
Good morning, Uni Watchers, and Happy Thursday.
Some quick housekeeping: We’ve already received more than 25 Ticker Assistant inquiries, so sorting through all of them, then re-contacting everyone, then followups after that will take me some time. To all those who have contacted me: you’ll be hearing from me soon! Thanks to all who have inquired. Also, I’ll be handling the Wednesday and Friday Tickers until we have our new Ticker Assistants set up, and today’s Ticker — which follows — has a slightly different look (it’s kind of a throwback). So, even if you don’t normally read the Ticker, I’d appreciate it if you could check it out today and give some feedback on the (potential) new (old) style. Thanks!
Here’s a link to today’s Ticker.
Now then.
One of the newer uniform trends that seemed to gain some traction this year is what I refer to as “Double Darks” — simply put, this refers to when a team wears both a dark jersey and pants, but they are in different colors. In terms of “dark,” this would refer to any jersey or pants that are not white, silver, gray or gold/yellow. Pastels such as orange and light blue will be considered “dark” in this instance.
Still not quite clear? Here’s a classic example: back in 2016, for a single game, the Houston Texans wore red jerseys over navy blue pants:

Believe it or not, back in the earliest decades of the NFL, some teams would wear Double Darks (for example, in 1937, the Rams and Bears both went DD), but this look fell out of favor in the ensuing years. But it does have historical precedent dating back nearly 100 years.
I loved the look when the Texans broke it out, and I was surprised it was only worn once. But this past season, several teams sported DDs — some who have done it previously, others who debuted looks this year.
Compared to the recent trend of Icy Whites and mono-darks, this one is more welcome — although that doesn’t mean it should become prevalent. DDs are fun maybe once or twice a season. But by and large, I’d rather see that than the parade of mono uniforms that are de rigueur these days.
So which teams went DD? It’s not a huge list, but I think some of these looks are good — and are fun to see once a season.
Baltimore Ravens


The Ravens actually wore a total of twelve different uniform combinations during the 2024 season, two of which are Double Darks — they went purple over black, and then black over purple. Unfortunately, I am actually not really a fan of either of these looks, since they’re fairly close in color to one another. They’re not so close that you can’t tell the black apart from the purple, but the differentiation between the two isn’t enough. I think the purple jersey over black pants actually works better — because the combo includes black helmets (allowing for black/purple/black), while the black/black/purple combo at least features striped pants. I’m OK with either of these once a season, but no more.
Carolina Panthers


Like the Ravens, the Panthers swapped each of their dark elements, creating two distinct DDs — Process Blue over black, and black over Process Blue. Neither of these combinations had been worn prior to this season. Interestingly, the team paired different color helmets with each combo, using their new black helmet to create a black/blue/black combo, while they wore their silver helmets with the black jersey over blue pants. I found the black/blue/black combo to be the better of the two, and likely for the same reason I preferred the black/purple/black pattern of the Ravens: the helmets match the pants. While I’m not taking into account helmets or socks (only jerseys and pants), clearly helmets and socks can help or hurt the overall combo. I’m generally a fan when the DD have helmets that match pants, and jerseys to match socks.
Cincinnati Bengals


The Bengals added a set of orange pants this season, making the first DD (orange/black/orange) possible. The second DD combo of orange/orange/black had been worn previously. I like both of these looks, but prefer the orange/black/orange (and black socks) once again, as the helmets and pants match, as do the jerseys and hosiery. This provides a nice sense of color balance. The orange/orange/black (with orange socks) feels like a bit of orange overload, but I still fancy the combo. But the newly created orange/black/orange/black may be my favorite DD of all.
Cleveland Browns

This is another outstanding Double Dark uniform, and a look the Browns have worn off and on since Brian Sipe and the Kardiac Kids first paired the orange pants with the brown tops. If Cincy’s black/orange is my favorite DD, this one is a close second. While I’m OK with the Browns occasionally wearing white jerseys over white pants — though I prefer white over orange — they should try to wear brown over orange as often as possible. It’s such a great combination, and really one of the best underrated uniforms in all of football.
Denver Broncos

