Nearly forty years after the debut of the iconic TV show Miami Vice, the cultural impact it left on the city of Miami is still undeniable. From its stylish aesthetic to the bold, vibrant colors that defined the era, Miami Vice continues to influence everything from local fashion to architecture. This fall, FIU Football is embracing that legacy once again by unveiling Miami Vice-themed uniforms, set to debut on October 22 on ESPNU, when the Panthers take on Sam Houston.
As the only NCAA football program with an on-campus stadium in Miami, FIU holds a special place in the city’s cultural landscape. By incorporating elements of Miami Vice into their uniforms, the team is celebrating both the show’s lasting legacy and the city’s dynamic identity. Here’s what fans can expect from these one-of-a-kind uniforms:
Vice U Helmet Decal The Panthers' helmets will feature a special "Vice U" logo, bringing the iconic font, colors, and design themes of Miami Vice straight to the field. Inspired by Miami’s Art Deco district, this helmet pays homage to the architectural beauty of the city, as well as the show that captured the spirit of the 305 back in the 80s.
Speed Boat Design Both the back of the jersey and the front bumper of the helmet will include a speed boat design, a nod to the “go-fast” boats made famous by Miami Vice. This design element ties the team to Miami's oceanside lifestyle, where speed boats have become a symbol of adventure, excitement, and of course, the neon-lit action of the TV show.
Palm Tree Leaf Pattern From the helmet stripe to the pant stripe and even the shoulder sleeves, FIU’s new uniforms will feature a palm tree leaf pattern that captures the natural beauty of Miami. These design elements not only highlight the city’s lush landscapes but also bring a tropical flair to the Panthers' on-field look.
Miami Art Deco Meets FIU Block Logo The traditional FIU block logo will appear on the shoulder sleeves, surrounded by pink and blue palm tree leaves. These vibrant colors are an unmistakable tribute to the pastel tones of Miami’s Art Deco architecture, bringing a perfect blend of the city’s history and FIU pride to the uniform design.
Panthers in a Miami Vice Font "Panthers" will be emblazoned across the chest in a font that’s reminiscent of the Miami Vice logo, further blending the university’s identity with the iconic TV show. Front and center on the jersey will be the Vice-themed Panther Head Mark, adding a bold focal point that will stand out under the bright lights of FIU's stadium.
305 Panther Head Logo To pay tribute to the university's home in Miami, the right pant sleeve will feature FIU’s synonymous 305 Panther Head logo. This symbol reflects the pride the team and the community feel for their city, their school, and their shared identity in the 305.
This year’s Miami Vice-themed uniforms are a stylish and meaningful tribute to both the city of Miami and the cultural history of Miami Vice. As FIU prepares to face Sam Houston on October 22, Panthers fans can look forward to seeing their team decked out in bold, vibrant, Miami-inspired designs that celebrate the unique spirit of their hometown.
The Virginia Tech Hokies made a splash revealing their striking all-orange uniforms. This vibrant look is sure to catch eyes, especially as it is set to be showcased during the highly anticipated "Orange Effect" game against Boston College.
For the "Orange Effect" game, Virginia Tech is donning a bold new look that is a departure from their traditional maroon-dominant uniforms. The jerseys and pants are a matching orange, creating a cohesive and bright visual. The jersey design features white numbers on the front, trimmed with maroon, adding a clean contrast to the vibrant base. The shoulder numbers are maroon, accented with white trim, creating a balanced and sharp appearance. Completing the look is a white helmet adorned with a maroon "VT" logo outlined in orange, tying together the uniform with a touch of classic Hokies branding.
With their all-orange uniforms set to make a statement under the lights of Lane Stadium, Virginia Tech is blending tradition with a bold new twist. Fans, players, and alumni alike will be watching closely as the Hokies take the field, hoping that their vibrant orange threads will bring them good fortune in this pivotal matchup.
Whiteout conditions are set to arrive early at Lambeau Field this year, as the Green Bay Packers prepare to unite with over 80,000 fans for the team's first-ever 'Winter Warning' game. On Sunday, Oct. 20, Packers players and fans alike will transform the stadium into a snowstorm of team spirit by wearing white from head to toe, creating an atmosphere that pays tribute to the Packers' resilience during the harshest of winter conditions.
