Over the past few seasons, we have seen some great uniforms from pro football’s past come back to life. From the New England Patriots' “Pat Patriot” era uniforms to the Seattle Seahawks' silver helmet, science fiction looks from the mid-1980s through the 1990s to now seeing the Denver Broncos' big D logo comeback from the period of the “Orange Crush” defense to the John Elway years. Once again, the New York Jets have their 1980s gang green look as their primary uniforms. Also, seeing the Jacksonville Jaguars' throwback look from 1995 to 2008 returning for one game this season is just football nostalgia at its finest.
I can’t forget to mention those popular creamsicle uniforms of the Buccaneers, but the Giants are becoming outrageous to bring out a second throwback uniform with their 1925 look that will be seen on the field on opening day this season against the Vikings. That would motivate every team in the NFL to have at least one throwback look in their uniform arsenal shortly. This nostalgic fashion trend could inspire these six other NFL uniforms from the past to be resurrected.
Miami Dolphins: The Dan Marino Period (1987-96)
Just like how the Cleveland Browns look better going back to their white facemask look, it would look better for the Miami Dolphins to change back to having dark aqua-green facemasks. While also rocking the old school dolphin wearing a helmet logo on their helmets and the shoulders of the jersey. It's an outfit that could be an excellent primary replacement for what they have now. The uniform transformation would take the Dolphins away from a popsicle look to a hotter look that speaks danger for opponents to beware.
The Dolphins would follow the back-to-the-future trend that teams have started since the 49ers went back to their 1980s cherry red look in 2009 and the Bills went back to their 70s O.J. Simpson era look in 2011 for good. The Detroit Lions' new uniforms look much like those from the 1990s when Barry Sanders was around. There is no better way for the Dolphins to pay homage to the man who elevated the franchise during the mid-1980s through 1990s, Dan Marino.
Los Angeles Rams, 1950s Strolling (1948-63, 1994)
Norm Van Brocklin, Bob Waterfield, Tom Fears, and Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch would smile down on the Rams wearing the classic yellow top uniforms they wore during the 1950s. The same uniforms that Norm Van Brocklin threw for an NFL record for most passing yards in a game, 554 passing yards against the Cleveland Browns in 1951. The same uniforms when the Rams had one of the greatest receiving trios in NFL history with Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, Tom Fears, and Bob Boyd. It's difficult to say their 1950s uniforms are better than their blue and yellow Eric Dickerson-era uniforms or their white and blue Fearsome Foursome-era uniforms from the 1960s. Whatever style the organization decides to take moving forward beats their current uniforms, making the players look like Best Buy employees. It was a look that even fitted Hollywood and still would today. A glamorous look that resembles the flash of Los Angeles.
Buffalo Bills: Late 80s-1990s Red Helmet Look
Winning a Super Bowl takes making it to the Super Bowl first, and a team making four straight appearances in the Super Bowl is nothing but impressive. From 1990 through 1993, the Buffalo Bills became the toll booth for AFC opponents to get past to get to the Super Bowl. No huddle offense, Jim Kelly, the K-Gun connecting with Hall of Fame wideout Andre Reed, the versatile Thruman Thomas, and all-time sack leader Bruce Smith made the Bills an unstoppable force in the AFC. During this time, they created great memories in Buffalo, especially the 32-point comeback win over the Oilers in the 1992 wildcard playoff game. The Bills have been going through a renaissance with their on-field success by casually producing double-digit win seasons and making the playoffs for the past five seasons.
Since hiring Sean McDermott in 2017 and drafting Josh Allen the following year, the Bills have been a pro football powerhouse and could remain a powerhouse with those two still leading the charge in Buffalo. Buffalo's current winning atmosphere resembles the same one during their glory days of the 1990s. It can become more reminiscent of those days with the return of the red helmets from their Super Bowl years.
Atlanta Falcons: Late 70s-1980s Red Tops
The Falcons' red helmet and black jersey throwback uniforms from the 1960s are decent but pale compared to their all-red look that started in 1972. The red jersey look would later progress in 1978 with the addition of the Falcon logo printed on the shoulders of their jerseys. That was when the Falcons began using the white facemask and red helmet combination, and it wasn't until 1984 that the organization changed the color of the facemask to black, with the helmet staying red. The last of the red jersey, red helmet look would come in 1989, marking the "Primetime" arrival of Deion Sanders. The addition of gray pants with some gray stripes around the shoulders on the jersey in 1978 makes the color combination of scarlet red, black, and gray a stunning look that is energetic, passionate, and aggressive. Perhaps no color fits with a city or state better than the color red fits with Atlanta, GA. You see it with the Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, and the Falcons.
Los Angeles Chargers: Air Coryell
If the Chargers ever decide to bring this uniform back, it would be best for the organization to pay homage to the late great Don Coryell and let the San Diego citizens know they haven't forgotten them despite leaving them for Los Angeles. The period from 1978 through 1984 is arguably the best period of Chargers football in the franchise's history. San Diego at the time was the home of the most electrifying football team in the world, they were the greatest show on turf and grass and were simply Charger Power. Don Coryell established himself as one of the greatest head coaches in all of football by elevating an offense that would change the game forever.
The high scores, throwing the ball downfield on every down, and constant pre-snap motion came from the Coryell offense. They were the Jackson 5 of Pro Football, with quarterback Dan Fouts being the Michael Jackson of this explosive offense. Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joiner, John Jefferson, and Wes Chandler would be the talented recipients of his beautiful passes for six-pointers every game. Besides that, this presentation of lightning bolts and the blue-yellow color combination sends volumes as loud as a team's performance. It matched the flash of one of the most significant offenses the NFL has ever witnessed.
Kansas City Chiefs: Dallas Texans Fauxbacks
The Kansas City Chiefs will always pay their respects to the AFL if they continue to display the AFL patch on their jerseys like they always do. So, why not trace back to who they were when they first became a professional football franchise? The time when late great Lamar Hunt brought this franchise into existence soon after he became the founder of the AFL. The Dallas Texans were what the Chiefs were before they became the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963. They were the first AFL franchise and made a path for other traditional AFL franchises to follow, like the Broncos, Raiders, Chargers, Bills, Patriots, Jets, and Oilers. The Texans moved to Kansas City, becoming the Chiefs after winning the AFL championship in 1962. The Chiefs did bring the Dallas Texans uniforms back for the 60th anniversary of the AFL in 2009.
The throwback Texans uniforms were worn three times that season and have never been seen again. The Chiefs' current success with their ongoing Super Bowl run reflects their success during the 1960s, when they played in the very first Super Bowl in 1966, won Super Bowl IV over the Vikings in 1969, and won an AFL championship in 1962 as the Dallas Texans. The franchise reached these accomplishments within its first nine years of existence under Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram.
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