When it comes to the Super Bowl, the color of a team’s uniform might be more telling than you think, especially in recent history. A notable trend has emerged, suggesting that wearing white jerseys could be a good omen for lifting the Lombardi Trophy. Remarkably, 16 out of the last 20 Super Bowl champions donned white jerseys during their victorious games, as highlighted by ESPN researcher Evan Kaplan. Looking closer at the last decade, only the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles – this year’s Super Bowl contenders – have broken this pattern by winning championships in non-white uniforms. The Eagles achieved this in Super Bowl 52, and the Chiefs in Super Bowls 54 and 58.
Just days after the conference championships concluded, the Kansas City Chiefs officially announced via social media that they would be wearing their white jerseys for Super Bowl 59. Following suit, reports from Adam Schefter confirmed that the Philadelphia Eagles will be sporting their signature green jerseys for the big game.
Navigating Super Bowl Uniform Choices
The Super Bowl is uniquely played at a neutral venue each year. To designate a “home” team, the honor alternates annually between the AFC and NFC champions. This year, as the designated “home” team, the Philadelphia Eagles had the first right to select their uniform. Their choice of green home jerseys means the Kansas City Chiefs, as the “away” team, will wear their white jerseys, a common selection for their road games. Interestingly, while uniform color might seem arbitrary, the psychological and possibly even superstitious aspects of these choices add another layer to the Super Bowl narrative.
Patrick Mahomes in white Chiefs uniform during a game
Eagles and Chiefs: A History of Super Bowl Uniforms
This isn’t the first time the Eagles have opted for green on Super Bowl Sunday. In their Super Bowl appearance two years prior, they also wore green jerseys but faced a loss against the Chiefs, 38-35. However, rewind to their Super Bowl victory in 2018 against the Patriots, and the Eagles were again in green, this time with a different outcome.
The Chiefs, in their most recent Super Bowl outing just last year, chose to wear their home red jerseys. That game resulted in an overtime victory, 25-22. For the Chiefs’ fans looking for omens, it’s worth noting that the last time Kansas City wore white in a Super Bowl was two years ago – their Super Bowl 57 victory against none other than the Philadelphia Eagles. As Super Bowl 59 approaches, the uniform matchup is set, and fans are left to wonder if the color trend will continue or if the Eagles in green can defy the recent Super Bowl uniform history.
