Good morning, Uni Watchers. And a Happy Humpday to all.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and the NFL will rule the day for a number of us. Even if you’re gathering with friends and family, there’s a good chance there will be football on TV wherever you may be. Thankfully for those of us who obsessively observe the athletic aesthetic, tomorrow’s tripleheader will feature all three games having at least one throwback uniform.
And speaking of Thanksgiving, ICYMI, Mike Chamernik’s Question of the Week was Turkey-day Traditional, so please give that a look if you haven’t already seen it.
Now then.
UPDATE! It turns out the Lions won’t be wearing their throwbacks after all. BOO!
As tradition dictates, the Detroit Lions (who are must-see TV this year, even if their sartorial choices have been less than stellar) begin the day by hosting the Chicago Bears. Fortunately for us, they’ll be back in their 1950s throwbacks.
While we almost expect Detroit to wear throwbacks for Thanksgiving (they’ve been doing it for decades and because they have a silver helmet, their retros were never impacted by the NFL’s one-shell rule), they don’t always sport the 1950s look. In fact, if we go back to 2010, the Lions wore the throwbacks in 2010, then skipped six years, bringing the look back for 2017 and 2018. In 2019 they wore mono-gray, and returned to throwbacks for 2020. In 2021 they wore their regular uniforms and in 2022, they again went mono-gray. Last year though, they once again wore the throwbacks. So it wasn’t necessarily a given they’d wear them this year, but they are!
Here’s how the Lions looked last Thanksgiving.
I’ve always been a fan of the Lions wearing throwbacks on Thanksgiving — in fact, there ought to be a law mandating it. But it’s about as basic a uniform as you could ask for: plain silver helmet, blue stripeless jersey with silver numbers, and silver-gray pants with blue socks. Of course, that’s what they wore in 1957, so as far as throwbacks go, they’re accurate. Aside from the cut/template, about the only thing different from the originals are the throwbacks have NOB. So while I’m 100% in favor of this uni for Thanksgiving, I’m also fine with it only on Thanksgiving.
The Lions will be playing da Bears, who as of last evening still haven’t indicated what uniform they will wear. They’ve worn alternates twice thus far — their orange helmet/jersey in Week 2 against Houston, and last weekend against the Vikings they wore their 1936 throwbacks. I’d say it’s highly unlikely they’ll wear either of those again tomorrow, but the Bears’ regular road uniforms are just fine. Should be a great looking game!
Here’s a couple looks at last year’s game:
Like Detroit, I LOVE seeing Dallas in their 1963 throwbacks for Turkey Day — but that’s plenty. It’s a nice enough uniform, but I never liked the contrasting color bowtie yoke (either on the blue or white jersey). Don’t get me wrong — I’m always happy to see throwback uniforms — but once a year is fine with me for this one.
The Cowboys will be hosting the New York Giants, who will be in their regular road uniforms. Because the Giants added their “Legacy Red” throwback this year, they had to ditch their 1980s/90s Color Rush fauxback. While color-vs-color games on Thanksgiving have happened, I’m actually glad this won’t feature the G-men in red. Once per season was enough for that uniform as well. We should have a good looking game in Dallas.
Unlike the Lions and Cowboys throwbacks, I wish Miami would wear theirs every week of the year. (Feel free to post “They should just make these permanent” down in the comments.) I mean — how good do these look?
Unfortunately, with the state of hosiery the way it is, I expect all kinds of sock shenanigans (including a bunch of white tights). Hopefully not, but I’m not getting my hopes up. Still, any time the Dolphins wear their 1966’s, it’s a wonderful thing. Going up against the Packers — who arguably have the best home uniform in the game — will mean this one will be a looker as well.
Madden patches returning for the Thanksgiving day games pic.twitter.com/FCJmBm3zIu
— NFLJerseys (@NFLUniMatchups) November 26, 2024
The patch serves as a tribute to Madden’s influence as the one of the NFL’s most beloved NFL broadcasters, a role he held for years. Additionally, the coin used for the pregame toss will feature Madden’s silhouette on the “heads” side and his famous turducken on the “tails.”
In addition, the MVP of each Thanksgiving game will also receive the Madden Trophy and choose a high school or youth football program to receive a $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation. To further honor Madden’s legacy, memorabilia from the games will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to the John Madden Foundation, which supports youth programs in Oakland, California.
Will you be watching all the games (or at least some of the games) tomorrow? Are you pleased with the sartorial choices? Do you have a favorite uni game from a previous Thanksgiving? Which game tomorrow do you think will be the best uni matchup?
Love to have your thoughts.
Dolphins/Packers will be a beauty! The Lions throwbacks are ok but I wish they would do a Barry Sanders era throwback instead; at least they are playing the Bears and that should look good together. I’ve never been a big fan of these Cowboys throwbacks and against the Giants road uniform? Ehhh… but at least it will still look decent. All in all not the greatest possible slate of uni-matchups, but far from the worst possible. And, of course, the night time game will look great. I guess I’ll take it!
