A whopping 11 franchises released new uniform pieces this offseason. Some introduced new alternate helmets that can only be worn with their alternate looks, others opted to revive head-to-toe throwback looks, and the Arizona Cardinals unveiled new home, away, and alternate sets.
We're ranking every new look by factoring in general appeal, effective use of team colors, and how well the new throwback sets use beloved elements of older styles.
11. Indianapolis Colts - 'Indiana Nights' alternate uniform
The Colts fell victim to the "black for black's sake" uniform pitfall. There's nothing in the team's history to warrant the black helmet shell or overall dark look used here. There's also no need for the heather texture on the jerseys or the number font to be different from the serifed one the Colts use on their primary uniforms. Indy missed the mark with these.
10. Arizona Cardinals - new primary, road, and alternate uniforms
The Cardinals' color combination of red, white, and black lends itself really well to sports uniforms. Just not these ones. The trio of new looks lacks cohesion and visual pop. Ditching the old piping was a good call, but stripping these down to bland, boring, and inconsistent uniforms wasn't.
9. Detroit Lions - alternate helmet
There are things to like about this new alternate helmet, but with the Lions locked into using it with its color rush uniforms, it falls flat. The metallic blue combined with the gray isn't cohesive enough as a full kit to rank higher than this.
8. Denver Broncos - 'Snowcapped' alternate helmet
Denver's throwback look is one of the best in the league, but tossing a white helmet on it rather than the classic blue is a waste. It's not so much that it looks bad, but it just looks worse than what they already had at their disposal and wasn't necessary. Maybe we'll come around with time, but as of now, we're not huge fans of the Broncos' first white helmet in franchise history.
7. Cleveland Browns - 'White Out' alternate helmet
Seeing any Browns uniform that doesn't feature the team's iconic orange helmet is strange. This style harkens back to the team's 1946 look - the year of the club's inception. Paired with throwback jerseys that feature similar striping on the shoulders helps this feel more complete as an alternate look.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 'Creamsicle' throwback uniform
This is a turning point in the rankings. The new version of Tampa's "Creamsicle" look was one of the most anticipated reveals of the offseason, and it didn't disappoint. Bucco Bruce adorns the white helmet, and the overall design stays true to its inspiration, but the orange feels a smidge more muted than we would've liked.
5. Minnesota Vikings - 'Classic' throwback uniform
Simple, clean, and effective throwbacks. This look evokes the classic feeling that throwback uniforms should strive for without looking tacky or gimmicky. Some won't love how similar these are to Minnesota's usual look, but the Vikings have had a pretty consistent look for a long time.
4. Philadelphia Eagles - 'Kelly Green' throwback uniform
The lauded "Kelly Green" uniforms make a triumphant return. However, adding the black outline around the jersey numbers feels like an unnecessary addition for the most part. The Eagles use black in other parts of their uniforms at the very least.
3. New York Jets - 'Legacy White' throwback uniform
This look is inspired by the "New York Sack Exchange" era of Jets football - and it's fantastic. Like the Vikings' look, it relies on a simple but timeless design with minimal striping and no extraneous details. These helmets also feature maybe the best logo in the club's history.
2. Tennessee Titans - Houston Oilers throwback uniform
Opting to use a more saturated blue for these Oilers-inspired throwbacks was a good call. It keeps the spirit of the "Luv Ya Blue" era but modernizes it just enough to prevent them from approaching a pajama blue vibe.
1. Seattle Seahawks - '90s throwback uniform
Seattle knocked it out of the park with these throwbacks. The silver helmet, old logo, and royal blue combine for an amazing uniform from top to bottom. Even the blue face mask is evocative of the '90s era that inspires this stylish option.
