As we approach Super Bowl LIX (aka Super Bowl 59), it’s time for a ranking of every SB uniform pairing ever played, going from worst to first. Of course, these rankings are largely subjective, and I’m sure you won’t agree with the order of my selections. After literally hours of finding and grading all 58 games played to date, I’ve come to the conclusion that ranking games ain’t easy — sure, there are some stinkers and some absolute all time glorious-looking games, but the middle-of-the-pack uni matchups can be a bit tricky.
For my rankings, the most important criterion is how both uniforms look together; we can have games where one of the two uniforms is fantastic, but the other is not. By and large, two good uniforms opposing one another will rank higher than just a single great uni. But there are times when both uniforms may look tremendous individually, but when paired together, the matchup as a whole isn’t as good as the individual parts.
Where a game was played (as well as time of day) also factor into it: dimly lit dome games are likely to rank lower than games begun in sunshine, with all other factors being equal. Colors also play a part: if two teams have essentially the same colors, that may either work for or against the overall matchup, depending on where they appear (helmet, jersey, pants). Finally uniform styles — be they classic or modern — will affect the rankings.
Two things that are not considered in the uni matchups will be the quality (or final score) of the game (close games and blowouts are factored equally), nor will a team’s success in a uniform be considered. For example, the Patriots’ “Flying Elvis” uniforms of the Brady years may have been successful in terms of Super Bowl appearances, but that factor alone does not for a good uniform make. Conversely, many Broncos fans may consider the orange jersey “cursed” but that will not affect their rankings in terms of being a good or bad uniform.
The Rankings will be divided into five parts, in ascending order — today we’ll look at the 12 “worst” matchups, followed by 12 more Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, I’ll unveil my Top 10 Super Bowl uniform matchups.
Remember, it’s all subjective, so feel free to disagree in the comments below.
#58: SB 49
Nike’s first redesign when they took over the NFL uni contract in 2012 was for the Seahawks, and while the mono-blue look has somewhat grown on me over the years, mono-dark unis (particularly with neon accents) never look good. Throw in the Patriots wearing similar navy blue pants, and you get a recipe for the worst Super Bowl look of all time.
#57: SB 51
I hate to make it look like I’m picking on the Patriots, but I’ve never particularly liked the Flying Elvis unis — and with as many SB appearances as the team has, they’ll make some appearances on the “good” side too. But those giant side panels, and non-synched pants stripes going up against the truly awful Falcons uniforms, and you have another terrible uni matchup.
#56: SB 43
Of all the individual unis that have appeared in the big game, I’ll proffer that the Cardinals had the worst uni of all. It feels like I’m penalizing the Steelers, but even their solid black/white/golds can’t overcome Arizona’s sartorial disaster.
#55: SB 50
The only non-Roman numeral Super Bowl was another visual cacophony, featuring the “first” modern uniform (the Broncos with their parentheses striping) which didn’t match up well against Carolina’s silver, black and blue elements. Contrast wasn’t the problem here, but taste is certainly in question.
#54: SB 40
Poor Seattle. Their 1976-2001 silver/royal unis were really nice, but the 2002-11 unis were a real step down. The mono-Suicide Blue unis just never looked good, and even Pittsburgh’s black/white/gold couldn’t save this matchup.
#53: SB 36
With the move to St. Louis, the Rams wanted to differentiate themselves from their LA look, switching from athletic gold to a light metallic gold in 2000, and for their first two seasons in that shade of gold, they also had gold side panels on their white jerseys. Top it off with stripeless shiny pants and it’s just not a very good look, and add in the Patriots and it’s just an unattractive game.
#52: SB 15
Generally I’m a big fan of the early Super Bowls, but the Raiders/Eagles from 1980 was definitely the worst of the first 20 games. Both teams wore silver pants, and in the poor lighting of the Superdome, da Raidahs looked washed out, and the Eagles didn’t look much better. Oh, and the miniature golf carpet over poured concrete didn’t help either.
#51: SB 47
Here’s a case where one team’s bad look cancels out another team’s good look, and that’s the case here as the Ravens went with the black yoga pants. Add to that the toilet seat collar that was Nike’s signature back then, and you have a look that’s definitely in the bottom quarter.
