Several franchises are expected to introduce full uniform updates. Washington is rumored to expand its white “Super Bowl Era” throwbacks into a permanent rotation, pairing them with burgundy jerseys. Tennessee is believed to be moving closer to its Oilers roots in overall design, continuing a steady shift toward a more traditional look. Baltimore and Atlanta are both on the list as well, with the Falcons expected to lean heavily into throwback inspired designs. The Rams are widely expected to mirror elements of their Rivalries template, signaling another evolution of their current identity.

There is also room for at least one more team to join the list, as one uniform change slot remains unconfirmed.

Beyond full redesigns, alternate uniforms are also part of the discussion. Tampa Bay is expected to add an additional alternate set, though it is still unclear whether it will be a brand new design or a throwback. Another alternate slot remains open league wide.

The NFL’s Rivalries program will continue to expand in 2026, with full alternate sets expected for AFC South and NFC North teams. In the AFC South, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Houston, and Tennessee are all involved, with the Titans already confirmed to wear a navy Rivalries uniform. In the NFC North, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, and Minnesota are slated for full Rivalries alternates, with Green Bay’s vintage green look already drawing attention.

Not every team is expected to participate in uniform changes. Miami is currently projected to make no changes at all in 2026, aside from the possibility of existing throwbacks, which technically do not count as new uniforms under league rules.

As always with early uniform tracking, timelines can shift and designs can change before anything is officially revealed. Still, the growing list suggests 2026 could be another big year for NFL aesthetics, blending nostalgia, modern updates, and rivalry driven designs across the league.

Carter, who wore No. 11 at Penn State, also hoped to don No. 56—a number immortalized by Giants legend Lawrence Taylor. But both numbers are off-limits in New York, prompting Carter to settle for No. 51, a choice many now see as a clever compromise. Not only does it fall symbolically between 11 and 56, but it also fits his position and maintains a clean, classic look.

The situation sparked heated discussion on sports talk shows and social media. Some fans and analysts sided with tradition, arguing rookies shouldn’t even consider asking for retired numbers. Others called the practice outdated and overly sentimental, pointing out that the NFL’s growing rosters and positional number restrictions are making it harder to maintain such long-term number bans. One common refrain: “Retired numbers are ridiculous… just honor the legacy in other ways.”

Comments ranged from dismissive—“It’s just a number”—to philosophical. One fan even speculated that Carter’s affinity for certain numbers might stem from numerology, noting that both 11 (1+1) and 56 (5+6) reduce to the number 2—his birthdate.

The Carter case, along with other recent high-profile jersey number debates—like the Giants allowing rookie WR Malik Nabers to wear No. 1—has ignited a larger conversation around how teams honor legends. With some fans calling to “unretire all numbers,” and others suggesting limited retirement windows (e.g. 25 years), it’s clear that the league and its followers may be entering a new era of thinking.

Ultimately, Abdul Carter may have done more than choose a number—he may have sparked the beginning of the end for permanent number retirements in pro football.

While the final designs have yet to be revealed, early concepts floating around the fan and design communities offer a glimpse of what Dolphins fans might expect. Ideas include a vibrant orange look that nods to past throwbacks, a sleek Miami Vice-themed kit with bold neon accents, and even a daring gradient-style uniform that blends classic team colors in a more futuristic way.

Whether the team goes flashy or sticks to subtle reinvention, the Dolphins’ new look promises to bring a fresh wave of excitement to South Florida—and perhaps spark new life into some of the AFC’s most storied rivalries.

The NFL’s uniform number code, a systematic allocation of specific number ranges to players based on their positions, had been a fixture for years. This coding system provided a structured visual language for fans, aiding in the quick identification of players on the field. Quarterbacks traditionally wore numbers between 1 and 19, while defensive backs and running backs were assigned numbers in the 20s and 30s.

The pivotal moment leading to the abandonment of the jersey code was the Chiefs’ extensive retirement of numbers. The team’s commendable efforts to honor its legendary players inadvertently led to a shortage of available numbers between the active roster and practice squad, making it impossible to adhere to the former coding system. Faced with this practical challenge, the NFL voted to discard the jersey code to accommodate the Chiefs’ unique circumstance.

While the decision to abandon the uniform number code was driven by practical concerns, it raises questions about the unintended consequences for the overall aesthetic and clarity of the game. Without a standardized coding system, the field risks becoming a visual cacophony, potentially hindering the ability of both new and seasoned fans to follow the action seamlessly.  NFL legends such as Tom Brady issued such concerns, but alas the NFL went forward without the uniform code.

