For only the second time ever, the Indianapolis Colts will wear their “Indiana Nights” alternate uniforms this Sunday, as they take on the NFC-leading Detroit Lions in Indy.
When the NFL scrubbed its “one shell” rule for the 2022 season, most of us hoped this would open the door for teams to introduce — or reintroduce — throwback uniforms which used a helmet color different from the one the team currently wears. And to an extent this has indeed happened: the Buccaneers and Patriots brought back Bucco Bruce and Pat Patriot, the Seahawks and Eagles introduced new throwbacks, and several other teams unveiled throwbacks or fauxbacks that take advantge of the second shell color.
But with the ending of the one shell restriction, we cautioned that a Pandora’s Box might also be opened. A veritable “be careful what you wish for” mantra surrounded the possibility that the lifting of the one helmet rule would lead teams to introduce a new helmets (and/or uniforms) simply because they could.
Such appeared to be the case last season when the Colts unveiled their “Indiana Nights” alternate uniform. A certain uniform critic panned the new uniform and didn’t mince words:
(The new uniform is) destined to become a mainstay of future “Worst Uniform” listicles. Filled with BFBS elements — black helmet, black collar, black sleeve cuffs, black outlining on the jersey numbers — it’s the kind of move that was pathetic 20 years ago and is beyond laughable in 2023. Woof!
He continued…
- The “heathered” blue fabric — an NFL first — looks ridiculous, like acid-washed denim or something that got stained in the laundering process. Fortunately, it will likely be indiscernible on TV.
- If they were determined to put the state of Indiana on their chest, why not just wear the state outline by itself? By using that “C” logo, they’re gonna have people emailing me all season long to say, “How many captains do the Colts have?!”
- Seems really odd to put an old-fashioned number font on such a newfangled uniform.
- It’s not so much that I want to see more black on this uniform, but the nose and neck bumper lettering should probably be black, not blue.
- On the plus side: I do like the stripes across the jersey shoulders. That’s about the only positive thing I have to say here.
I think a lot of us shared that take, but wanted to see the uniforms in action, on the field. Were they that terrible looking?
I think, if judged solely as a uniform, it’s definitely not the worst we’ve seen on an NFL field in the past few years. But it’s also wholly unnecessary (as are most alts). My biggest complaint then, as now, is the new black helmet with a blue horseshoe logo (outlined in white) would be difficult to discern. Indeed, at any distance the shell appeared as almost solid black. But the question of creating a black helmet at all, especially to pair with a new uniform featuring very little black, still baffles me.
Paul astutely predicted, and this was confirmed when we saw the Indiana Nights uniforms in action, that the heathered blue fabric would not be noticeable. Indeed, the uniforms looked solid blue on the gridiron.
I thought they looked fine in action. I wasn’t then, and am still not a fan of the royal blue hosiery with the blue pants (going with black socks would have provided a nice visual compliment to the black helmet). And the introduction of the black helmet at all — especially when not paired with any other black-heavy elements — felt incongruous. This was an alternate that was actually crying out for a royal blue shell, not black.
But is the uniform truly “destined to become a mainstay of future ‘Worst Uniform’ listicles”?
I’d not only argue it’s not, but that it was easily surpassed this season by several new alternates (including several inexplicable decisions by teams to add white helmets to create new alternate unis).
It’s definitely not a great uniform; hell, it’s not even a good uniform (even discounting the BFBS aspects). But it’s fine for a single game a year. We saw it last season against the Browns. We’ll see it again on Sunday against the Lions.
Unfortunately, unless something crazy happens, the Lions will once again wear their silver/white/white/white combo, since they’re undefeated in that and will probably continue wearing it until they lose in it. Wearing “Indiana Nights” against the Browns all white uniform made for an appealing uni-pairing. The Browns’ orange/white/white is an all-time classic. The Lions silver/white/white/white is not.
I’ll need to see the uniforms in action again, but I’d preemptively argue the “worst uniform” on the field Sunday won’t be worn by the Colts.
Finally, I’m not here to defend the Colts alternate uniform. It’s not a particularly good uniform and it’s wholly unnecessary. But in the overall scheme of things, it’s far from the worst uniform to be worn in the NFL.
What do you think? Worst uniform (or close to it) or just another unnecessary uniform made possible by the lifting of the single shell rule?
Nothing sounds more boring than a night in Indiana.
