Ranking the NFL's alternate uniforms

After a host of teams dusted off classic throwback uniforms for a new generation to appreciate, a handful of clubs changed uniforms this offseason. Here is a look at how the alternates and throwbacks stack up heading into the 2024 season.

49. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 of 49)

NFL teams are permitted to wear alternate jerseys three times in a season. The Bucs did not use all three slots in 2023 but gave this unfortunate creation an appearance. That took an at-bat away from their famed creamsicles, which made one cameo upon their overdue return. These pewters -- the one new club in the team's bag upon reverting to its Super Bowl XXXVII-era design scheme in 2020 -- stand to impede the Bucs going forward, unless a hero steps up and stops the madness.

48. Indianapolis Colts (2 of 49)

The shoehorning of black into color schemes has been an NFL issue for years. The Colts have mostly behaved on the uniform front throughout their history, resisting any urge to deviate from their Johnny Unitas-era design. Their "Indiana Nights" concept felt forced, as it also brought an unnecessary monochrome look beneath their black helmet. Just because the NFL now allows teams to use a second helmet does not mean that option must be exercised .

47. Los Angeles Rams (3 of 49)

The Rams have a few quality combinations they can use each season, and as the team's best work comes in yellow or blue pants, multiple games per year feature this all-bone concept. Los Angeles can salvage these bland pants when pairing them with a blue jersey but devoted two games to this lifeless kit in 2023. Sean McVay's team annually features one of the league's most exciting products, but it is tough to view the Rams as such when this uniform emerges.

46. Philadelphia Eagles (4 of 49)

In 2022, the Eagles improved on their black uniform with a black helmet. That did not come out of the locker room last season, bringing a years-long issue back to light. The Eagles are stubbornly using the wrong color scheme; last season's welcome Kelly Green throwbacks proved it. This clunky monochrome offering, which again features Philly's dull green atop its full-black look, has been in the team's rotation since the Donovan McNabb era. We are long past the point for upper-level Eagles staffers to speak up regarding an NFL green bastion living the wrong uniform life.

45. Los Angeles Chargers (5 of 49)

Considering the well-received Chargers uniform change in 2020, it would be interesting to learn who exactly is asking for this all-navy kit to see playing time. The Bolts have since trotted out 16 strong uniform days per season while devoting one per 2020s campaign to this navy concoction that is not working. If the team decided to use a Junior Seau-era throwback, that would be welcome. This ode to the 1990s/2000s not being a throwback adds confusion to one of the NFL's stranger uniform subplots.

44. New Orleans Saints (6 of 49)

Searching back well into the Drew Brees era, the Saints have clung to an all-black design at home, neglecting their gold pants. This alternate black helmet would make more sense rounding out that Superdome combination. Instead, the Saints have placed it atop this otherwise strong throwback presentation, greatly diminishing the returns from one of the league's top all-white uniforms. This looks to be one of the alternate-helmet era's early missteps; will we see it again in 2024?

43. Denver Broncos (7 of 49)

Putting orange pants into the regular rotation and nixing their stirrup concept long past its heyday, the Broncos came in with a B-minus-level uniform update this offseason. Of course, there will be one or two games per season that feature this presentation. Their late-1990s Super Bowl conquests notwithstanding, the Broncos have been committed to this unappealing navy color for far too long. They have downgraded on the navy side as well, with the white helmet set to prove troublesome in this pairing. More notably, any time the Broncos wear these takes away a date they can use to showcase their marvelous throwbacks.

42. New York Jets (8 of 49)

After committing at least a uniform misdemeanor by wearing green jerseys or pants in just two of their 17 games during the 2022 season, the Jets at least ushered their primary color back into the mix last season. The '22 slate showed the team is committed to joining the brigade of clubs force-feeding their fans a black alternate look. Despite the Jets returning their underrated 1980s scheme to the front of the rotation this offseason, they will still cling to this. Two of the NFL's three green flagships continue to make unnecessary commitments to a black alternate, though we will give this updated Jet effort a season to fully judge the product.