The highlight of this event is the debut of the Packers' much-anticipated white alternate helmets. The new helmets feature a sleek, solid white face mask and shell, adorned with the iconic dark green Packers G logo on the sides and dark green stripes down the middle. These helmets will be paired with the team’s fan-favorite white away jerseys, white pants, and solid white socks, completing a striking all-white ensemble that promises to dazzle on the field.
To enhance the blizzard-like effect at the stadium, the Packers are encouraging all attendees to join in the Winter Warning by wearing white attire for the game against the Houston Texans. This coordinated effort aims to turn Lambeau Field into a sea of white, showcasing the legendary energy of Packers fans.
While the introduction of white uniforms and helmets may be new for some fans, the Packers have a storied history with this color scheme. The team first experimented with white as an alternate uniform color in 1938, and it reappeared at various times throughout the 1940s and 1950s. White eventually became the standard color for away jerseys in the 1960s. The Packers also featured white helmets in the 1950s, making their debut in 1956 during a home opener against Detroit. Although the 1958 season wasn’t successful, the white helmets remained part of the team’s uniform, and nine players from that roster would later be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Winter Warning game on Oct. 20 is not just a celebration of the Packers’ past, but also a nod to the team's enduring legacy and the unwavering support of its fan base. As Lambeau Field prepares to host this unprecedented event, fans are gearing up to showcase their unity and team pride, ensuring that the whiteout game will be a memorable chapter in Packers history.
This week, the Pittsburgh Steelers will wear their classic throwback jerseys as they host the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium, commemorating the 50th anniversary of their Super Bowl IX victory. It’s a celebration of the team's first championship and the beginning of a dynasty that would define the 1970s.
“As we approach the 50th Anniversary of Super Bowl IX, we think it is a good time to celebrate the team that ushered in an era of great success,” said Steelers President Art Rooney II.
The throwback jerseys feature traditional block numbers on black jerseys, mirroring the 1974 design when the Steelers claimed their first Super Bowl title. Players will also wear gray facemasks, matching the style of the 1974 helmets. Each uniform includes a commemorative patch celebrating the milestone.
“It’ll be cool to just be wearing history and to honor them," said receiver Calvin Austin III. "That’ll be fun to play in and hopefully get a big win.”
This marks the fifth time the Steelers have worn this throwback look, with a successful track record in past appearances, including wins against the Browns, Rams, Raiders, and Packers. The game will also feature a halftime ceremony honoring the Super Bowl IX team, adding to the nostalgia.
For linebacker Patrick Queen, wearing the throwback uniform is a way to connect with the legends who built the franchise’s reputation. "When you go back and watch football, you watch old throwback football. And just the way those guys played the game was incredible,” Queen said.
The Steelers aim to carry forward that legacy of toughness and success as they honor the team that started it all, reminding fans and players alike of the roots of Pittsburgh's championship culture.
After building anticipation throughout the season, Purdue football has finally revealed its alternate uniform, set to make its debut under the Friday night lights at Ross-Ade Stadium. The timing couldn't be better, as the Boilermakers prepare to face off against the formidable No. 2 Oregon Ducks. This uniform reveal is already creating a buzz among fans, and it's easy to see why.
This all-black design is a departure from Purdue’s traditional look, providing a fresh take that maintains the school’s signature toughness while offering a sleek, contemporary twist. The uniform is designed to create a commanding presence on the field, with the classic script logo on the helmet adding an extra layer of pride and tradition.
As the Boilermakers gear up for Friday night’s game, this uniform reveal is sure to add to the excitement and anticipation. Fans will undoubtedly be eager to see how this bold new look plays out on the field as Purdue aims to make a statement against the Ducks.
A streak of fire, a breath of flame. Eluding all who reach and clutch, a gray ghost thrown into the game.