The Broncos got new uniforms for 2024, so the orange over navy is a new combination. While I wasn’t happy the Broncos paired navy socks with the navy pants, I do very much like the navy/orange/navy part. Due to current alternate rules, the team can only wear its blue jerseys a maximum of three times, so in theory a blue jersey/orange pants combo is possible, but it wasn’t worn this season (the team wore blue jerseys only once, going white/blue/blue/blue). The blue over orange is a combo I’d very much like to see — I’m not sure how much I’d like it, but I’d love to see it at least once. Maybe next season.
Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags have been doing the DD thing for a couple seasons, but in 2024 they wore black/teal/black only once (and that’s plenty). They have actually worn black over teal previously — and that’s actually a look I prefer, but that’s only because the black/teal/black was paired with black hosiery. If the Jags had worn teal socks, the color symmetry would be better. While I appreciate the Jaguars’ mix-and-match philosophy, there are some combos that probably shouldn’t be attempted. Of course, the best solution for the Jags would just be to make their throwbacks permanent and if they want to mix/match teal and black with a new set, I’m sure I’d like it much better.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Even though the red over pewter is the Buccaneers primary home uniform in the colder months, it still qualifies as DD. All the team needs to do is figure out how to work with Nike to create a slightly lighter (and a bit shinier) pewter. Sure, this isn’t some weird combo the team cooked up, but their regular late year home kit. It’s a solid look for the team, and one they absolutely own.
Tennessee Titans


The Titans may have the worst uniform design in football, but they do have good colors. Columbia Titans blue and navy look fantastic together, and the Titans have gone light blue over navy as well as the reverse. Of course, it’s impossible to divorce the design from the colors, though, so of these two combos, I actually really only like the navy over light blue. But that’s due to the fact that the light blue jerseys have difficult-to-read navy numbers. If the team could reverse that to white numbers with a navy blue outline, that jersey would be immediately and immensely improved. Still, DDs in navy/light blue will almost always look good on any team except the Titans in their current uni template.
BUFFALO BILLS

The Bills finally wore red jerseys over white pants for the first time ever this season, so what about mixing and matching the royal and red jerseys and pants?

I don’t think anyone wants to see any of these…

As much as I loved the Texans blue/red/blue/red from 2016, I’m not sure creating any Double Darks with their current set is something I want to see. Although the “Battle” red and H-Town navy (which almost looks black) uniforms by themselves are both brutal, so maybe mixing and matching would be an improvement?

I’d love to see the blue/blue/orange combo — even though it’s probably not technically allowed due to alt helmet rules. It’s not shown above, but my preference would be for blue/blue/orange/blue.

Though they haven’t done it since the early 2000s, the Eagles have actually worn green/black/green/black in the past. I may have been one of the few who didn’t mind the look, although it suffered from much the same problem as the Ravens — the black and midnight green are pretty close in color. The difference in shades is definitely noticeable, but it’s not as big a difference as is probably needed for any of these DDs to work.

I thought I might like the DD option(s) for the Bears a lot more than I actually do. Actually, I wouldn’t mind seeing the navy/orange/navy/orange on the field once.