#50: SB 48
I’ll say one thing for this game: it didn’t lack for contrast. But those bright orange jerseys were the only bright spot for this matchup, as the Seahawks’ navy pants, with both teams in navy hats, marred what might have been one of the more colorful games. Both separately and individually, the modern uniforms keep a great color matchup from being ranked any higher.
#49: SB 29
The 1994 season was the NFL’s 75th anny year, and most teams wore throwbacks throughout the season. The Niners decided to wear theirs on the game’s grandest stage. Those unis were supposed to be a throwback to 1955, but like many of the 1994 throwbacks, they weren’t. And any time you have San Diego in anything but gold pants, it’s not a Super look. It wasn’t a terrible looking game, but neither team wore their Sunday best.
#48: SB 31
I know there are some of you who like the original Flying Elvis uniforms, but I wasn’t one of them. And while I consider the Packers home uniforms to be the tops in the NFL, the clash of modern and classic (again, with the terrible Superdome lighting) puts this one lower than you probably thought it would be.
#47: SB 33
We’re getting to the point where we have Super Bowls that don’t look terrible, but still don’t look all that great, and that’s what we have here between Denver — still in the early years of their parentheses unis — and the Dirty Birds in their black/black/silver kits. Colorful it was not.
And there you have it. The worst 12 Super Bowl uni matchups. Feel free to disagree in the comments below!
It is Super Bowl LIX, LIV is 54.
Those aren’t the original ‘Flying Elvis’ uniforms. They had different versions in ’93 and ’94.
That is correct the 93 and 94 were very traditional and simple looking. In 95 the had subtle vertical stripes on the jerseys and the numbers were slanted. The messed up a good look.
This St Louis Rams uniform in # 53 was a very underrated look. The unform could be improved by removing the gold side panel on the jersey and adding blue/white/blue stripes on the pants. I would look even better with block numbers. All that would make it a top look. Those colors look good together.
I’m going to be weirdly pedantic and annoying here. In #49, “anny year” is redundant, because (as I’m sure everyone here knows) the anni- in anniversary means year. It’s a case like PIN number or chai tea.
I was more offended by the needless abbreviation. Was this written via text?
This site these days…
Never remembered Denver’s Super Bowl 48 uni as being that orange! Almost like a bright orange. The contrast with the white is horrible.
That would be my personal worst. Although the Raiders Eagles in the Superdome gives it a run for their money.
The complaints about the lighting in the Superdome is backed up by having 4 games on this list having taken place there. In a perfect world they’d be outdoors during the day of course.
I never had a problem with the Superdome lighting (except of course when half the lights went out in SB47). Always reminds me of when I used to play football in the living room with the Christmas tree and the TV as my only sources of light.
And I definitely didn’t have a problem with SB31. That’s still fifth best on my list.
Regardless of the specific details of the Cardinals uniform, they largely disappear at a distance. I think that’s a very good-looking game. Certainly better than the other Steelers game on this list.
I feel like there are some really great uniform matchup that made it to the bottom of the list. I think it’s more that most of the teams that make it to the Super Bowl have nice uniforms. Except for the patriots, their uniforms are straight trash.
Be ready for a bunch of all white teams in the top 20…..
Only ugly ones in the bottom are the 2 mono Seahawks and all white Broncos.
I see a lot of good looking games here with plenty of color and contrast.
Decided to quit reading when I actually liked the look of the bottom 5 or so.
I don’t agree with your choices, but I like how you rationalized them. If you don’t like some of the more recent element trends that have come and gone then it’s makes sense, but the Eagle and Raiders is the worst to me because of the bizarre stripes on the Eagles unis at that time.
I’m very proud that the Falcons get to add two entries on this list to their gloriously ignominious history.
Even though the Cardinals uniforms of that era had some really ugly details, I would not rank that game as low as some of these really dreary looking games.
The carnival red paired well with the Steelers and the lightning was pretty nice for this game.
The other Steelers game on this list would’ve been my last place loser. Super Bowl 40 has not aged well at all.