CBS: Ranking all of NFL's current throwback jerseys

[CF DolFan]

CBS Ranks the Dolphins throwbacks as the best in the NFL and even suggests the team should make them permanent. Kind of funny how may non Dolphin fans appreciate them as well as us old school Dolfans.



1. Miami Dolphins -- 1972 home and road jersey

There isn't a throwback uniform in the NFL that can top the Dolphins, who don the uniforms of the only perfect season in NFL history. Miami brought back the aqua throwbacks in 2015 and the white throwbacks in 2019, never wearing them together until 2021 -- which catapulted them to No. 1 on this impressive list.

These uniforms are actually a "a modern-day homage to the original uniform" with the bold stripes on the sleeves and original logo. The Dolphins wore their throwback aqua and white uniforms from the franchise's inaugural season in 1966 until 1973, before making a few tweaks to the helmet and the uniform in the late-1970s and 1980s.

If any uniform combination defines a franchise, it's the Dolphins' uniforms they wore during their glory years. Miami needs to make these throwbacks permanent.


You can see the full list here
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-all-of-nfls-current-throwback-jerseys-high-marks-for-return-of-buccaneers-creamsicle-jerseys/

[Spider-Dan]

These throwback articles are hilarious to me.  Here's one that says that the TB Creamsicle, NE Pat Patriot, DEN big orange D, and SEA silver/blue uniforms should be the default for those teams.  All of those uniforms are dramatically worse than their current kits.

That's not to say that the MIA throwbacks are bad, but even if they were, people would still be screaming to bring them back.  Some people just can't accept change.

[Phishfan]

I disagree completely. Tampa and New England had much better logos before. Denver socks either way.

[Spider-Dan]

I would say, without reservation, that TB had the single worst uniform in professional sports.
Their change in '97 took them from the worst uniform to a top-10 kit in the NFL.

I get that there are people in Florida who had an emotional attachment to that shitty and clownish uniform, but come on, man.  How can you seriously talk about a "creamsicle" uniform like it's something that's good?  Visually, Creamsicles are one of the most unimpressive and bland-looking food products that exist.  It's a short step above plain oatmeal or vanilla pudding.  What kind of person looks at a pastel-orange uniform with white trim and thinks "This is product branding that I want to buy and wear"?

Now, I've previously complained about the trend in sports to make every mascot angry: an angry cartoon dolphin, an angry mechanized horse, an angry cardinal, an angry pelican, an angry penguin.  But you know one mascot I expect to be menacing? A fucking pirate.  And this does not cut it:

[Brian Fein]

the TB Creamsicle, NE Pat Patriot, DEN big orange D, and SEA silver/blue uniforms should be the default for those teams. 

Aside from the Creamsicle, they should!  All the ones you mention are better than their current uniforms - except the Bucs.  Bucs pewter and garnet (or whatever they call it) is probably one of the league's best.

All that said, the Dolphins throwback uniforms are remarkably better in today's game, with the oversized sun and leaping dolphin, than they floating whale blimp default uniform. 

[Phishfan]

I understand not liking the Bucs, many people do. Calling it the single worst is biased for whatever reason. Check out some past uniforms for the Canucks, Astros,  Nuggets,  etc.

[CF DolFan]

I'd have to go with the Steelers and Broncos as ugliest of all time. The Bucs creamsickle does have a great retro feel to it.

[Spider-Dan]

Those DEN uniforms are from 60 years ago and the PIT uniforms are from 90 years ago; no one is calling for them to be brought back fulltime.  They are a goofy old-time alternate to roll out a couple of times every few years.  Meanwhile, you have people saying that the Bucs and Pats should return fulltime to the terrible uniforms from the days when they were the laughingstocks of the league.

[CF DolFan]

OK, I agree with that. A full time creamsickle would not be good.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

In my opinion if you are going to do a throwback jersey, it should be to a time of glory for the team.

So the Dolphins picking 1972 was the best possible choice.  Tampa Bay picking a year they went 0-14, is the absolutely worst choice.

Not thrilled with NE's choice.  Do a throwback to 2001.

Bears I would go with 1985.

 

[Phishfan]

I don't think I'd even notice the difference in a 1985 Bears uniform without it being pointed out. That's a useless throwback if you ask me.

[CF DolFan]

I agree. Most people wouldn't recognize the timeframe. It really comes down to whether or not it's looks cool. I think for instance while Buccaneer Bruce is appealing to people today in the same way mullet and bell bottoms have returned. It may not last but for some it's pretty cool for the time being.

[Downunder Dolphan]

In my opinion if you are going to do a throwback jersey, it should be to a time of glory for the team.

So the Dolphins picking 1972 was the best possible choice. 

Bears I would go with 1985.

IMO opinion the 1973 Dolphins don't get enough love - and technically this year on the 50th anniversary of the season, it would be an even better choice.

Same reasoning for the 1963 Bears championship team - it's the right time for it (and the jersey and helmet are slightly more different to the current uniform than the 1985).

 

[Phishfan]

Is there any difference between a 1972 and 1973 Dolphins uniform? This is really splitting hairs I think.

[Downunder Dolphan]

Is there any difference between a 1972 and 1973 Dolphins uniform? This is really splitting hairs I think.

Welcome to the Pandora's box that you just opened!...

The 1972 Dolphins jerseys were... well a bit of a mess. They did a change the season before to no stripes on the sleeves right up to Superbowl VI. We know what happened there.

A season later the jerseys had stripes on the sleeve and skinny numbers. But some players still wore the old jerseys, and so you get an image like this from Superbowl VII:




After that mess, from 1973 the whole thing was consistent, everyone wore the same thing and the Jersey was unchanged right up until the 1987 season.



Plus as a point of difference, they won Superbowl VIII wearing the aquamarine jerseys, and not the white ones.