Since 2013, the NFL’s throwback uniforms have been tainted. A rule that limited teams to a single helmet style hampered some franchises’ ability to take the field looking like a slice of 1967.
Gone was Pat Patriot and the Broncos’ full Orange Crush kit. Buccaneer Bruce was kept on the bench instead of sailing the high seas of a Tampa Bay Super Bowl season. The Bills could pay homage to their teams of the 1960s thanks to their white helmet base but couldn’t throw it back to the red-helmet days of Marv Levy and four straight AFC championships.
The Packers’ ugly brown helmets… well, OK, that was probably a good idea to scrap those.
Fortunately for the world at large, the NFL’s throwback uniforms will be restored to their full glory in 2022. The league revised its policy to allow a second helmet to be added to the rotation and paired with any look its team is going for — traditional, throwback, or (deep sigh, rubs temples) Color Rush.
We don’t officially know which franchises will take advantage of the relaxed helmet rule; teams have until July 31 to file their uniform plan with league headquarters. We do know that list will probably include the New England Patriots thanks to Jalen Mills’ Instagram:
Oh myyyyy. From Jalen Mills’ Instagram story…. pic.twitter.com/wvo0R63L2K
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) April 21, 2022
Several others will join them, because a snappy throwback is social media equivalent of throwing against a prevent defense. Which teams have the most to gain with the cleanest looks? Oh, my friend, I am happy you asked.