I really really really wanted to see the Lions go blue/black/blue/black, which the team actually teased when they unveiled their new uniforms. But they wore the black alternate tops three times, all of which were paired with black pants and socks. Maybe in 2025 we’ll finally get to see that combo.
What do you guys think? Do you like the DD look in general? Are there any specific teams on which you like it but not others (and if so, which teams)? Would you like to see more or less of this going forward (in general, and also if the DD were to replace some of the mono-darks that are so prevalent these days)?
Lots to discuss here. Fire away!
When they unveiled their new Uni set, doubt the Falcons include red pants? I think it was white over red in most of the photos, so not “double dark”, but whatever happened to them? To my knowledge they’ve never worn the red pants and I actually kind liked them.
The red pants have not been worn.
I had no recollection of this — very bizarre they’ve never been worn!
Wow, you’re right, they did. I totally forgot about that. I wonder if they are even a thing anymore. I don’t think they’ve ever been seen since. Black over red might work though becaues of the red side stripe on the jersey it would mismatch the black pants stripes.
Omg I thought I hated All dark uniforms but The 2 different dark colors are horrendous terrible ugly pathetic Can’t watch h a game with teams wearing them I love my favorite Uniform combo Is definitely The Great looking All white uniforms Ther absolutely gorgeous smokin Look great on TV big-time Stand out professional clean look The best by far
I had forgotten the red pants also. Gridiron database doesn’t show them (link) but they were part of the roll-out:
link
Nov 1979. MNF. Tony Franklin nailed a 59 yard FG
The green/black/green/black Jets hypo might work if the green pants had black stripes or black-trimmed white stripes, and the helmet had a black facemask. But yes, no one wants to see any of these.
Disagree re the Jets. I’ve said from the start that if they must have a black jersey, green/black/green/black (socks) is fine. Just not all black, all green, etc. The others are fine too, except the third from the left (black/green/black/green).
I think all of these look great, including the concepts. I would venture to say that every single one looks better than if the team wore light pants, except Carolina’s black jerseys. Silver pants to match the helmet would be superior.
Your nuts look like Crap Ugly pathetic your taste is terrible Dark uniforms suck big-time All white uniforms are great the best looking by far
Step away from the keyboard very slowly, sir…
The Texans example looked pretty good. The Browns orange brown orange brown looked better with the brown facemask. Contrasting socks make all the difference for this style of uniforms.
Cardinals all red outfits look like a college team.
Boring!
Mix it up all little.
Bills have announced they will wear white/white/white/blue for the AFC Championship game, a combo they have not worn this season yet
This is not a bad thing really. Look I prefer any of these over the non white mono color unis. I think unless it is white, most double darks are a massive improvement over mono dark especially black. I would much rather see the Jets in Black/Black/Green than I would Black/Black/Black. Having the color pants blunts the BFBS effect on a lot of teams.
Double darks are generally fine, as long as they avoid the leotard look with the pants and socks the same color. Contrast makes all the difference. As noted by Phil, the Jags with teal socks would work, and quite nicely IMO.
I also think the best sets here are those that do not include a white helmet. Looks off to me.
I’ll die on this hill: the browns should ALWAYS wear orange pants and helmets, regardless of the jerseys. I hate both the orange/brown/white set, and especially hate orange/white/white. Yes, I know both evoke Jim Brown, etc.
Anything is better than monochromatics.
I think it is a case by case basis, and in general it needs to be obvious what the team’s main color is if they are wearing their secondary color in both the helmet and pants.
That is sort of my gripe with the Browns going with orange pants. It works with the Browns jersey, but because orange could be a primary color, going orange/white/orange makes them look like an orange team, especially since they have a blank orange helmet.
That said, I think both Baltimore and Jacksonville look great wearing black pants, even with their white jerseys. Perhaps the rule ends up being if you are wearing dark pants that aren’t your primary color you should be wearing socks that are the primary color? Also dark pants always need stripes!
I know they are not included here, but would you call the Packers a yellow team with the yellow/white/yellow combo? Not being critical, but I would never suggest the Packers in yellow/white/white being a better look, nor would it make me forget green being the primary color.
Yeah I wouldn’t consider teams with orange or powder blue pants to be ‘dark’, so I would have excluded them from this list. Not sure where the line is being drawn that they are included but yellow, gold, and silver/grey pants aren’t.
If orange is “dark”, then so is yellow (athletic gold). And powder blue.
I agree with the others who take it in a team-by-team basis. Certain combinations work well. Red/navy, green/athletic gold, royal/athletic gold. I like red/pewter for the Bucs, and I think there is enough contrast between the Ravens’ purple and black to be good. The Eagles’ midnight green and black lacks the contrast and I am not crazy about the Jets and Colts pairing black with their darker color.
Double Dark, I dig it.
In general DD works well for most teams, but as always we need a contrast in socks but not white under a DD combo. All these combinations work to some extent except for the Bears in orange jerseys. I do not know why but it makes me dizzy. Same with orange or white helmets for the Bears, a solid no. Bears in navy with orange pants could be tried once a year, white over orange pants not so eager. But never orange jerseys. Broncos, Bengals, even the Browns it is OK with me, but not the Bears. I am a Giants fan and dare I say: try red pants once a year?
It’s interesting learning how other people view uniforms – I never would have thought of “double dark” as a “unique” look – it seems like an obvious combination to me to pair major elements of a team’s primary and secondary colors. Now that it’s been pointed out, I definitely can see this viewpoint – it seems most NFL teams primarily use white, silver, gold, or yellow pants and helmets.
