Uniforms for me have always been a focal point to the sports experience both as a fan and when I played. They are foundational for a team’s identity and make a statement (one way or another). I prefer classic over trendy. Consistency will be rewarded. Granted the NFL has in many ways mandated consistency (sometimes at draconian lengths) at least in team colors where in the NBA one year a teams’ colors could be red and yellow and the next year blue, silver, and red (see Rockets, Houston) or red, white, and blue and the next year black, red, and gold (see 76ers, Philadelphia).
So in my list of the 10 best uniforms in the NFL, you will not see the Jags, Vikings, Seahawks, or Patriots (Please, return to the Pat the Patriot helmets and dump the flying Elvis). I do not take into account throwbacks otherwise the Falcons would be on the list, as would the Titans (see Luv Ya Blue), and the Chargers would be at the top with the perfection that is the powder blues from the AFL days. Also, why we are at it, Eagles, please return to the kelly green and ditch the quasi forest shade of green that the Eagles now wear.
I have to give an honorable mention to the Cincinnati Bengals. One the helmet is iconic but they lack consistency. In fact they are the NFL’s version of the Oregon Ducks. The Bengals have white, orange, and black jerseys and when coupled with white and black pants creates and endless array of Halloween-like permutations.
10. Dallas Cowboys- Many view the Cowboys uniform as the class of the NFL. The uniform and helmet, in particular, is iconic and transcends sports. But, in frankness, it makes me scratch my head just a touch. The helmet is (true silver and navy blue) does not match the white uniform (bluish/greenish silver and royal blue). I like that they wear the white for all of their games with the exception of road games at Washington and sometimes Philadelphia. So the uni would be higher on my list, if it matched. I do like the rarely worn navy jersey with the true silver pants, but again, it is rarely pulled out of the equipment room.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers- Classic, clean, and consistent. The Steelers are the 3 Cs. The uniform and the one-sided logo helmet are recognizable outside of the realm of football and sports in general. The colors look great together and I'm partial to yellow pants as you will see later. It’s the Grandma rule. Can your Grandma recognize the Steelers uniform? Probably? I think that the six Super Bowl championships also make the uniform look better. It also works for the Iowa Hawkeyes who use nearly a carbon copy of the Steelers unis.
8. Cleveland Browns- This is the uniform that is so ugly it just might be cool. Orange and Brown? Seriously, who came up with that color scheme? Did the Browns lose the color lottery and were stuck with their colors? Regardless, the uniforms are classic. The brown and plain orange helmet grow on you. It is a throwback without being a throwback. The uniform helps you remember that the Browns were once good (see Jim Brown) and maybe again, well, maybe. And thankfully they have abandoned the brown pants...stick with white.
7. Arizona Cardinals- The Cards have one of the few “modern” uniforms that I like. I think that it is because of two reasons. One, the helmet design is virtually the same as the Cards have worn since way back in the St. Louis days. Two, the colors (red and white) are sadly unique in the NFL. There are teams that use red as an accent (e.g. Patriots, Giants, Texans) and the 49ers wear red and gold and Falcons wear red and black. The classic color combo with the current design (sans the mono-chrome red) looks fast, clean, and new classic.
So in my list of the 10 best uniforms in the NFL, you will not see the Jags, Vikings, Seahawks, or Patriots (Please, return to the Pat the Patriot helmets and dump the flying Elvis). I do not take into account throwbacks otherwise the Falcons would be on the list, as would the Titans (see Luv Ya Blue), and the Chargers would be at the top with the perfection that is the powder blues from the AFL days. Also, why we are at it, Eagles, please return to the kelly green and ditch the quasi forest shade of green that the Eagles now wear.
I have to give an honorable mention to the Cincinnati Bengals. One the helmet is iconic but they lack consistency. In fact they are the NFL’s version of the Oregon Ducks. The Bengals have white, orange, and black jerseys and when coupled with white and black pants creates and endless array of Halloween-like permutations.
10. Dallas Cowboys- Many view the Cowboys uniform as the class of the NFL. The uniform and helmet, in particular, is iconic and transcends sports. But, in frankness, it makes me scratch my head just a touch. The helmet is (true silver and navy blue) does not match the white uniform (bluish/greenish silver and royal blue). I like that they wear the white for all of their games with the exception of road games at Washington and sometimes Philadelphia. So the uni would be higher on my list, if it matched. I do like the rarely worn navy jersey with the true silver pants, but again, it is rarely pulled out of the equipment room.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers- Classic, clean, and consistent. The Steelers are the 3 Cs. The uniform and the one-sided logo helmet are recognizable outside of the realm of football and sports in general. The colors look great together and I'm partial to yellow pants as you will see later. It’s the Grandma rule. Can your Grandma recognize the Steelers uniform? Probably? I think that the six Super Bowl championships also make the uniform look better. It also works for the Iowa Hawkeyes who use nearly a carbon copy of the Steelers unis.