In prior years I would have agreed with you about the Barry Sanders era throwbacks on Thanksgiving. But now with their new set, the home uniform is so close to the Sanders uniform that it probably doesn’t warrant another throwback uniform. Only difference is that helmet logo and the striping pattern.
I have never been a big fan of the Lions 50’s throwbacks on Thanksgiving. They aren’t offensive but I never understood the love for them.
That “Guess the Game from the Uniform” probably has to be the 1974 Thanksgiving Clint Longley game between Washington & Dallas. It’s clearly a 70s photo, and who else is a Dallas QB wearing #19 from that era…
Yes, Clint Longley is introduced to NFL fans but that is also his swan song, he never did anything else in the NFL. Hard to believe but tomorrow, Nov 28, this game was played fifty years ago. I watched this game at my grandmother’s house with my father, he was still playing in the WFL at this point, a week before, he had just lost to the Florida Blazers in the playoffs.
i like the turkey drumstick depicted on madden’s face
GTGFTS
3 May 1981
Pat Putnam leads off the bottom of the 10th with a walk off HR to right.
Like Austin, I believe the Packers/Dolphins will be far better than the other two games. Never been a fan of the Cowboys throwbacks.
As for the Lions uniform I have always thought it looks awful when worn indoors and on artificial turf. If throwbacks must be worn, wear them on a field that blends with the time. The old time uniform with modern helmets, pads and shoes, just don’t look go together. Combine this with an indoor game and the visual is very unappealing to me. The Lions, Falcons and Saints home games are especially unwatchable even with the current, modern uniform.
Another difference between the current Lions throwbacks and the 1957 home uniforms is that the 1957 uniforms had TV numbers on the sleeves and the current ones do not.
The current throwback uniforms resemble the 1934-1954 Lions uniforms, which did not have TV numbers at all.
Either way, they are both classic representations of the Lions storied history.
100% on the make the throwbacks permanent for the Dolphins, only thing I would change would be the helmets, keep the facemask white, and go with the 1997-2012 version of the logo, but minus the navy shading on it.
Can’t wait for a day of football!
Love that “guess the game” photo with the Skins and Cowboys. Man, if Washington just put the current “W” on those helmets and used the same exact uni: what a beauty it would be. And, since you mentioned it, the Dolphins should wear that look always.
The Bears should put the white C & gray face mask on their helmets. That’s all they would have to do to be a throwback too.
Add white pants to complete the look!
They ought to lose the navy pants entirely IMHO…but that’ll never happen.
madden patches are awesome
The Cowboys throwbacks are one of my favorites – they got their uniforms ‘right’ from the get-go in ‘60.
While I like the various silver and blue mismatches they’ve worn for decades, I will tune in to see these white and blue beauts tomorrow…lining up against the Giants non-blue roadies will make for a good looking game.
Yeah, I really like those too, would be nice if the Giants could find their old gray pants in the storage unit and wear them….
The Browns are also wearing throwbacks Monday night at Denver.
^^^^^
I take that back – looks like the Gridiron Uniform Database has it wrong (according to the Browns).
My biggest problem with the dolphins current uniform is that the aqua and orange should be equally visible on the white uniforms, but it looks like 90% aqua on tv. I feel like the throwbacks make orange more of a priority, and they just look like the dolphins
Clint Longley didn’t need throwbacks – wear the regular uniforms Dallas! They were changed for a reason.
I like the color of those 1974 pants better than the seafoam color they wear now.
The Lions’ throwbacks so clearly illustrate why they should wear silver pants always, regardless of jersey color, and even if they are without stripes (although I prefer stripes). Soooo much better than white/white or blue/blue.
While unlikely, until the Lions take the field I’m scared they will come out in the plain silver shell and throwback jersey, but with the white thermal underwear pants and white leggings.
Oof, the Lions have announced that they are going blueberry rather than wearing the throwbacks.
“Do you have a favorite uni game from a previous Thanksgiving?”
Mine would be 1997’s Oilers/Cowboys matchup:
link
Had the flavor of a neighborhood rivalry game…with my high school’s colors going up against America’s Team and going onward to victory!
Lions are going full blueberry on Thanksgiving
Yep. Already covered: link
Put a white facemask on those Dolphins unis and get the teal on the helmet to match the uniform and it’s be top notch.
Boo to the Lions. Bears should go Orange/Orange/Blue/Orange.
The Lions suck. They could look pretty darn good yet they choose to look like sh** on Thanksgiving. I hope they lose and lose big. SKOL!
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. The Cowboys’ Thanksgiving throwbacks are the best uniforms in the NFL.
I love that the scoreboard photo is so old, that they were not capable of putting “DH” on the scoreboard.
I’m a huge fan of the Dolphins and believe they should go back to their retro uniforms. I was never a huge fan of their current set, although I’m torn on whether I like their current logo or their old one better. But the throwback set with an orange alternate would be pretty sweet!