Eric Williams
NFC West Author
We’re midway by way of the season and it is time to look again — means again. NFL groups have been sporting throwback or alternate uniforms all through the 2023 season. Week 8 featured the Tennessee Titans carrying Houston Oilers-inspired uniforms and the Seattle Seahawks taking us again to the Grunge period.
In all, 16 NFL groups have worn alternate or throwback uniforms to this point this season. Right here, we rank our prime 5.
The Los Angeles Chargers will not be included within the rankings as a result of they’ve the very best throwback look within the league because the staff’s major uniform. The Chargers’ powder-blue jerseys and gold pants recall the times of Corridor of Fame receiver Lance Alworth and Corridor of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts.
That mentioned, let’s depend down the highest 5 of 2023.
5. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta introduced again the traditional pink helmet and black jersey from the times when quarterback Steve Bartkowski led the staff within the Nineteen Seventies and ’80s.
The Falcons wore that uniform mixture within the staff’s 25-24 Week 2 win over the Inexperienced Bay Packers. The Falcons wore pink helmets from the franchise’s inception in 1966 to 1989.
I additionally like Atlanta’s black helmets and black jerseys, however the red-and-black mixture of the old-school uniform pops. It additionally brings again some nostalgia from when the Falcons performed within the geographically incorrect NFC West Division with the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
How will you not like these Kelly Inexperienced uniforms that harken again to the times of Randall Cunningham and Reggie White dominating in the course of the Nineteen Nineties?
The Eagles wore Kelly Inexperienced for one sport in 2010 and eventually introduced the look again for the staff’s Week 7 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
3. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks jumped again right into a time machine of Nirvana, Seinfeld, parachute pants and the Kingdome with a return to the staff’s traditional silver helmets and royal blue jerseys. Assume Steve Largent, Kenny Easley and Jim Zorn.
Seattle wore this uniform mixture from the staff’s begin in 1976 to the implosion of the Kingdome after the 1999 season. Geno Smith & Co. sported the brilliant throwback uniforms on a surprisingly sunny October day in Seattle, in final Sunday’s 24-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns at Lumen Area.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers wore the Creamsicle uniforms with the winking Bucco Bruce helmet brand from 1976 to 1996, then transitioned to the present pewter-and-red shade mixture.
Earlier this season, Tampa Bay returned to the uniforms worn by quarterback Doug Williams and defensive lineman Lee Roy Selmon within the days of Disco, Funkadelic and bell-bottom pants. The Bucs broke out the Creamsicles in Week 6, a 20-6 loss to the Detroit Lions at Raymond James Stadium.
1. Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans
One participant immediately involves thoughts once I consider the Oilers: Corridor of Fame operating again Earl Campbell. Watching Campbell run was one of many causes I began taking part in soccer as a child. He was a power of nature within the backfield.
After all, the Oilers had a whole forged of fascinating characters over time, from head coach Bum Phillips to quarterback Dan Pastorini, kick returner Billy “White Footwear” Johnson, ironman offensive lineman Bruce Matthews and Corridor of Fame QB Warren Moon.
Houston had good groups throughout these years as effectively, however the Oilers by no means might appear to get previous the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Oilers began in Houston in 1960. Proprietor Bud Adams moved the staff to Tennessee in 1997 and altered the title to the Titans in 1999.
Is it bizarre that the Tennessee Titans wore Houston Oilers uniforms final Sunday within the staff’s 28-23 victory over the visiting Falcons? Sure, but it surely’s nonetheless good to see the enduring uniform of one among my favourite groups of my youth again on the sector. And the newborn blue, pink and white combo with the oil derrick is a novel combo that’s robust to beat.
Honorable point out throwbacks: New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, protecting the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Observe him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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