The NFL Season just wrapped up and while many will move onto free agency, I want to look at the uniforms of all 32 teams. Over the next month I’ll look at eight teams and review their jersey’s from the 2023-24 season and crown a winner. Helmets, main and alternate uniforms, and logos will be judged. At the end, the winner of each of the four brackets will go head-to-head until only one team remains.
The Jets are the textbook definition of a good idea and horrible execution (like the Aaron Rodgers trade). The uniforms look decent but they fall flat when the players wear them on Sunday. The helmet has a basic look, the black facemask provides zero contrast, the shoulder stripes are too angular, and the black-out jersey is unnecessary.
The Jets seem to hate wearing green, as it took until week 14 for the Jets to wear a green jersey. Refusing to wear their primary color makes no sense, especially when it’s the best jersey they have.
What I would fix: Rumor has it the Jets are going to re-brand to the ’90s throwbacks they wore in week one. Bringing back the “New York Sack Exchange” uniform would be an excellent decision.
Pat the Patriot is back in New England and it looks amazing. However, the fantastic throwbacks do not save the Patriots. I have one major problem with the main uniforms as currently worn; the lack of gray pants. New England brought them back this year, yet they wear a navy-blue bodysuit as the home kit.
The Patriots have the making of a top ten wardrobe. All they need to do is go back to the navy over gray.
What I would fix: Wear the navy jersey with gray pants as seen in the 2010s. And keep the throwback uniforms.
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The Dolphins are one of the most disappointing teams design wise in the NFL. Miami does have two incredible uniforms. The problem is they only wear them as alternate throwbacks about three times a year.
Miami’s base uniforms are decent and are better than most of the teams in the league. However, the disappointing waste of potential sours me on their current design. Until the Dolphins make the obvious switch back to the classic design, I can’t rank them very highly.
What I would fix: If the Jets can switch back to their ’90s throwback, the Dolphins can too. I’d also be interested to see Miami experiment with adding a vibrant pink color. Pink is rarely used by any pro sports teams and I think the Dolphins could pull it off.
Buffalo, unlike in the playoffs, do not disappoint in the fashion department. The home and away uniforms are some of the best in the NFL. Red, white, and blue is an overused color scheme, but the Bills get a pass due to the sheer beauty of their design.
While their design is incredible, the Bills don’t escape this ranking unscathed. In the year where so many throwbacks were used, Buffalo kept the red helmet and navy jersey on the shelf.
What I would fix: I don’t want to see the blueberry uniform again. I do want to see the red helmet throwbacks make a return next year.
The Titans’ 2017 re-brand has gotten worse with age, and in my opinion, is the worst design in the NFL. The navy helmet looks like a bowling ball and is vastly inferior when compared to the white helmet they wore. Tennessee is also the main culprit of the worst offense you can commit, a bodysuit (jersey and pants are the same color). The Titans’ home uniforms feature navy blue pants, jerseys, and helmets. On the field, this all-navy combo looks terrible and provides zero contrast. The only saving grace the Titans have is the incredible Oilers throwbacks they brought back this season.
What I would fix: At this point, the best course of action would be to re-brand the uniforms.
If asked to describe the Texans uniforms in one word, “bland” is the first thing that comes to mind. Red, white, and blue is a basic color scheme, and the overall uniform design somehow makes it more basic. The logo is solid and has not changed since the team was found in 2002. The only unique thing about the Texans’ uniform is the shoulder stripe, but not in a good way.
Houston debuted a red helmet last year, and it was a good choice. The “Battle Red” lid paired well with the red jersey and was the best uniform combo they wore this season. Thankfully, all signs point to a full redesign featuring the red helmet next year.
What I would fix: Swap the navy for baby blue in the logo and in the uniform. Eliminate the shoulder stripe and replace it with thick red and white stripes where the shoulder numbers currently are (to resemble the Texas state flag). Finally, make the red helmet the primary helmet and throw in an icy white alternate helmet for fun.
While I am a fan of the Jaguars’ uniforms, I think they could be so much better. Teal is such a unique color scheme in pro sports, and it is criminal they don’t use it more. The all-black and all-white uniforms do look good on the field, but injecting more teal and even some gold into those designs could help the uniforms pop.
I do have a problem with the all-teal bodysuit they wear. Teal is a cool color, but too much teal is an eyesore.
What I would fix: Add a thin gold border around the numbers on the Teal jersey. The away jersey could also use some more gold and teal on the collar and the numbers. Finally, put the logo on the shoulders.
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Simple yet beautiful describes the Colts’ uniforms. Blue and white are a tried-and-true color scheme that Indy absolutely nails. The helmet and logo are immediately recognizable and iconic, even if some think it should form a “C” and not a “U.”
While the home and away are fantastic, the alternates are admittedly a mixed bag. Personally, I like the throwbacks that feature the horseshoe on the back of the helmet, though I understand why some don’t. While the throwback gets mixed reviews, most seem in agreement that the Colts’ new “Indiana nights” uniform looks awful. The black helmet looks great, but the weird denim color and texture on the uniform looks extremely off-putting. Add the fact it’s a bodysuit on top of everything else. The Colts challenge the Commanders for worst alternate in the league.
What I Would Fix: The black helmet looks great, so why not pair it with a black and blue jersey? Even though it is an overused look, a “blackout” uniform would look infinitely better than what they currently use.
Winner:
Both Buffalo and Indianapolis stand out in this very underwhelming branch of the bracket. In the end, the disappointing “Indiana nights” costs Indy a win. The Bills squeak out the win and move onto the top four.
Ryan States is in his 3rd year at Lock Haven University, and his second with the Eagle Eye. He is a Journalism major with intentions to minor in Sports Management. With his never-ending passion for all things sports, he wishes to pursue a career as a sports writer for a major outlet. When not watching sports, he can be found playing video games, hanging out with friends at the REC. Or you can find him helping out in the booth during LHU sporting events. His biggest hope while at Lock Haven is to be able to positively contribute to LHU sports in any way he can.
