The 2023 NFL season shouldn’t lack drama, Oscar-worthy theater and excitement. Aaron Rodgers is a New York Jet. The Kansas City Chiefs are aiming to become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions in 19 years, and Tom Brady haters don’t have to worry about him ruining their team’s season anymore.
Oh, and on top of that, eight NFL clubs — exactly one-quarter of the league’s 32 teams — have revealed special throwback jerseys that will be returning here in the 2023 season.
The Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos have revealed alternate helmets for the 2023 season. But eight NFL clubs are taking it a step further by wearing complete throwback uniforms for selective games in the 2023 NFL season.
Fans who love trips down memory lane will enjoy every bit of the “throwback” these uniforms have to offer in 2023. So, how do all eight returning NFL throwback jerseys stack up against each other? Time to rank ‘em from worst to first…
So let’s dive right into it!
8. Cleveland Browns
These throwback uniforms aren’t exactly horrible. In fact, we’d argue they’re better than the vast majority of Cleveland Browns’ jerseys we’ve seen throughout their history.
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As we’ve stated several times, it’s awfully hard to put together a quality team logo and uniform when your team name is “Browns” — a tribute to the franchise’s co-founder and first-ever head coach.
But, meh. Don’t they look too similar to the white jerseys of their in-state rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals? Even if we don’t like the Brown’s regular home and away uniforms, they’re at least different from the AFC North foes.
The “1946” patch is a nice way of paying homage to the Browns’ inaugural season 77 years ago, we suppose. And again, we certainly wouldn’t complain if the Browns had opted to make these their full-time white jerseys.
But in terms of throwback? They’ve got nothing on the other throwback uniforms that are returning here in 2023. We’ll semi-pardon the organization, though, since it’s impossible to come up with a good color scheme given their team name.
7. New York Jets
Things haven’t been this exciting for New York Jets fans since…I dunno. Their last trip to the AFC Championship Game back in 2010? They’re owners of football’s longest playoff drought, after all.
The Jets completed a blockbuster with the Green Bay Packers trade for four-time league MVP and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. He’s already by default the best QB this team has had in half-a-century since Joe Namath’s final season with the organization.
That’s the main reason for optimism in Jets land. If you’re a lifelong fan who grew up cheering for this team in the post-Namath era, you’re probably thrilled about their throwback jerseys returning — but we aren’t that high on them,
The Jets, like the Browns, cement a bottom-two spot on this list for simply bringing back a white jersey as their “throwback.” Why couldn’t they have brought back any of the main green-colored uniforms pre-2019?
Secondly, these so-called “throwbacks” are hardly any different than the Jets’ regular away uniforms, the main difference being that the pants are mostly white instead of black. And all-white jerseys with pants are boring these days.
The Jets are calling these “The Legacy White” uniforms, and they’re a tribute to the white jerseys that the AFC East club wore from 1979 to ‘89. That era of Jets football was led by the “New York Sack Exchange” prolific pass rush foursome of Mark Gastineau, Abdul Salaam, Marty Lyons and Joe Klecko.
New York will wear these unis for two contests: Their Week 1 “Monday Night Football” season opener at home vs. the Buffalo Bills — Aaron Rodgers’ New York debut! — and in Week 4 against the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
Make no mistake, we are always here to celebrate a team’s history by going the throwback way. But the Jets would’ve been higher on this list if they went with a green jersey instead of these “meh” white ones that hardly look different than their current main whites.
6. Tennessee Titans
Okay, now we’re in the territory where we love and dig all of the remaining throwback jerseys. In many other years, the Titans’ Houston Oiler throwbacks would be much higher on a list like this.
Too bad they waited until 2023 of all years to bring ‘em back, because we’d love to have them right near the very top of this list. But better late than never, we suppose.
The Titans franchise, of course, was previously based in Houston from 1960 to ‘96 – where they went by the “Oilers.” After the franchise relocated to Nashville in 1997, they opted to retain the “Oilers” team name for two years before switching to “Titans” in 1999.
Like the Jets, the Titans will wear these “Luv Ya Blue” uniforms for two home games in 2023. And they’re sure going to look good AND feel good while, hopefully, playing good?
These are slick colors that would also work as full-time uniforms in today’s NFL. The turquoise, white and red colors make up a nice combination and give the players a superhero-like appearance.
Keep in mind that the Titans will host their AFC South rivals, the Houston Texans, in Week 15. If you ask us, that would be the ideal and most fitting time for Tennessee to bring out the “Luv Ya Blue” jerseys. That way both the Titans and Texans’ fan bases win.
Not sure how DeAndre Hopkins will perform in his first year with the Titans, but he’s sure going to look darn good in “Luv Ya Blue,” wouldn’t you say?
5. New England Patriots
We’ve long called for the Patriots to bring out their old dominant-red throwback jerseys more often. Incredibly, after their Week 7, 2012 home game against the New York Jets, the Patriots wouldn’t bring these out for another 10 years.
Finally, the red unis made their long-awaited return when the Patriots hosted — and soundly defeated — the Detroit Lions in Week 5 of last year.