41. Arizona Cardinals (9 of 49)

The Cardinals did improve their uniform last season. Although Arizona displayed an annoying commitment to a monochrome design during the 2023 debut of its present uniform, the all-red or all-white presentations improved the stirrup-y design of the Larry Fitzgerald years. Like a few other teams around the league, the Cardinals' all-black setup feels forced.

40. Cleveland Browns (10 of 49)

It makes sense the Browns would unearth this decades-old kit, seeing as the NFL is nearing a crisis point when it comes to color contrast. This probably looked much better in the 1940s and '50s, but the Penn State-y setup takes too much off the table. Were this one of the NFL's uniform also-rans, throwing this blizzard look out twice a year would be acceptable. But the Browns are among the league's blue bloods in this category. These are just too ordinary for primetime.

39. Baltimore Ravens (11 of 49)

The Ravens cannot be accused of shoehorning black into a color scheme, as their 1996 array included the color. This space has never thought much of Baltimore's uniform, though, and the alternate black -- especially when nearly half the NFL has a version of this uniform -- does not add much.

38. Minnesota Vikings (12 of 49)

These are an upgrade on the all-white Vikings outfit that involved the purple helmet, but it is worth quibbling that this icy -- per every sports social media account re: white-on-white -- design is themed for a team that has played most of its home games indoors since 1982. This is not to say Minnesotans themselves are not hardened by the winters, but the Vikings will be donning these in the cozy confines of U.S. Bank Stadium. Subtracts from the mystique a bit. And as is the case with the NFL's array of all-black outfits, Minnesota is not doing enough with its uniform space here. This somehow outflanks the Jaguars' all-white for uniform nothingness.

37. Carolina Panthers (13 of 49)

The Panthers' standard uniform is now nearly 30 years old, but the franchise did well out of the gate. This alternate is a worthwhile effort in the multi-helmet era, as the Panthers indeed have black in their color scheme. But the black logo-black helmet concept removes some points from this otherwise decent offering.

36. Washington Commanders (14 of 49)

Fans of the Commanders are subjected to all-white or all-black looks for most of the season, and while these have not exactly garnered rave reviews, they supply a nice change of pace for a franchise still picking up the pieces post-Dan Snyder. Washington's alternates feel like they are attached to a different design scheme, and the gold complement and multiple crests adorning the jerseys do well to offset the bracketed nameplates. The pants are a bit plain, but that is not exactly a Washington-only problem in the modern NFL. These at least spare the viewers from the hideous all-white attire the team is trying to make work.

35. Houston Texans (15 of 49)

We remain in the monochrome sector of this list, which is starting to feel like the Ghostbusters taking the stairs on that memorable night. After 22 years, the Texans have changed up. This uniform switch did not exactly remove an A-lister from the NFL's gallery, but the redesign does not appear to offer much of consequence. The latest Battle Red Texans display does present a superior red compared to the bland output that doubled as the NFL's worst red uniform. This might not be that, and we will need to see this in a game before submitting a final judgment.

34. Detroit Lions (16 of 49)

The Lions will need to be careful with their three allotted alternate-jersey events; these will cut into the throwbacks' runtime. We will grade this ensemble together. The Lions had done well to ditch the unnecessary black uniforms from the Joey Harrington days; not exactly sure why fans would want reminders from those teams. But here we are. Detroit's shoulder stripes and blue pants go well with its blue helmet; that branch of this alternate tree will be acceptable. The Lions, whose uni redesign otherwise went well, could not resist the black monochrome craze. Here is hoping we are only subjected to the black-on-black look -- the Lions made it 12 teams capable of using monochromatic black -- once this season.

33. Dallas Cowboys (17 of 49)

The Cowboys donned interesting blues during the 1970s and then again in the 1990s. Neither of these are represented in Dallas' current uniform arsenal, which consists of an iconic standard uniform and a dull complementary blue. The Cowboys use this throwback alternate on Thanksgiving. They have better vintage options than this 1960-63 outfit.

