Oh alternate helmets, how we've missed you. The 2022 NFL season brought with it the return of team's having the option to use secondary helmet shells, only to be worn with alternate uniforms, a maximum of three times a season. And it is great.
Several of those alternate looks are far better than the the standard uniforms we see from teams and reminds me just how strange it is NFL design teams can get primary uniforms so wrong in the first place. Whether it's one of the teams who used the new rule to bring back a throwback look better than their current or one of the many black helmets to give teams blackout looks that are awesome on the field, we have seen some beautiful looks that made me want to consider who does it the best.
Quick criteria checklist, every uniform is considered for a team's spot so one great alternate can only carry a bad set so far and how cool players look in the uniforms is absolutely considered. Rankings will be broken into tiers.
Blew the Redesign and already realise it
32: Falcons: This one is personal because once a year I have to watch my Atlanta Falcons play in the single worst uniform in the league. I really thought after the Jaguars we were passed faded colors on uniforms but I guess not. They brought back the red helmets for a throwback and they are so obviously better than the new redesign. I have to imagine the organization is waiting for the five year window a team must uphold a redesign to end so they can make the throwbacks full tie uniforms.
31: Patriots: No need to elaborate.The throwbacks are better.
How Have They Not Changed Yet?
30: Cardinals: They introduced these in 2005! Why do they use grey facemasks with white helmets? There is no other grey in their color scheme!
29: Texans: They introduced these in 2002! They've been the same since they entered the league!
28: Colts: Most boring uniforms in sports? I think so. Also, see sentence two and three of the Cardinals' ranking.
27: Panthers: They have had these since 1995!!! Just wear black helmets! Pretty good otherwise.
26: Steelers: Slow uniforms, bad numbers. I hate the pants. Also get over yourself and put the logo on both sides of the helmet.
25: Broncos: I'm sure they're worried about other things. This design was introduced in 1997! Elway was their quarterback!
C+
24: Lions: I feel very confident they'll redesign soon. These aren't that bad, they don't fit the Dan Campbell culture though.
23: Jaguars: These don't move me. Use the ones from the early 2000s.
22: Washington: They're aight. Shoulda stuck with Football Team.
Could Be Better, No Reason to Change
21: Giants: Good colors, players look cool in them. Every throwback they use is better than their current uniforms. Just use white facemasks and get away from the NY logo. Also, unrelated to uniforms, but I'd look for an upgrade at quarterback and not give Saquon too much money.
20: Chiefs: Red and yellow is a bad color combination but the Chiefs have never changed their uniforms and I don't really see any reason for them to.
19: Bucs: I think they're pretty good. They should pull a Cowboys move and just always wear the white jersey cause it's way better than the red one.
Good Uniforms! They should change them though
18:Vikings: Why the black facemasks? Not into the matte purple helmets. I've always liked these but they could just obviously be so much better.
17: Ravens: Can't believe they've stuck with that number font for as long as they have. The black uniforms are maybe the best in the league. Lamar looks sick in them. Too bad he's a future Falcon.
16: Jets: I really like the Jets' uniforms and everyone on their team looks awesome in them. The black helmet also rips. Just use a brighter shade of green, ditch the green helmet and feed Garrett Wilson and Breece cause I got em' both in my dynasty league!
Flashy Modern Design that shouldn't work... But does.
15: Seahawks: Nike basically used them as flagship when they took over as the league's designer. People want to see the old blue and silver come back, call me crazy but these have always been good and the Seahawks have enjoyed the most success in them. DK looks so cool in the them!
14: Titans: AJ Brown looked sick in them. Derrick Henry is too tall to look cool. I don't make the rules. Make the light blue the primary, obviously.
Classics: Are they actually good? Kinda
13: Cowboys: The white uniforms suck. Someone has to say it. There are four different shades of blue and two different shades of silver involved! The alternate white uniforms are so much better! Just wear navy blue and silver at home adn white and navy on the road! YOu paid Zeke too much Jerry! Pollard clears!
12: Packers: They're ugly but in an interesting way. Like Shelley Duvall.
11: Bills: I feel like these should look cooler. Just wear the blue pants less I guess. But they look cool with the white jerseys. Or maybe Stefon Diggs just looks cool. Hard to say.
The Dolphins
10: Dolphins: See they would fit into the, "Good Uniforms! They Should Change Them Though," category, but they're too good to be left out of the top ten. They're cool uniforms that make anyone in them look way faster than they are. Great colors, love Mike McDaniel's moxy. The throwbacks are better.
9: Rams: The same applies to the Rams, but to a lesser extent. Throwbacks are better but no reason to go away from these they're cool and the helmets are maybe the best in the league. Stafford's elbow however, is not.
Top Tier. Not the Very top though.
8: Saints: I hate the Saints.
7: Raiders: Not a huge fan of silver pants. I don't feel much needs to be said about these.
6: 49ers: Not into the grey facemask. Everything else works!
5: Chargers: I think a lot of people would say these are the best. They're good but I feel like they don't look as good on the field as some of the uniforms below them on this list. THey're obviously really good though. Remember when everyone was bored during Covid and the Chargers' uniform reveal was the biggest sports story of the week when it happened?
4: Browns: Yeah I like the Browns' uniforms, hop off.
3: Bears: Blue Helmets, white jerseys, blue pants. Doesn't get much better.
2: Bengals: They hit the redesign out of the park. The top teams get credit for having uniform sets where every uniform looks good and they can really mix and match jersey/pant combos. They also have the white helmet now!
The Top Tier
1: Eagles: Best uniforms in sports. Argue with a wall. Anyone who wants teh bright green back can go fuck themselves. They can wear every pair of pants with every jersey and every single combination looks great. The Eagles black uniforms are the best in the history of sports, every player to ever wear them has looked cool and what should be a bad number font works. Go Birds (Not an Eagles fan).
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