The 2024 NFL season witnessed a remarkable resurgence of the past, with 20 out of 32 teams donning throwback uniforms. This impressive number, potentially the highest since the NFL’s 75th Anniversary celebrations in 1994, offered fans a vibrant tapestry of gridiron history. These retro jerseys and helmets, while sometimes adapted for modern player fit, provided a captivating glimpse into the evolution of NFL aesthetics. This isn’t a ranking of best to worst, but a retrospective journey through the diverse eras represented by these throwback kits, spanning from the roaring twenties to the dawn of the 21st century. Intriguingly, the Detroit Lions, despite possessing a beloved throwback, remained on the sidelines in 2024.
Let’s dive into the fascinating world of Nfl Throwback Uniforms from the 2024 season.
Atlanta Falcons
Celebrating their inaugural 1966 season, the Atlanta Falcons resurrected a truly stunning uniform. In a league where primary uniforms often lean towards the contemporary, these NFL throwback uniforms stand out as unequivocally superior to the Falcons’ modern attire. The fervent fan base clamored for these vintage Falcons uniforms to become a permanent fixture, a testament to their timeless appeal. The team heeded the call, wearing these classic jerseys for the maximum allowed three games in 2024. The 1966 Atlanta Falcons throwback uniform is a masterclass in classic sports aesthetics, emphasizing a clean, bold design that resonates with football purists and casual observers alike.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears, a franchise steeped in NFL history, reached back to their 1936 season for their throwback selection. While modern uniform manufacturing techniques mean these are technically more of a “fauxback” than a true historical replica, the essence of the 1936 Bears uniform shines through. This stripe-heavy design is a quintessential example of early NFL uniform aesthetics, instantly recognizable and deeply admired by fans of vintage NFL jerseys. Worn just once in the 2024 season, this Bears throwback jersey is considered one of the most visually striking and historically significant vintage NFL uniforms ever created.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns’ throwback uniform offering is an interesting case, perhaps leaning more towards a “harkback” or “fauxback” interpretation. Representing their inaugural 1946 season, these vintage Browns uniforms feature a white helmet with stripes, a departure from the plain white helmets of the original era. While the intention to honor the team’s origins is clear, opinions are divided. Interestingly, despite the throwback appeal, many fans express a preference for the Browns’ regular primary uniforms. The team showcased these 1946 throwback uniforms three times in 2024, including two road appearances. The Browns’ throwback serves as a reminder that even with the best intentions, vintage NFL uniform interpretations can sometimes fall short of surpassing the enduring appeal of a team’s established look.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys, “America’s Team,” dipped into their rich history to revive the uniforms from their inaugural 1960 NFL season, worn through 1963. Unlike the Detroit Lions, the Cowboys embraced the Thanksgiving tradition, sporting these retro Cowboys uniforms for their annual Turkey Day game. While perhaps not as instantly iconic as their star-studded primary uniforms, these 1960s Dallas Cowboys throwbacks offer a clean, classic aesthetic that resonates with fans who appreciate the team’s early days. The Cowboys throwback uniform, worn exclusively for the Thanksgiving game, provided a nostalgic touch to a time-honored NFL tradition.
Denver Broncos
For many NFL uniform aficionados, the Denver Broncos’ throwbacks stand out as a top-tier example of vintage NFL jersey excellence. Officially designated “1977-inspired,” these uniforms actually encapsulate the broader late 1970s and early 1980s Broncos era, a period marked by the team’s first Super Bowl appearance in 1977. Intriguingly, the distinctive sock pattern is specifically tied to the 1976 and 1977 seasons. The Broncos strategically deployed these 1970s throwback uniforms twice in 2024, both against AFC West rivals – the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs. These matchups amplified the throwback atmosphere, as the Raiders’ and Chiefs’ current uniforms retain strong visual links to their 1970s designs. The Denver Broncos 1970s throwback uniform is a fan favorite, celebrated for its vibrant colors and classic striping, perfectly capturing the spirit of the era.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers, a franchise synonymous with tradition and consistent uniform design, had to delve deep into their past for their throwback inspiration. Their current throwback uniforms, featuring striking gold helmets paired with a mono-green uniform, hark back to the 1950 season and the early 1950s era. While these vintage Packers uniforms are a welcome sight for historical appreciation, there’s a widespread consensus: the Packers’ iconic uniform style, largely unchanged since 1961, remains their ultimate and most recognizable look. These 1950s Green Bay Packers throwback jerseys were showcased once in the 2024 season, offering a glimpse into a less familiar chapter of Packers uniform history.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ throwback uniforms were among the most anticipated of the 2024 season, generating considerable buzz during the offseason unveiling. While not directly replicating their inaugural 1995 uniforms, these Jaguars throwbacks are a nuanced variation first introduced in 1998. These retro Jaguars uniforms immediately struck a chord with fans, many of whom hope these classic designs will serve as the foundation for the team’s next uniform redesign – a redesign considered overdue by many observers. The team wore these 1998 Jacksonville Jaguars throwback uniforms twice in the 2024 season, further fueling speculation about their potential future as the team’s primary look.