32. San Francisco 49ers (18 of 49)

Perhaps it is the 49ers' talent level, but they have made the 1950s throwback reds work as a biannual option. When San Francisco does not use those Million Dollar Backfield-era unis, it has two top-class standard options to deploy. The team's once-a-year all-white offering just removes much of the flair this uniform blue blood can offer. The 49ers have too many great looks to devote a game to these, which largely take gold out of the mix.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (19 of 49)

This space has some issues with the current Jaguars' design. Unstable when it comes to uniforms, the Jaguars overcorrected from their two-toned helmet years to offer a stripped-down array of jersey choices. The team does not do enough with its color scheme, only passing for adequate when it uses its teal-on-white home attire. The Jags, of course, do have black in their color scheme and use it to moderate acclaim. Unfortunately, many other teams have sauntered onto this corner. There are just too many uniforms like this in the current NFL for this one to stand out anymore.

30. Chicago Bears (20 of 49)

At least the Bears are honoring a storied era for the franchise. Though, the season the Bears are recognizing when wearing these (1936) did not feature a championship or the team playing for a title. We have to applaud the socks-helmet-shoulder stripes synchronicity here, and while the Bears using these takes one of the best uniforms in sports out of the mix, the franchise has far worse throwback options to use if it so chose.

29. Indianapolis Colts (21 of 49)

The Colts have featured one of the NFL's better blues for decades, and although it is difficult to get past the strangely located horseshoe on the helmets in this scheme, the stripped-down look does not take too much away from one of the league's better color combinations. The shoulder stripes are a plus here as well. If Indianapolis rode with these as its only alternate, rather than insisting its new black helmet appear in public, we would be better off as a sports society.

28. Houston Texans (22 of 49)

This Yardbarker space will own its anti-monochrome stance -- in most cases -- but this Texans unveiling could be promising. It is unfortunate the Titans have the rights to the Oiler throwbacks, and this does veer close to the all-black layout nearly half the NFL uses. But the team debuting its H-Town Blue experiment should be reasonably anticipated. (The Texans' regular uniform could use a few plays off anyway.) The team's City Connect-style display features a strong number presentation, using a color combination no one else has. Gameday decisions -- sleeves, gloves, cleats, etc. -- could enhance this alternate's appeal.

27. Cincinnati Bengals (23 of 49)

Rather than simply throwing out monochromatic white for the sake of doing so, the Bengals designed a uniform with purpose. Cincinnati's "White Tiger" tribute features a stupendous stripe commitment, and this outfit looks better than when the team uses its orange helmet atop an all-white design. Cincy deploying this uniform at home, however, still takes away multiple opportunities for its pristine black-and-orange combo to run wild. Maybe we need another season to finalize a stance on this ambitious design.

26. New York Giants (24 of 49)

Going back to a 1920s uniform brings risks; beige pants are essentially a requirement for teams who do so. Beyond its unfortunate era-appropriate trousers, this uniform intrigues. Save for some red-on-gray cameos during the Eli Manning era (all losses), the Giants have rarely given their third color this much room to work. Here is a vote of confidence for this red-heavy outfit, though this season might present a problem for the team if it keeps the 1980s-'90s throwbacks in the closet. Hopefully, there is room for both.

25. Chicago Bears (25 of 49)

Speaking of third colors, the Bears let theirs run wild once the NFL's alt-helmet period began in 2022. This remains a bit jarring to look at, not dissimilar to when the Dolphins dabbled in orange uniforms . Orange socks should be the requirement when Chicago uses these tops. The Bears certainly look better when they keep their orange as an auxiliary uniform component, but at least they resisted any monochromatic temptations and kept a pants stripe as part of the look. Imagine the damage the full-orange experience could do.

