The New Orleans Saints are gearing up to delight fans and uniform enthusiasts alike by bringing back their classic throwback uniforms for their highly anticipated Thursday Night Football (TNF) matchup against the Denver Broncos. This exciting announcement, made via a video released by the Saints, has generated considerable buzz and anticipation for the game.
Throwback uniforms for Thursday ⚜️#Saints | @Verizon pic.twitter.com/ygI1FbrwCP
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 16, 2024
This “Throwback Thursday” game will see the Saints sporting their beloved retro look. Unfortunately, the Denver Broncos will not be fully embracing the throwback theme, opting for their new blue helmets and white jerseys, leaving some to hope they might complete a more vintage look with orange pants. While a full “Orange Crush” era Broncos throwback uniform against the Saints throwbacks might have presented a clash of aesthetics, possibly reminiscent of Halloween colors, the focus will undoubtedly be on the Saints and their return to a fan-favorite uniform design.
This season, the Saints’ uniform choices have been a point of discussion, particularly the decision to predominantly wear mono-black at home and mono-white on the road. Even their “Color Rush” game this year leaned heavily towards mono-white. However, the throwback game offers a welcome change, with the Saints finally set to showcase what many consider their most iconic and visually appealing football uniform.
New Orleans Saints players in their black throwback uniforms during a game in 2016.
The black throwback uniforms hold a somewhat sporadic history for the Saints. Since their introduction in 1994, they have been worn only eight times. This Thursday night game against the Broncos will mark just the ninth occasion fans will see the team in this classic attire. There’s a strong argument to be made that these black throwbacks, along with elements of the “Color Rush” uniforms, could form the foundation for a complete uniform overhaul for the New Orleans Saints football team in the future. One noticeable detail when comparing the throwback jersey to the current Saints helmet is the difference in gold shades. The helmet’s gold does not perfectly match the “old gold” used in the jersey numbers, sleeve stripes, and pants of the throwback uniform.
Achieving a color match between the helmet and the throwback gold might present a challenge. However, as demonstrated by Vanderbilt University’s successful introduction of a new “old gold” helmet that harmonizes with their uniforms, it is certainly an achievable goal for the Saints and their equipment designers.
Beyond aesthetics, there might be a superstitious element at play in the Saints’ decision to wear throwbacks. Historically, the team has experienced considerable success when sporting these uniforms. Out of the eight previous games in which they wore the black throwbacks, the Saints have emerged victorious in seven, suffering only a single loss.
Here’s a look at the history of the Saints throwback uniform appearances, including dates, scores, and opponents:
New Orleans Saints Throwback Uniform Game History:
- 9-18-94: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Won 9-7 (W)
- 10-2-94: vs New York Giants, Won 27-22 (W)
- 12-1-02: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Won 23-20 (W)
- 9-26-11: vs Houston Texans, Won 40-33 (W)
- 11-6-11: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Won 27-16 (W)
- 12-4-16: vs Detroit Lions, Lost 23-13 (L)
- 11-20-22: vs Los Angeles Rams, Won 27-20 (W)
- 12-10-23: vs Carolina Panthers, Won 28-6 (W)
While uniform aesthetics are subjective and on-field performance is determined by player skill and strategy, the psychological impact of uniforms on both players and fans cannot be entirely dismissed. Superstition, or at least a degree of “stition,” often plays a role in sports. The Saints’ impressive record in these throwback uniforms might subtly contribute to a positive mindset.
A close up view of the New Orleans Saints throwback black jersey, showcasing the classic gold numbers and sleeve stripes.
Many fans and uniform observers consider the Saints’ black throwback uniforms to be exceptionally well-designed. Even acknowledging the slight gold mismatch, these uniforms often represent the quintessential Saints look for many.
Leading up to the throwback announcement, the Saints had not given any hints about their uniform choice for the TNF game. Just days prior, the team promoted a “blackout” theme for fans attending the game, even featuring an image of a player in the team’s standard helmet and jersey. It’s likely the team kept the throwback plan under wraps to maximize the surprise and excitement for the game day reveal.
Fans going to Thursday’s game:
WEAR BLACK ⬛️
Story: https://t.co/CXbrmG3OTI pic.twitter.com/kbFj5Anvrm
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 14, 2024
Adding to the significance of the Thursday night game, the Saints will also be inducting legendary quarterback Drew Brees into the team’s Hall of Fame. It remains to be seen if fans will adhere to the team’s earlier “blackout” request, given the throwback uniform reveal.
While uniform discussions are a frequent topic among football fans, the Saints’ throwbacks are widely regarded as their best uniform set. The combination of the “Color Rush” uniforms and the throwbacks presents a strong foundation for a potentially superior and more consistently stylish uniform collection for the New Orleans Saints. Suggestions have been made to further enhance their uniform options, including modifying their black alternate helmets to echo the 1969 preseason design and addressing the gold shade consistency across all helmets and uniform elements. For those who appreciate black pants, a throwback-inspired black pants option could also be incorporated. A comprehensive uniform set could then include two helmet designs, two jersey styles (throwback black and standard white), and three pant choices (gold, white, and black). For an alternate jersey, a gold jersey, reminiscent of the one-time gold jersey worn in 2002, could be considered to complete a well-rounded and visually diverse set of New Orleans Saints Football Uniforms.
What are your thoughts on the New Orleans Saints throwback uniforms? Do you agree that they represent the team’s best look, and should they be a more permanent fixture in the team’s uniform rotation?