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders, another bastion of NFL tradition, possess uniforms that have remained remarkably consistent over the past six decades. For their throwback selection, the Raiders revisited a brief period from 1963, 1964, and 1970 when the team sported white jerseys with silver numbers outlined in black. While these vintage Raiders uniforms offer a subtle variation on their classic road look, fan reception is mixed. Some appreciate the historical nod, while others find the contrast between the silver numbers and white jerseys insufficient, despite the black outlines. These Raiders throwback jerseys were worn just once during the 2024 season, sparking debate about their visibility and overall aesthetic impact.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins boast not one, but two distinct throwback uniform sets, both paying homage to their inaugural 1966 season in the American Football League (AFL). Both the aqua and white Dolphins throwback jerseys are intended to be paired with the iconic aqua/orange/white striped socks from that era. Unfortunately, many players often opt for simpler sock choices, deviating from the full retro aesthetic. The aqua Dolphins throwback jerseys were worn once in 2024, while the white version saw two appearances, including one home and one road game. As with many of the standout NFL throwbacks, each appearance of these Miami Dolphins retro uniforms reignites calls for them to become the team’s permanent uniform set, highlighting their enduring popularity.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings’ throwback uniforms present a slightly more ambiguous historical reference. While not tied to a specific year, this style—characterized by a gray facemask and Northwestern stripes—was a hallmark of the Vikings’ uniforms for many seasons. Technically considered “fauxbacks,” these Vikings retro jerseys are paired with the team’s current helmet, creating a slight color mismatch with the purple shades. Historically, these Vikings uniforms were known for having mismatched purples between the helmet and jersey. These Minnesota Vikings throwback uniforms were worn once during the 2024 season, offering a nostalgic nod to a recognizable, if not precisely defined, era in team history.
New England Patriots
Over the years, the New England Patriots have showcased several Boston/New England Patriots throwback uniforms. Their current set most closely resembles those worn between 1984 and 1992, the “Pat Patriot” era. These Patriots throwback jerseys were worn twice during the 2024 season, eliciting strong positive reactions from fans nostalgic for this classic look. Ideally, these uniforms should be paired with white socks featuring red and blue stripes. However, in 2024, players largely opted for solid white socks, though some chose solid red, a visually preferable, albeit historically inaccurate, choice. Regardless of sock choices, these Pat Patriot throwback uniforms are widely considered superior to the Patriots’ current “Flying Elvis” uniforms, in any of their iterations.
New Orleans Saints
In theory, the New Orleans Saints’ throwback uniforms are intended to evoke their inaugural 1967 season. However, a notable discrepancy exists: the “old gold” shade used in the throwback deviates significantly from the original 1967 color, and even further from the metallic gold of their current uniforms. This color mismatch is particularly evident when comparing the throwback helmets to other gold elements. Despite this color inconsistency, these vintage Saints uniforms are still considered a significant improvement over the team’s current primary set. Many have argued that these throwbacks, along with the Saints’ color rush “fauxbacks,” provide an excellent starting point for a comprehensive uniform redesign. The New Orleans Saints throwback jersey was worn once in 2024, highlighting both its appeal and the ongoing debate about the team’s color palette.
New York Giants
The New York Giants presented fans with two distinct throwback uniform experiences in 2024. One was a “frankenuni,” drawing inspiration from the 1920s and 1930s Giants uniform era, a somewhat composite historical interpretation. The second was a more direct and highly acclaimed throwback to the 1980s-1990s Giants uniforms, meticulously recreating details down to the NOB (Name On Back) fonts and the deliberate mismatch between the blue helmet and jersey shades of that period. The red jersey throwback was a special introduction for the Giants’ 100th anniversary season. Its future use beyond the initial five-year allowance remains uncertain. Both the 1920s/30s and the 1980s/90s New York Giants throwback uniforms were each worn once in 2024, offering contrasting glimpses into different eras of Giants uniform history.
New York Jets
The New York Jets effectively debuted two throwback uniform concepts in 2024. Their standard primary uniforms are themselves a throwback to the “Sack Exchange” era of the 1980s. In addition, the Jets introduced a “Classic” uniform set, directly replicating their Super Bowl III era (1968-69) uniforms. This “Classic” Jets uniform set is a more accurate representation of the uniforms worn when Joe Namath and the Jets made NFL history, compared to the Jets’ uniforms from 1998-2008, which used a hunter green shade rather than the more accurate kelly green. This “Classic” New York Jets throwback jersey, as dubbed by the team, was worn once in 2024, offering a vibrant tribute to a pivotal moment in Jets and NFL history.