24. Dallas Cowboys (26 of 49)

NFL fans of a certain age can recall Dallas' 1994 threepeat bid culminating in this uniform, as both they and the 49ers pivoted full-time to throwbacks down the stretch that year . That rivalry's third battle gives this uniform the juice it otherwise lacks, as the Cowboys struggled when they wore these originally (1960-63). The starred sleeves offer an original NFL jersey element, matching the number design as well. Blue socks do better to highlight this uniform's strong points. The Cowboys have worn these in each year since the NFL OK'd alternate helmets; it would seem we are in for a third go-round.

23. Green Bay Packers (27 of 49)

Like the Bears, the Packers must go deep into their history to find throwbacks. They have worn the same uniform since 1961. Green Bay has used this 1950 one-off recently. It effectively worked as a beta version of the look they modernized a decade later, and the logo-less helmets still complement the team's green effectively. It is not, however, the sexiest of monochrome choices to have this green going top to bottom. Again, at least no beige is present here. Other Packer teams have not been so lucky in the throwback department.

22. New Orleans Saints (28 of 49)

Hopefully, the Saints keep their black helmet away from this uniform. It is one of the league's better all-white designs. It does annoy that the New Orleans helmet gold does not match the stripes and numbers on this uniform, but for a Saints team that stubbornly keeps its gold pants closeted for much of the season, this look largely gets the job done.

21. Seattle Seahawks (29 of 49)

Owning the NFL's neon penthouse solo, the Seahawks take heat for sticking with their alternate uniform. The introduction of the 1990s throwback reduced this kit's workload to one game last season. Even when the Seahawks wore their neon jerseys atop standard blue pants, these worked. The neon supplements Seattle's blue effectively and makes for a fun alternate, giving the NFL something no other team supplies.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers (30 of 49)

The Steelers smartly shifted from their bumblebee throwbacks of the 2010s. Now, the team offers us this and a non-italicized throwback. An alternate yellow helmet would accentuate these better than the standard Steeler headgear does. This franchise wore gold/yellow (it is definitely on the yellow side of gold) helmets from its Pirates inception to 1962. This is a traditional organization, but this throwback could jump a tier if it reintroduced the alternate helmet for this scheme.

19. Detroit Lions (31 of 49)

The Lions are not the only team to ditch a uniform scheme shortly after a successful season. The Rams pivoted after a Super Bowl win, and the Broncos made their change after a 13-3 season. Granted, the Lions do not have as much modern experience with deep playoff voyages. That made it rather strange they would move off the look associated with that climb. No complaints on the standard Detroit uniform -- only some leeriness about the black alternate -- and the Lions are smartly keeping their Thanksgiving threads in the mix. Basic, yes, but this blue-and-silver throwback delights -- with the help of better football players -- each season.

18. New York Giants (32 of 49)

If the Giants use their 100-year throwbacks twice in 2024, either this uniform or the home blues of the Bill Parcells years will be shelved. Teams have three alternate uniform games to burn. This has always been one of the NFL's top white-on-white submissions, and it resurfaced years before the Giants unearthed their lighter blue tops. Back in use from 2016-23, New York's all-whites may be the sacrificial lamb -- for a season at least -- for the 1920s attire.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (33 of 49)

The Carson Palmer-Chad Johnson period brought a Bengals uniform step back, but it introduced the orange alternate. The Joe Burrow years enhanced it, and Cincinnati's orange tops remain one of the NFL's more underrated uniforms. Perhaps they do diminish the state-of-the-art helmet's impact a bit, but pairing with the pants stripe and orange socks, these hold their own with the Bengals' black tops. Cincy's alt-orange days represent a delight, though the White Tiger experiment cut this design's appearances to one last season. A uniform subplot to monitor in 2024.

16. Carolina Panthers (34 of 49)

Carolina does not receive enough credit for its mid-'90s uniform concept holding up. Just look at the turmoil the Jaguars have gone through on the fashion front since their 1995 intro. Carolina introduced its alternate blue in 2002, but it took until 2018 for the team to pair it with white pants. No one else fires up this shade of blue in the current NFL, making this Panthers look fresh when it is utilized properly. The Panthers have, however, worn these with blue, black and gray pants. The blue-on-grays work, but the pants stripe operates best when placed on white.