In adapting to the evolving landscape of the league, it becomes essential to explore alternatives that balance tradition with practicality. The challenge lies in preserving the essence of honoring legendary players while reinstating a structured system that facilitates a visually coherent and easily understandable game.

A simple solution would be to reinstate the uniform number code and abolish the practice of retiring numbers, allowing all numbers in circulation on every franchise.  The franchises could then decide to honor past players via special patches on the jersey.  This would be a win-win for the NFL.

The NFL’s decision to abandon the jersey code in response to the Chiefs’ number retirements reflects the league’s willingness to adapt to practical challenges. However, as the league navigates this transition, it must carefully consider the potential impact on the game’s visual appeal and accessibility. Whether through a revised coding system or other innovative solutions, finding a balance that pays homage to tradition while ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for fans remains crucial in shaping the future of the NFL.

All of that is fun to see how it plays out but there is a deeper issue at hand. BOTH PLAYERS numbers are retired by their new franchise.

James Harden’s #13 is retired on the 76ers.

Ben Simmons’ #25 is retired on the Nets.

It is time. The NBA needs to be the first league to implement this. Ban retiring numbers. This is out of hand. Create a patch that honors the legendary players but put the damn number back in circulation. As a fan I’m tired of seeing players in numbers I know they’d rather not wear. It’s just a bad business practice to take product off the shelf.

Don’t get me started on how bad the NFL is with their new single digit number rules. Just un-retire the numbers and enforce the uniform code. I don’t know about you but I’m already tired of seeing defensive players running around in #3 and #1.

That’s just my thoughts on this. Basketball wise the Nets fleeced the Sixers because they got two first round picks on top of Seth Curry and Andre Drummond being added to the pot. Ultimately Brooklyn knew that Daryl Morey loved James Harden too much and the party that can’t walk away will lose the trade every time. But that’s just the trade on paper. We still have to see how it all plays out.

Until then, let the guys wear their darn jersey numbers. Please!

It looks like the color rushes are the new primary uniforms and there is a new away white top. These look pretty good, not perfect but good enough. Maybe a solid blue stripe on the shoulder would have been more pleasing than the red, but still these aren’t terrible.

Check out the new uniforms below:

The look we love, promoted to primary.

Order now: https://t.co/SxB09Sfb9X pic.twitter.com/sfkUq81OUp

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 20, 2020

A closer look at the new uniforms the Patriots unveiled this morning, via @Patriots….thoughts? pic.twitter.com/Lxy2an0T7x

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 20, 2020

Gone is all the ‘CLEVELAND’ branding and everything has been stripped back to the basics. Very nice. Now let’s see if Baker can break the curse and deliver a championship in this uniform set.

True to ourselves.
True to our loyal fans.
True to who we’ll always be.https://t.co/VwRW3sfRSx pic.twitter.com/HbQYZQEu9N

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 15, 2020

A closer look at our new threads

’s » https://t.co/uF9Bv7jg80 pic.twitter.com/SZtgMYqtuu

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 15, 2020

Steelers beat writer for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Mark Kaboly is reporting this is the end:

This is final year. https://t.co/pmI9d9a7WL

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) August 2, 2016

No inside info, but this is likely due to NIKE wanting to insert the color rush jerseys more and more into the league. The Steelers are set to wear a black on black version of the color rush palette this year.

The bumble bees are cool jerseys but aren’t really that appealing to the eye. Maybe it is the right time.

Apparently the players have been wanting these for a minute, so kudos to them for getting what they want. Hopefully my Broncos finally get those orange pants though!

Then… the uniforms were released. And I could say I was not excited by the new combinations.

My review:

First there is the helmet. It is still practically the same. Yes, the orange is now red-orange, but they promised something “radical.” In the end, same old helmet with a brown grill. I don’t know what would have been a “radical” edge to this design though. It gets the job done, I guess.

The uniforms look like something out of the MAC Conference. The numbers are huge and embossed, not to mention the odd look of a color-on-color scheme. Red-orange numbers on brown uniforms? Excuse me while I rinse my eyes out with water.

I do like the ‘CLEVELAND’ text on the front of the jerseys, as well as the bold ‘BROWNS’ text that runs down the legs alongside a half stripe. It certainly updates that part of the jersey sufficiently.

However, the biggest issue on these uniforms besides the numbers are the sleeves. They just don’t look right. Either they are too high or run too long across the jersey, I really can’t put my finger on it. The stripes almost look like wings of some sort and I’m sure that’s not what they were going for.

All in all, this is another miss for NIKE in my mind. Outside the Seahawks new jerseys NIKE has missed in their attempts to update NFL jerseys. Sometimes classics need to be left alone… and never should fans have to endure orange numbers on brown jerseys.