Unless you’re Tom Petty
Those black helmets are so pointless but the rest of the uni isn’t terrible
Why…just why do this? If you want to create an alternate uniform, at least make sure I know it’s your team when I turn on the TV. That alternate “C” logo with Indiana in the middle would look fine as a logo on the white helmet (or even a blue helmet) but in white not black. I agree with that “other” person who reviewed the uniforms…keep the shoulder stripes. Ditch the rest of the black (maybe exchange for white) and go with white socks. And maybe try something radical…like putting stripes on the socks!!!
More mono nonsense and black elements for a team that doesn’t have black as an official color. Puke. On the other hand, I agree with Paul: the shoulder stripes are nice looking.
I know it gets dark early these days, but wearing an “Indiana Nights” for a game that kicks off at noon local time is pretty silly. At least save it for a 4:25 game!
Or a primetime game
Sure why not, everything else is terrible, might as well join the failure pile.
A certain uniform critic panned the new uniform and didn’t mince words”
I believe that’s supposed to be a colon after “words”, not a close quote.
Also, urgh. It’s not a good look at all. And, as Phil noted, we can expect the white yoga pants yet again from the Lions, so it’ll be a very college-looking game.
In fact, I wonder if that’s actually an impetus for the way the NFL has been drifting; players used to mono-crap in college wanting to replicate that in the pros. The negative side effect is that they often end up looking less professional.
“I believe that’s supposed to be a colon after “words”, not a close quote.”
You are correct sir. Good catch and now fixed.
WHY against the Lions? It’s the closest to Honolulu blue of any other uniform in the league. Hopefully Lions wear all-white or it’s going to look like a Spring inter-team scrimmage.
It’s unlikely that the Lions will wear their silver pants, but one can hope….
Wear black sox with these, as mentioned in the article and if Lions were to go grey pants, it would be tolerable.
Colts won’t even be worst looking team on the field.
“Indiana Nights” to be worn at 1pm Sunday. Makes sense
Gonna be honest, I seem to see weekly hate for Lions unis on here lately. I don’t love the mono look either, but I kinda feel like they’re not being given much appealing options here anyway (opponents going mono, or just having ugly unis in general). Hope to see the silver pants soon, but I don’t blame them for sticking with success.
Well….. they could have changed the color scheme up completely since it is “The Hoosier State”. Now that would be thinking outside the box. Not sure the NFL would have approved of that.
I agree, at least wear black socks if they are insisting on wearing a black helmet. This uniform just feels so forced by somebody in marketing and ownership thinking it was a great idea.
Just curious, do you have reason to believe that the Lions are wearing the mono for superstitious reasons? It would make sense with their record, but I haven’t seen anybody actually say that.
Have the Lions actually said that?
Not that I’ve seen. But their only loss this season came wearing silver/gray pants, and since that Week 2 loss, the team has worn only mono combos (in which they’re undefeated) for every other game. Mono-white on the road, Monolulu blue at home, with the sole exception being when they went mono-black.
Everyone is superstitious (though some are only a little stitious) to a certain extent. I believe the Lions are firmly in the Crash Davis camp where you don’t eff with a streak. If they’re winning in a certain combo, then they will keep wearing that uni until they lose. I can think of no other reason they’d continue to wear the combos they’ve worn without diverging.
Any chance lions wear their traditional thanksgiving uni set or at least helmet? It is my favorite lions uniform
According to GUD, the plan is to wear the traditional uniforms on Thanksgiving. We’ll see if that messes up the winning streak in the mono uniforms (as a Lions fan, I certainly hope not)
They’re not too bad. Like everyone has said. Black socks would help a lot. I also really like those shoulder stripes. Would love to see a lot more teams use those. Oregon State is kinda close, but not the same.
Yes!!! I love BFBS!!! I think more teams should adopt it!!!! Yea!!!!!!
Having white pants with black socks would slightly improve and balance this travesty. Only the Cards’ home set is worse than this.
Just think a dark blue face mask would be an improvement
On the road where the whites but w a dark blue helmet w a white horse shoe and white face mask
Generic team, generic uniforms
As a Colts season ticket holder for almost 40 years I love these uniforms. We have such plain and classic uniforms that these just pop. Don’t understand the hate for BFBS. These helmets are just outstanding. Beautiful in my opinion. Why do people jump on the BFBS hate bandwagon?? They are different but beautiful Just enjoy the new look!!