15. Minnesota Vikings (35 of 49)

A welcome sight in Week 1 of the 2023 season, the Vikings gave Minnesotans (and non-Twin Cities-based uni buffs) a glimpse of their 20th-century home design. The Vikes bailed on this amid the stirrup craze, though they last sported this sleeve-stripe pattern in 1992. Minnesota placed a premium on stripe synchronicity in this period, as its slightly superior road uniform best displayed , and here is hoping the Vikings avoid making this throwback a one-off.

14. Baltimore Ravens (36 of 49)

The Ravens look to have found something here. Perennially losing the NFL's purple battle to the Vikings -- though, perhaps not during Minnesota's stirrup years -- the Ravens have looked best in their Color Rush kit since its 2016 debut . Introducing a snazzy helmet to go along with it presents intriguing upside for a franchise that has largely struggled on the uniform front. This looks like the best uniform in Ravens history. Unfortunately, Baltimore's unremarkable black alternate will cut into this uniform's opportunities. Hopefully, the Ravens -- after not wearing the Color Rush uni in 2023 -- give fans two glimpses of it this season.

13. San Francisco 49ers (37 of 49)

Since ditching their Terrell Owens-years design in 2009, the 49ers just cannot miss when they go red. This brighter red from the 1950s certainly holds a special place in franchise lore, considering the 49ers used these as they demolished the Cowboys wall en route to a Super Bowl XXIX romp, and they have successfully reintroduced them as a 2020s alternate. Two times per year is fine for these, as the 49ers do their best work in gold pants, but this brighter red has earned its playing time.

12. New Orleans Saints (38 of 49)

The Saints being awful in these brought a Buccaneers-esque complication regarding throwback appearances, and although the current Saints have drifted a bit off the radar -- beyond their complex contract moves -- post-Sean Payton, they did well to dust these off in 2022. The shade of gold the Saints used from 1967-70 is a better uniform than anything the current iteration supplies. A 1998 Jets- or 2000 Giants-like rebrand around a throwback could restore some of a lower-middle-class team's relevance.

11. Buffalo Bills (39 of 49)

One of the toughest debates for Yardbarker's picks for each franchise's best uniform featured a matchup between the Bills' current blue-on-whites and this all-red display. Buffalo never wore red until the Color Rush concept emerged in the 2010s, but the team's alternate color pops when this kit comes out. Offering the necessary stripe and outline scheme to hover near the NFL's top uniform tier, the Bills could also take these red tops for a spin with white pants. That would provide a tiebreaker, as the AFC East champs' all-red looks better than their all-blue ensemble.

10. Los Angeles Chargers (40 of 49)

This is not a throwback, but more of a tribute amalgamation. The Chargers probably lead the pack for modern uniforms, and while they throw a game away annually via their strange navy throwback hybrid, this 1980s nod ensures at least 16 Bolts games bring sublime uniforms. The Chargers introduced these as a Color Rush concept in 2016; they are simply better than the attire Dan Fouts and Co. wore during the period this design honors. The three-bolt look provides a finishing touch. Monochromatic uniforms can work if the space is maximized and the right color is used.

9. Atlanta Falcons (41 of 49)

The Falcons have turned to the Jerry Glanville-era design and given important reps to their original home uniform in recent years. It seems like the stage is set for the organization to turn to its premier red helmet-red top attire . For now, the Falcons have done well to introduce younger fans to the best helmet in team history. This uniform just laps where the Falcons are presently. Atlanta has not featured a good uniform since Michael Vick took apart the Packers in the 2002 playoffs, but fans can look forward to the throwback games.

8. Miami Dolphins (42 of 49)

The NFL's lone aqua/teal bastion for nearly 30 years, the Dolphins still shine in their 1970s tribute threads. From the superior logo to the stripe commitment to the end zone design -- a nice part of this NFL period's throwback presentations -- Miami gives biannual evidence it would be best pretending the past 28 years of its uniform story did not happen. The Dolphins' current design, an unremarkable update on the classics, does not measure up.

