The San Francisco 49ers’ foray into black alternate uniforms is a chapter in franchise history that many fans would rather forget. These uniforms, intended to add an edge to the team’s look, have largely been met with criticism and should be permanently shelved. When you consider the rich visual history of the 49ers, the black uniforms stand out for all the wrong reasons.
One of the primary issues with the 49ers Black Uniforms is that they contribute to a growing trend of NFL teams adopting black as an alternate color, often when it doesn’t naturally fit their established palette. While teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens have incorporated black effectively due to its connection to their existing colors, for many others, including the 49ers, it feels forced. Introducing black uniforms in 2015, especially for a team with a strong color identity rooted in red and gold, seemed particularly jarring. Adding to the oddity, the 49ers share a division, and even a geographical area, with the Las Vegas Raiders, a team synonymous with black and silver. The black uniforms opened the 49ers up to comparisons and, frankly, ridicule from their rivals across the bay. Instead of forging a unique alternate identity, the 49ers seemed to be treading on already well-established ground. Many fans and analysts at the time, and even now, wondered why the team didn’t look to its own celebrated past for inspiration, perhaps revisiting iconic looks like the classic 1994 throwback uniforms, which proved incredibly popular when they were reintroduced in 2018. The move to all-black simply felt like a misstep.
Not only should the 49ers never wear these again, they must burn any history they have unveiling these. Absolutely atrocious. https://t.co/4RGfEGC8Wn
— Jose Sanchez III (@JSanchezFN) June 27, 2020
Fan reaction to the 49ers black uniforms has been far from universally positive. In fact, as the tweet above and online discussions show, opinions are quite divided. This lack of widespread approval is a significant indicator of a uniform’s failure. Typically, successful alternate uniforms generate considerable excitement and are embraced by a large majority of the fanbase. The 49ers black uniforms, however, have consistently sparked debate and often outright disapproval, suggesting a fundamental disconnect between the design and fan expectations. The team arguably missed an opportunity to create a visually striking alternate by underutilizing their core colors. Imagine the possibilities of a bold red and gold combination, colors that are distinctly and historically 49ers.
Furthermore, the choice of black as an alternate color scheme is somewhat perplexing when considering the broader NFL landscape. While the Atlanta Falcons, for example, utilize a red and black color scheme effectively, it’s important to note that black is at least part of their established team colors. For the 49ers, black is entirely absent from their traditional color palette. If the team was intent on an alternate uniform that truly resonated, exploring variations that emphasized gold, a color deeply intertwined with the 49ers’ identity and California heritage, would have been a more logical and potentially more successful direction. Highlighting gold accents or even a predominantly gold uniform could have created a unique and celebratory alternate look, staying true to the team’s brand.
Perhaps the most compelling argument against the 49ers black uniforms is their unfortunate association with a period of struggle for the franchise. The years in which these uniforms were regularly worn coincided with some of the team’s less successful seasons. The debut of the black uniforms in 2015 unfortunately marked the beginning of a three-year downturn. While uniform design is certainly not responsible for on-field performance, the visual link to a disappointing era creates a negative connotation. For many fans, seeing the black uniforms evokes memories of those challenging seasons and the coaching changes and organizational instability of that time. Figures like Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly, who led the team during this period, are indelibly linked to the era of the black uniforms. Even perceived front office missteps of that time, rightly or wrongly, become intertwined with the image of the black uniforms.
Looking forward, the San Francisco 49ers already possess a supremely popular and successful alternate uniform: the classic 1994 throwback whites. These uniforms are widely beloved, representing a glorious era in 49ers history and providing a visually stunning contrast to the team’s standard home reds. Instead of clinging to the unpopular black alternates, the 49ers should fully embrace the throwback whites as their primary alternate option. It’s time to retire the black uniforms permanently and focus on designs that truly celebrate the 49ers’ iconic colors and storied legacy.
