‘The Cowboys ARE Super Bowl contenders’: Why Dallas can win it all in 2026
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The NFL’s “Rivalries” will continue to deepen in 2026 – meaning the latest expansion of the league’s line of alternate uniforms, which have exploded in popularity.
After debuting the line in 2025, Nike unveiled its eight newest “Rivalries” uniforms combinations on Tuesday, Aug. 25, teams in the NFC North and AFC South seeing their wardrobes grow. The AFC East and NFC West clubs that launched the program last year will also continue to use theirs, the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams set to face off in a highly anticipated Christmas matchup – partially because they’re both pretty good squads (the league’s best in my opinion) but also because it will be the first game ever to showcase two teams in Rivalry unis.
Basically the NFL’s answer to the NBA’s popular “City Edition” uniforms or Major League Baseball’s “City Connect” jerseys, “Rivalries” gear has become “Fanatics’ best-selling merchandise release to date,” per Nike. According to Seahawks and New England Patriots players that I polled before Super Bowl 60, quite a few would have loved to wear their Rivalries duds on Super Sunday … if only the NFL allowed it even as it touts its freshest merch.
“By spotlighting the launch of the AFC South and NFC North Clubs and the passionate communities behind them, we continue to capture the spirit and tradition of football’s greatest divisional rivalries,” said Taryn Hutt, the NFL’s vice president of club marketing.
The new gear will be available for sale via NFL Shop, Nike, Fanatics, team stores and elsewhere Sept. 1.
While we wait to see the new duds under the lights, now is the perfect time to rank the eight new uniforms (from best to worst) based on the sneak peek of the uniforms granted to USA TODAY Sports and as the subsequent team announcements roll through:
Coming with the endorsement of team legend Randy Moss, who sported the new jersey as part of Nike’s release, the Vikes continue to nicely lean into Minnesota’s Norse heritage. The deep purple jersey features a slick new font for the ivory-colored jersey numbers and “Vikings” written above it along with a more metallic gold coloring … perhaps the kind Scandinavians of yore would pillage on a raiding party. But the knotting pattern adorning the sleeves, striping on the pants and down the helmet’s centerline – and might soon be replicated as a tattoo for hardcore fans – takes the cake here. The helmet knotting pattern outline is also designed to mimic the nosepiece of a Viking helm. The familiar horn logo also has added texturing, “simulating the shadows of a fire hitting it.” And the golden facemask is a very nice touch, too.
Per the Vikings, the “design was inspired by the textures of Viking armor; natural materials such as iron, wood and stone that connect both Minnesota and the ancient Viking world; and elements from Minnesota Vikings game-day rituals, including runestones, the Gjallarhorn and the Skol Drum.”
The team’s “Skol” battle cry is also transcribed in Rune characters − simply badass − on the helmet bumper and inside the collar.
“Man, we can only wear it once this season?” running back Aaron Jones told the team’s website. “These are the cleanest unis in the league.”
Arguably. But nicely done.
Debut date: Dec. 20 vs. Lions
The Houston voting precinct notwithstanding, they’ve won the uniform offseason – starting with the reimagined primary look they debuted in March. The “Music City” “Rivalries” version builds on that very effectively, the navy jersey leaning more into the Titans’ Tennessee roots rather than co-opting the Houston Oilers’ classic look. It borrows the nifty “6-String Stripe” element from the new uniforms, adds “Music City” above the jersey numbers and – best of all – a numbering font that evokes the neon signage of a honky tonk. A “Titans Blue” (nee Columbia Blue) really puts the whole package over the top. Titans fans should already be clamoring to see these more than once per season.
Debut date: Nov. 15 vs. Jaguars
Did you know Jacksonville is also known as “Bold City”? Me either, until I saw it on this jersey’s inner neckline. “Since ’95” appears on the outer collar, a callback to the Jags’ birth year. You have to look closely, but there’s also some gorgeous feline spotting patterned into the jersey numbers; it’s much more apparent on the bold black pants. (It took decades, but bless the Jaguars for finally incorporating this design suggestion). According to the team, “Hidden within the spots on the pants are the names of Jacksonville neighborhoods.” The glossy teal helmet (don’t love that actually) has the city’s 904 area code on the bumper and a gold face mask. Chrome detailing and new number fonts and Jaguars script complete the look.