7. New York Giants (43 of 49)

If it comes down to a duel between the Giants' blues or whites from the 1980s-'90s period, these win out. Maximizing their blue via a subtle late-'80s shift to a lighter shade, the Giants won Super Bowl XXV in these before winning their most recent two in their current -- sort of, as the gray pants quietly disappeared -- uniform. The Giants adding a red end zone when dusting these off provides an easy win over their all-whites from the Phil Simms years, though it remains to be seen if either of New York's most recent throwback offerings are coming back for 2024.

6. Seattle Seahawks (44 of 49)

The Seahawks righted a wrong 12 years ago by switching to their current design, but last season revealed the gap between the team's modern kits and those that went overlooked due to a rough 1990s in the AFC West. Going so far as to plan a '90s-themed website corresponding component, the Seahawks dazzled in these last season. The natural light also made them look much better compared to the Kingdome days. Keeping this uniform as an alternate-only delight for a few years seems smart, but at some point, a serious discussion about turning back to these full-time needs to happen.

5. New England Patriots (45 of 49)

Beating teams to the punch by incorporating vintage end zones to enhance their throwback games, the Patriots made things right after hastily ditching their most popular uniform decades ago. The quality gap between these unis and what the franchise dons today is starker compared to the old-school/new-school gulfs in Miami, Atlanta and Seattle. It is an aesthetic game-changer when the Patriots bring these out. Can you imagine how dire this 3-0 loss to the Chargers would have been had Pat the Patriot not been involved?

4. Tennessee Titans (46 of 49)

Karma did come back to the Titans for turning to these against the Texans last season. Not only did Houston edge Tennessee in overtime, but Mike Vrabel -- seen in a Bum Phillips-style hat that day -- was booted weeks later. Regardless of the awkwardness that came from the Titans bringing these out to face Houston, the Oiler threads' return provided a predictable delight during a down Titans season. No team has attempted to copy this blue shade since the Titans moniker surfaced in 1999, and while Tennessee certainly will not consider using these full-time, their throwback games will be far easier on the eyes.

3. Denver Broncos (47 of 49)

Long overdue, Denver's new uniforms brought mixed reactions. Ditching a stirrups concept that infected all levels of football at the turn of the century, the Broncos -- despite the plethora of triangles coming this fall -- needed to move on. While the new setup cannot be fully judged yet, the 2024 change brought one critical wrinkle. For the first time since 2001, the Bronco classics are returning. Three Super Bowl titles do not make the franchise's decision to ditch these right, and the team's all-orange 2023 alternate (feat. white helmets) teased as several other teams turned to throwbacks. With the royal blue helmet ready to roll, the Broncos will right a wrong this season.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (48 of 49)

Current Eagles players who were not born when during this uniform's lifespan have advocated for its full-fledged return. The Kelly Green scheme's re-emergence went that well last season. It is worth reminding once again the Eagles only used these for 11 seasons (1985-95); they have used their inferior modern design for nearly 30. Aided significantly by Randall Cunningham's presence, the Eagles never shined as brightly as they have in their green-on-gray setup. We may not have a decision during Saquon Barkley's Philly stay, but giving strong consideration to finally closing the book on the darker-green look during Jalen Hurts' prime should happen.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (49 of 49)

The current Buccaneers were not around to know of the beating this uniform took by the mid-1990s. This might not have been the most anticipated throwback, as Bucco Bruce did reappear in the 2000s and early 2010s, but it is the best of the bunch. Tampa Bay only brought out this design once in 2023, building anticipation. Tom Brady famously wanted to wear these. If only he had played 24 seasons instead of 23. Baker Mayfield stepped in to reap the spoils, and although the Bucs lost to the Lions in the creamsicles, they are coming back in full force. The uniform community rejoices.