I am definitely in support of double dark! A lot of these “double dark” uniforms are my favorite looks these teams wear.
All of these pictured combos are my favorites for the teams and it’s not close!
Ravens black/purple/black/black
Panthers black/blue/black/black
Jags
Bucs
Titans navy/light blue/navy/navy (although these could probably be better with light blue socks!)
With the GTGFTS, that looks like the inside of Texas Stadium, and there are only two Eagles-Cowboys games played at Texas Stadium that ended with a 31-21 Eagles victory, in 1979 and 1996. I don’t think the photo looks that old, so I’m going to go with the 1996 game-November 3, 1996. (That’s when the Cowboys were down 24-21 in the final minute, they were driving close to the end zone, but Aikman threw an INT to James Willis, who lateraled it to Troy Vincent, who took it the rest of the way for a TD.)
The Cardinals should mix up their all black with their all red, and it would probably be their best look.
Black Helmet
Red Jersey
Black Pants
Red Socks
Also reduce or eliminate the “ARIZONA” across their chest.
No uniform combination the Cardinals have at their disposal will top their wonderful white away set…they don’t even ‘need’ red socks with those(but that would look good too I suppose).
You are correct. I meant that the Black/Red/Black/Red would be their best combo when wearing dark (usually home) uniforms. But yes, their all white is far and away their best look, and I would have been happy if they wore this combo for all their home games.
When the Bengals said they were going forward with the orange pants, I didn’t like the idea…felt they (like the Broncos) didn’t ‘belong’ in them. But once I got too see them over the black jerseys, I gotta say I like the look!
I wish Broncos would ditch the white helmet or only wear with the white jersey. Incorpating the blue helmet and jersey would be a big upgrade to those sets. Like the double dark one you proposed and the classic blue/blue/white/blue would be awesome
Agree about the Titans colors. IMO they weren’t far off back in the McNair days. Big, bold and relatively traditional. They don’t need micro-swooshes and swords or fugly weird skinny Greek numbers. Bring back the old yokes. Keep the navy helmet or light blue. Fin. I suspect they will pivot back to something more Oilers-like once the new stadium comes online. Because the owner lives in Houston. Argh.
I’d do light blue helmet since there are other teams that have a navy helmet including thei rivals Texans.
Orange is actually not a pastel color, except when it’s lightened like the Creamsicle for the Bucs. Actually, practically any color can be a pastel when made lighter.
The Ravens Black/Purple/Black is one of their best looks imo
For the Bears, I hate the orange lids as they wear them currently, but with the combo orange/blue/orange/blue it might look pretty good. That said, my preference is them to have the blue helmet only.
I generally like the concept of “lighter dark” over “darker dark” (e.g., ravens in purple over black). Every permutation is not necessarily a winner, but the formula for success is there. On the other hand, “darker dark” over “lighter dark” (e.g., ravens in black over purple) generally offends me. Something about it feels very wrong. Cleveland is the only team that pulls it off, and even then I’m not a big fan of dark jerseys and orange pants (e.g., Illini, Syracuse).
I like some of those concepts — Texans in red over navy would be one of their better combos (not saying much) and if the Bills insist on the red jersey, I wouldn’t mind them mixing it with blue pants. And considering their proclivity for the white-over-black combo, it’s a little surprising that Philly hasn’t gone green over black yet.
White is overrated
Can we add the Seahawks blue over silver Throwbacks to Dark over dark? And then make them permanent?
Cowboys Blue over silver/teal/grey (whatever color their pants are) are dark over dark, no?
If you read the intro, I am not considering gray, silver, white, or yellow/gold as “dark” for the “Double Dark” monicker. I don’t consider any of those pants to fall into “dark” territory. We can certainly include them as “Double Color” (in which case you’d bring in many teams, like the Steelers, Packers, Chargers, Cowboys, Patriots, Raiders, etc.)
Might be worth an exploratory article which includes all “Double Color” combos. But I’m not counting the silver/gray, yellow/gold etc. pants as “dark” in this definition.
I gotta get better at my speed reading. Sorry Phil.
Shouldn’t the Commanders Maroon over Gold be on this list as well?
“In terms of “dark,” this would refer to any jersey or pants that are not white, silver, gray or gold/yellow.”
Of the unworn concepts, only the Lions and Broncos appeal to me.
THe Ravens DD B/B/P and B/P/B grew on me over the years, but I never have truly settled on “I like these combos”.
Hear me out.
With a redesign, the Ravens could have:
Three Helmets ((Black, Purple and White)
Three jerseys (Black, Purple, and White)
Three pants (Black, Purple, and White)
The CR purple set (although I think the CR purple with the gold elements could replace the standard purple jersey and pants)
and here’s where I know I will catch strays and direct shots (haha!)
A gradient black to purple or purple to black set to be worn with a black helmet.
PS., for an extra razzle-dazzle, I liked the mustard pants. So I would champion a better color matching for some gold/mustard pants.
I’m with you, the Bengals’ orange/black/orange/black was my favorite new combo of this NFL season…
To me pants in a lighter color than the jersey tends to work well. Navy jersey and orange pants look well. Titans navy tops and powder blue pants go well. Panthers and Bengals black jersey goes well with blue and orange pants.
Light colored tops such as orange tops of Bengals, Broncos or blue or teal of the Panthers, Lions and Jaguars does not go well with dark pants. The exception being the Ravens purple tops with black pants not being too bad, However the Ravens black tops look much better than purple pants.
Teams such as the Eagles and especially the Jets, should just stay away from black.
None of the Bears looks are good regardless of the helmet. If orange tops most be worn, then wear them with white pants.
Nothing short of a dumpster fire could improve any of the Texans current uniforms.