A team that was properly ridiculed for the two-tone helmets it tried a few years ago has largely lived safely within the uniform fairway ever since − and, hey, Jacksonville is a golf town. But this alternate is just about a perfect blend of understatement and innovation.
Debut date: Nov. 1 vs. Colts
A franchise that’s typically struggled to find alternate unis that resonate still isn’t going very far afield. But the new jersey font and striping pattern on the neckline and sleeves – they include very subtle “stock certificate-inspired details” as a nod to the Pack’s communal ownership and fan base’s financial contributions to the organization through the years – are nice departures. “Making history since 1919” is stitched inside the neckline of a franchise that is the NFL’s third oldest. The best elements are the return of the old “GB” logo (on the shoulder and back of the helmet) that used to adorn the hat legendary coach Vince Lombardi typically wore in practice and the alabaster and “desaturated vintage green” color tones that supplant the club’s typical palette.
Compelling case is the strongest alternate treatment the Packers have ever devised.
Debut date: Oct. 11 vs. Bears
We give you the “Anvil Strike” uniform, which, per the team, is “(i)nspired by the steel of the anvil, (while) the dark anthracite jersey embodies the grit and intensity of Colts football.”
I see a gray jersey with blue numbers and shoulder stripes that nicely repurpose the grommets from the team’s beloved horseshoe logo. It’s fine even if it underdelivers to some degree.
The big win here is the metallic blue helmet adorned with a white horseshoe − largely a reverse imagery of the team’s iconic lids with a black centerline stripe and facemask. Be nice to see these used with the team’s regular unis and “Indiana Nights” alternates.
Debut date: Sept. 27 vs. Texans
There’s nothing necessarily offensive about it, and the “carbon-fiber-inspired” detailing on the jersey numbers, logo and helmet stripe are a new twist that nod to Motown’s automotive history. But … it also kinda looks like something the Carolina Panthers rejected in the development phase, including the “Defend the Den” phrase written into the neckline.
And maybe the Lions are selling it all a bit too hard?
“Detroit was once defined by what it built,” the team said on its website. “Now, it’s defined by what it overcame; by its complete refusal to surrender. That mentality is reflected by its people and its football team, in the way they guard the places they call home.
“Every opponent is an intruder.”
Sorry, but mostly meh.
Debut date: Nov. 1 vs. Vikings
The all-white “iced out” unis (aka HOUSTON/US) claim to celebrate the “H-Town culture through metallic and chrome finishes inspired by the city’s custom car scene. ‘Be Someone’ bridge-inspired numbers, street-tile patterns and street-name details bring Houston’s identity into the design.” The white helmet, which features the club’s alternate “H” logo, is a nod to the one the Texans initially intended to wear when they launched in 2002 before settling on “Deep Steel Blue” instead.
But for a team that should be commended for the bold choices of its other alternates, not sure this one really delivers to anyone outside of H-Town. Maybe the Texans need more time to adapt as the Titans continue to appropriate Houston’s historical football fashion.
Still, the team is seemingly happy.
“This is the most Houston uniform that will ever grace the gridiron,” Texans Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Doug Vosik said.
Debut date: Nov. 19 vs. Colts
The orange helmets are back. Uh, great. The jersey combines familiar elements of the team’s traditional uniforms, including the sock striping added to the shoulders and team founder George Halas’ initials splashed on a football patch just above the numbers. “Monsters of the Midway” is emblazoned inside the neck. The orange pants are a choice but probably the kind of bold stroke this otherwise conservative look needs to pop. And if the Bears kinda look like the Fighting Illini? Yep. “The design also nods to the University of Illinois,” according to the team.
The best feature? The four Chicago stars, which also appear on the city’s flag, and are now included on the back helmet bumper.
Debut date: Dec. 25 vs. Packers
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