terrific.
Hate to admit it, but the Commies B/R/B set is serviceable with either the red (good) and black(better) helmet.
An unused Bears’ uniform I’d like to see is navy/navy/navy/orange.
Didn’t the Eagles do the black/white/black/white for the Brazil game?
Yep
The Packers’ white helmet should be launched into the sun. Full stop.
However, the green pants from the ’50s throwback look decent with the road jersey and regular helmet (I’ve tested this in Madden).
Could combine the Packers primary unis with the CR pants. Y/G/W/G would be entirely new and Y/W/W/G would be like the old version of the CR but with green socks
What about the Cardinals wearing black helmet, red jersey, black pants, red socks?
I basically covered those in my earlier BFBS mix and match piece (link).
But here:
link
link
Not every possible combo, but most.
The Lions combo I would like to see is Blue/White/Blue/White with the helmet logo ABB [Anything But Black]. It ties into a concept I’ve considered recently of [some] teams having distinctly different home and away uniforms — the Bucs in Creamsickles in Tampa and Pewter and White on the road; the Pats in Pat Patriot in Foxboro and Flying Elvis on the road, and [in a just world] the Texans as the Oilers in Houston and the Bulls**t on the road. But if it led to the Steelers and Packers and Browns tinkering with home/road perfection then as Ad Hoc Commissioner I hereby rescind my suggestion.
The Commanders are going mono burgundy this weekend when they host the Steelers. That black/black/gold combo woulda been hilarious.