The Patriots announced that these slick throwbacks will be worn for their Week 2 home game against the AFC East rival Miami Dolphins and in their Week 13 home tilt against Justin Herbert’s Los Angeles Chargers.
And guess what? We’re digging every little bit of it.
The dominant-red colors are just perfect for a club named “Patriots.” And we’ve stated before that we’re not oh-so-keen on the new set of unis the Patriots introduced in 2020 — the first of the post-Tom Brady era.
So the more of this red over the main navy-home jerseys, the better. Sign us up for these every day of the week.
4. Seattle Seahawks
Death, taxes, and the Seattle Seahawks displaying some of the league’s best jerseys — this time in the throwback department. What else is new?
The Seahawks have mastered their jersey colors and designs for as long as we can remember. So of course they’ll be in the top half of this year’s rankings.
The Seahawks are throwing it back to the ‘90s for their Week 8 home showdown against the Cleveland Browns. These beauties consist of royal blue jerseys with silver helmets and gray pants. A true 80s/90s vintage style.
The ‘90s weren’t exactly kind to the Seahawks.They had just two winning seasons and made the playoffs once — in 1999, which resulted in a one-and-done outing against the Miami Dolphins.
But they sure looked good out on the field, even if they weren’t playing inspiring football. Now that they’re back to relevance and Super Bowl contention, the Seahawks will look good while dominating on the field.
Our only real complaint is that the Seahawks are only wearing these for one of their eight home games in 2023. Why not bring them out for two or three games? ALRIGHT…we suppose the main home jerseys are too fancy and slick to put on the shelf more than once.
Bottom line: The Seahawks crushed it here. And they’ll certainly make a little extra cash at the team store.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
Back in March, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie confirmed that the Eagles would bring back their “Kelly Green” jerseys in 2023. Their social media accounts have had fun teasing us about the reveal date, too.
Regardless of the date reveal, and regardless of which game or games they wear them, the fact that the Kelly Greens are making a comeback is more than enough to keep us happy for now.
Now, don’t get us wrong. The current “Midnight Green” jerseys are among the very best in not only the NFL, but in all sports, period. But the Kelly Green jerseys were a unique color and design that you just don’t see in the sporting world often, which is why we’re thrilled that they’re making a comeback.
Surprisingly, the Eagles haven’t actually worn the Kelly Green outfits since Week 1 of the 2010 season against the Green Bay Packers. That was the memorable game where Michael Vick replaced an injured Kevin Kolb to begin his Comeback Player of the Year campaign — and of course the start of the Packers’ Super Bowl 45 championship season.
The Kelly Greens just have an awesome vintage color and design. And they would’ve looked beautiful in any previous decade — anywhere from the 1930s to the present day.
Like we said, the Eagles’ Midnight Green jerseys are right up there with the best in professional sports. We’d be totally fine with the Eagles keeping them forever, but a fun little throwback never hurt anybody.
And we cannot wait to see them return.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers were genius for bringing back the “Super Bowl era” jerseys in 2020 — the first season with Tom Brady in the fold. Not just because the Bucs went on to win their second Super Bowl that year, but the colors were actually 10 times better than the ol’ crappy ones they wore in the Jameis Winston era.
Still, a little bit of a throwback never hurt anybody — and we are fully in love with the Buccaneers’ “Orange Creamsicle” throwback jerseys that will be worn for their Week 6 contest against the Detroit Lions.
The orange creamsicles were the Bucs’ main home uniforms from their inaugural season in 1976 until 1996 before they switched ‘em up. Despite the orange creamsicles’ popularity, the Bucs haven’t actually worn them since the 2012 season.
But after a long 11-year wait, that’s finally about to change. We are finally re-entering the Orange Creamsicle Era…for one day. A one-day return is better than an 11-year absence though, right?
The Bucs will likely be among football’s worst teams with Tom Brady long gone. But their jerseys will keep them dashing-looking on the field. Especially when they host the Lions at Raymond James Stadium in Week 6.
1. Minnesota Vikings
We really could have made a strong case for any of the uniforms in the top six to be No. 1. They’ve all got their strengths and practically no weaknesses, after all.
But we had a tough time keeping the Vikings and their slick throwbacks out of the top spot. There’s just too much to love about them. We can only compare it to falling in love with somebody at first sight.
The Vikings are wearing their old purple jerseys from the 1960s and 1970s Fran Tarkenton/Bud Grant era. Over this period, the Vikings enjoyed their greatest run in franchise history to date — one that saw them play in four Super Bowls.
But of course, since it’s the Vikings, they lost all four of them.
The Vikings will be wearing these jerseys for their home opener in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — another club that’s throwing it back this year. If only the Bucs would wear their Orange Creamsicles for this tilt too. Wouldn’t that be epic?
As long as purple remains the dominant color, the Vikings will always be in the top-five for our uniform rankings. Throwback jerseys, color rush jerseys, alternate jerseys, regular home jerseys. You name it.
Man, Justin Jefferson and company are going to look so freaking cool wearing these. Hopefully Vikings fans can do their part and buy a bunch of them at the team shop so that the club gets the hint and wears them annually.
How would you rank all eight NFL throwback team uniforms for the 2023 season from worst to first?
