The NFL is entering its second year of the Nike Rivalries series. Two divisions in the league will debut new alternate uniforms: the AFC South and the NFC North. In a league full of great uniforms, let’s take a look at the new additions.
Easily the worst of the bunch here is the Detroit Lions. While all-white uniforms can be nice, these unfortunately look like a copy of the Carolina Panthers.
Detroit’s blue helmets are a great look, but they’re not new. The integration of black and blue is well done, but leaves a lot to be desired. Other teams on this list took advantage of their respective city’s identity; the Lions did not.
The possibilities of a “Motor City” themed uniform were endless, and the Lions missed the mark. While they’re not objectively ugly, these uniforms are beyond underwhelming.
“Underwhelming” seems to be the theme of the NFC North. The Packers’ rivalry jerseys, while better than the Lions’, aren’t overly inspiring.
Green Bay introduced alabaster colored helmets here. The uniforms are a dark green with an added “GB” patch. The font for the numbers and names is fun, but that’s where the creativity ends.
The Packers’ standard uniforms are classic and timeless, so the bar is high with any alternates they debut. These are fine, but once again, underwhelming.
The Bears went for a classic look with their Nike Rivalries jerseys, and that’s not a bad thing. The orange helmets are always a good call, and the 1948-inspired number font is a great callback.
NFL teams like the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings have debuted “Icy White” style uniforms in the last couple of years. If there was ever an opportunity for that, it’s Chicago.
With Caleb Williams being dubbed “The Iceman” in a city known for cold weather, the answer was right in front of us. There’s nothing wrong with the Nike Rivalries uniforms Chicago debuted, but they went the wrong way.
I should preface this entry by acknowledging that all-black uniforms are great. The Colts debuted something in that vein for their Nike Rivalries alternates. Instead of straight black, they went for an anvil-gray design, and it works.
Along with the anvil-gray, Indy went for a silver horseshoe logo and black trim around the shoulder lines and pant stripes. The Colts have debuted black helmets in the past but went for metallic blue ones here.
An anvil-gray design from top to bottom could’ve looked clean and seamless. They also opted for white trim around the numbers. It stands out as the only white trim on the uniform (in a good way). These jerseys are great, but all-black style uniforms are always a safe bet.
The Vikings didn’t go for anything flashy or overly different here, and it was a great call. Their Nike Rivalries uniforms are a darker shade of purple, and the number font is rune-inspired.
What really brings Minnesota’s jerseys together is the Nordic knot patterns. They added the design on the pant legs, the shoulders, and down the middle of the helmets. It’s simple, but perfect.
The Vikings wrapped up the uniforms with a Nordic-style wordmark on the front of the jerseys and runes on the front of the helmets. They understood the assignment and didn’t disappoint.
At first glance, the Jaguars’ Nike Rivalries uniforms may seem underwhelming. After a longer look, the details are stellar here. The logo is “sun-washed”, bringing more muted colors than the standard one.
Jacksonville went with an alabaster jersey color, continuing that sun-washed look. The numbers are a black sublimated twill with gold and teal trim. The teal helmets with the sun-washed logo pop in a great way as well.
The best part of Jacksonville’s uniforms here is undoubtedly the subtle jaguar print. The pants are all black with the print all over them, and the black jersey numbers follow suit. Along with a teal pant stripe with gold trim, these uniforms are wonderfully done.
After a terrific rebrand earlier in the offseason, the Titans have nailed it once again with their Nike Rivalries uniforms. The navy-blue jerseys along with the light numbers are a great call. The numbers have a thin white overlay reminiscent of neon lights.
Tennessee darkened the logo with two-tone blues, disposing of the traditional red. The guitar-inspired pant stripes add six thin lines inside the white-and-blue trim.
The Titans put the cherry on top of these uniforms with script font on the front of the jerseys that says, “Music City”. I mentioned teams honoring their city’s history, and this is a prime example of that.
The Texans have absolutely crushed it in the uniform category. Their “H-Town” and “Battle Red” uniforms are stunning, and they’ve done it once again. They debuted their Nike Rivalries uniforms, and their hot streak continues.
The Texans took inspiration from Houston in these all-white uniforms. The tile design is utilized as trim on the collar, helmet, shoulders, and pant stripes. It’s also utilized for the name font on the backs of the jerseys. They brought back the “H-Town” style logo for the helmets, along with candy paint red stripes.
While these jerseys are largely an inverse of the “H-Town” uniforms, it works to perfection. The candy paint brings a shine to the details, and the Houston Oilers-inspired blue is always a terrific callback. Houston simply doesn’t miss.
The NFL’s partnership with Nike has resulted in some great uniforms. While they can’t all be great, the Rivalries series has given fans fresh alternates to wear. Despite a couple of missed opportunities, the 2026 editions of these uniforms are a huge success.
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