Philadelphia Eagles
Speaking of kelly green, the Philadelphia Eagles achieved a resounding success with their throwback uniforms. Representing the Eagles’ uniforms from 1985-95, the Buddy Ryan and Reggie White era, these kelly green Eagles throwbacks have been met with overwhelming praise. While some uniform purists might quibble about minor shade variations or the perfect color matching between helmet and jersey (some argue they are a shade or two lighter than the originals), the overall impact is undeniably positive. With no immediate plans to redesign their primary uniforms, these Eagles throwbacks present a compelling case for a future uniform direction. The Philadelphia Eagles kelly green throwback uniforms were worn twice in the 2024 season, solidifying their status as a modern fan favorite.
Pittsburgh Steelers
At a quick glance, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ throwback uniforms might be easily mistaken for their regular home uniforms. The subtle differences lie in the block-style uniform numbers and the gray facemasks. Back in 1977, the Steelers transitioned to black facemasks, and their current Futura Bold Italic number font arrived in 1997. By incorporating the gray facemask into this year’s throwback, the Steelers specifically invoked their 1974 look, the season that marked their first Super Bowl victory and the beginning of their dynasty era. These Pittsburgh Steelers throwback uniforms, celebrating the 1974 Super Bowl team, were worn once in the 2024 season, offering a subtle but significant historical tribute.
San Francisco 49ers
Similar to the Miami Dolphins, the San Francisco 49ers also feature two throwback uniform sets. One is still categorized as a “color rush” uniform, adding to the historical complexity. Both 49ers throwbacks are anachronistic, approximating the uniforms worn in 1994, the year of their last Super Bowl victory. However, the 1994 uniforms themselves were arguably a flawed attempt to throwback to the 1955 San Francisco 49ers uniforms. Regardless of these historical layers, the red 49ers throwback jerseys were worn twice in 2024, and the white throwbacks once. Interestingly, these San Francisco 49ers throwback uniforms are among the few examples where the throwback set is generally considered inferior to the team’s current primary uniforms.
Seattle Seahawks
Along with the New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Philadelphia Eagles throwbacks, the Seattle Seahawks’ vintage uniforms were highly anticipated upon the NFL’s relaxation of the one-helmet rule. These Seahawks throwbacks are designed to replicate the uniforms worn from 1983-2001, an era largely associated with the dimly lit Kingdome stadium. Seeing these classic Seahawks uniforms in bright sunshine has offered a fresh and vibrant perspective on their design. These Seattle Seahawks throwback uniforms, widely praised for their aesthetic appeal, were worn twice in the 2024 season, marking a successful return of a beloved retro look.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
For much of the period when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers used these “creamsicle” uniforms as their primary look (1976-1996, with white jerseys only in 1976), the team struggled on the field. This history has led some Buccaneers fans to associate these vibrant uniforms with bad luck or a “curse.” Aesthetics aside, these Tampa Bay Buccaneers creamsicle throwback uniforms are undeniably striking and many argue they deserve to be seen more than just once a season. After being brought back as throwbacks in 2009, they were worn annually through 2012 (prior to the one-helmet rule), and then returned to the rotation in 2023 and 2024, each time for a single game. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers creamsicle throwback jersey remains a visually iconic, if historically debated, piece of NFL uniform history.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans’ introduction of Houston Oilers throwback uniforms last season was a somewhat unexpected move, interpreted by some as a subtle jab at their former home city of Houston, especially given the Titans’ historical distance from their Oilers origins. Regardless of the motivations, these Oilers throwback uniforms are undeniably stunning. While the team officially became the Tennessee Oilers for their first two seasons in Tennessee, these uniforms are virtually identical to those worn by the Houston Oilers from 1990-96. The Titans market these as “Tennessee Oilers” throwbacks, despite the uniforms’ deeper association with Houston. The Tennessee Titans Oilers throwback jerseys were worn once in the 2024 season, sparking discussions about team history, uniform aesthetics, and franchise identity.
That concludes our look back at every NFL throwback uniform worn during the 2024 season. Which throwbacks reigned supreme? Which fell short? Do any vintage uniforms deserve to remain buried in the past? And looking ahead, which historical NFL uniforms would make compelling future throwback candidates? With a little creativity, all 32 NFL teams could potentially have a throwback uniform option, a concept ripe with potential. Imagine a future where “Throwback Thursday Night Football” becomes a league-wide spectacle, with every Thursday game showcasing vintage uniforms. If the NFL could dedicate two seasons to “Color Rush,” surely “Throwback Thursdays” would be a welcome and visually captivating addition to the NFL calendar.
What are your thoughts on the 2024 NFL throwback uniforms and the potential for more retro designs in the future?