8. Cleveland Browns- This is the uniform that is so ugly it just might be cool. Orange and Brown? Seriously, who came up with that color scheme? Did the Browns lose the color lottery and were stuck with their colors? Regardless, the uniforms are classic. The brown and plain orange helmet grow on you. It is a throwback without being a throwback. The uniform helps you remember that the Browns were once good (see Jim Brown) and maybe again, well, maybe. And thankfully they have abandoned the brown pants...stick with white.
7. Arizona Cardinals- The Cards have one of the few “modern” uniforms that I like. I think that it is because of two reasons. One, the helmet design is virtually the same as the Cards have worn since way back in the St. Louis days. Two, the colors (red and white) are sadly unique in the NFL. There are teams that use red as an accent (e.g. Patriots, Giants, Texans) and the 49ers wear red and gold and Falcons wear red and black. The classic color combo with the current design (sans the mono-chrome red) looks fast, clean, and new classic.
6. Baltimore Ravens- This was my second biggest surprise to my list. I am not a fan of purple as it can make grown men look like Barney (see Vikings, Minnesota). But the Ravens with the purple and the black look imposing and intimidating. I think that part of this has to do with who the Ravens are a tough, hard-nosed football team. If the Bills wore these uniforms, I’m not sure anyone would view them as intimidating but Ray Lewis and company are a different story. The Raven logo (non-cartoony and intense looking) and the sleeve patch (patterned after the Maryland flag) are two key accents to the uniform.
5. New York Giants- The Giants were my biggest surprise on this list. I did not have them in the top 10 originally. But the more that I looked at them the more that I liked them. The NY on the helmet hearkens back to Giants teams of the past. The royal blue jerseys coupled with the grey paints are smart and unique in the NFL. The white unis take advantage of the red accents which I like. There is a classic tone and feel to the uniforms, which is why they moved up my list.
4. San Francisco 49ers- First, I hated the 49ers uniforms when they darkened the red and added black in the late 90’s through last year. It reeked of marketing and jersey sales. The return to the true red and gold (sans black) with white accents was a return to the classic uniforms wore during the height of 49er dominance (the uniforms worn by Rice, Lott, Montana, and Craig).
3. San Diego Chargers- The white helmets are great and are throwback to the Super Charger days of the AFL. I wish they would wear the throwback powder blues as their permanent uniforms but the current iteration with a navy home, powder blue alternative, and navy road pants are a great set. The Chargers have always been one of my favorites from the time when I was a kid. The lightning bolt on the helmet (virtually unchanged in design from the inception of the team) is a classically appealing element. It has been yellow, white, and blue with varying accents. The Chargers over time have changed their colors (powder blue, royal blue, navy blue) and uniforms at a high frequency. Consistency is there only issue, this set is great, so stick and stay Bolts.
2. Chicago Bears- LeRoy Butler (the great safety for the Packers) is right, “the Bears still suck.” I hate the bears but have a healthy respect for them and I love the unis. Again, the Bears hit the uniform trifecta of classic, clean, and consistent. The design has remained consistent throughout the years, the C logo is a classic, and the striped socks are a great throwback to the Bears teams of the past. The dark navy blue does add to the intimidation factor (hearkening back to the “Monsters of the Midway”. I love the George Stanley Halas initials (GSH) on the left sleeve as well.
1. Green Bay Packers- Okay, so I’m a homer. The Packers are my team and the uniforms are true classics. They haven’t been changed significantly since Lombardi’s first season. The G logo is one of the most recognizable logos in sports (yes, it is also used by UGA and Grambling both with permission from the Packers). The colors are unique, classic, and just a tad bit gaudy with the yellow pants. The lines are clean and classic. The helmet and pants provide perfect symmetry whether at home (green jersey) or on the road (white jersey). The only change I would make would be to add stripes back to the socks (circa 1967). Like with the Bears, I relish the fact that the uniforms today create a link to the past, to Lombardi, Taylor, Kramer, White, and yes, even Favre.
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