As a program that always remembers who came before us, we will honor Red Grange and his incredible impact on football during our Memorial Stadium Rededication Game on Oct.… pic.twitter.com/FjUSjZmJ3x
Illinois Football is set to turn back the clock to honor a historic moment in their program's legacy. On October 19, 2024, exactly 100 years and one day after Red Grange's legendary six-touchdown performance against Michigan during the Memorial Stadium Dedication Game in 1924, the Fighting Illini will take the field in 1920s-themed uniforms to celebrate the centennial of that iconic game.
The commemorative uniforms are a nod to the early days of Illinois football, designed to mirror the attire worn by Grange and his teammates during the program's formative years. The ensemble includes helmets, jerseys, and pants that meticulously replicate the classic look of the 1924 team, bringing a piece of history back to life on the field.
"The program has done some throwbacks in the past, but it was really important to be more accurate to the time the stadium opened," said Jake Rosch, the Director of Football Equipment Operations. "We ultimately settled on recreating Red Grange's uniform from 1924, and the end product came out just as good, if not better, than what we envisioned."
The jerseys feature a blue base with tannish-gold stripes forming a pyramid shape, running from the bottom of the shirt to the top of the white numbers outlined in blue. The only hint of orange is the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary patch, a tribute that will be worn on all Illini uniforms this season. The pants, in the same tannish-gold hue, are paired with blue socks, completing the vintage aesthetic.
"The jerseys are pretty simplistic," Rosch noted. "They were designed 100 years ago, so they were limited in their manufacturing capabilities at that time. We wanted to be as historically accurate as possible, and I think we succeeded."
While the jerseys were relatively straightforward to recreate, the helmets posed a greater challenge. The team was committed to replicating the look of leather helmets, which required a specialized approach. They partnered with Armando Villarreal, one of only two artists in the nation who specialize in airbrushing football helmets, to hand-paint each helmet.
The process was intricate: helmets were first sanded and sealed before a base coat was applied. Villarreal then airbrushed layers of dark brown, using stencils to create an authentic leather texture. He meticulously added details like straps, stitching, and holes, all of which contributed to the helmet's period-accurate appearance. The helmets were then finished with a clear coat for a matte look, with each helmet taking one to two hours to complete.
"100 years ago, the jerseys all had very similar designs, so we knew what would set us apart was the leather helmet look," Rosch explained. "Armando has done a really great job and been a really good partner in this whole process."
The uniform design process began nearly two years ago, with extensive collaboration between the Illinois football program, Nike, and the Big Ten Conference. Director of Athletics Josh Whitman played a crucial role, bringing his experience as both an administrator and an alum to the project, ensuring the final design was a fitting tribute to Illinois football's rich history.
"He has a little extra tie to the project as a whole because it represents something really personal to him," Rosch said. "We tweaked a lot of small things to make sure everything fell in line with his vision and how we think we can tie that together."
As the Illini prepare to take the field in these throwback uniforms, they not only honor a legendary game but also celebrate the enduring legacy of Illinois football. Fans can look forward to a visually stunning tribute to one of the program's most iconic moments, as the past and present come together in a special way on October 19.
As the 2024 New York Jets reported for training camp, the organization paid tribute to its storied past with the unveiling of "The Classic" uniform. This new addition to their lineup is a nod to the look the team wore during their 1968 championship season and mirrors the familiar design of the uniform used from 1998 to 2018.
On Monday, October 14th, the Jets will debut "The Classic" when they host the Bills at MetLife Stadium. Filling the fourth available spot in the team's uniform "closet," this classic look is part of a larger NFL initiative. The white jerseys and white pants pay homage to the attire the team sported during their Super Bowl III victory over the Baltimore Colts. Keeping true to the original design, "The Classic" features a clean front without a patch, mirroring the '68 jersey, and uses the same number and letter fonts.
The helmet has been updated with a gray facemask to replicate the 1968 headgear, featuring the same white shell and logo used from 1998 to 2018. The green in the decal and stripes matches the team's current "Legacy Green," which is a shade between the 1968 Kelly Green and the 1998-2018 Hunter Green.
During the Jets' April rebrand, they introduced three "Legacy Collection" uniform versions, including the legacy black uniform and helmet as their alternate uniform. The Jets will don their black uniform on Halloween when they play host to the Houston Texans for a Thursday night clash.
With the reintroduction of the "Legacy" and "Classic" ensembles over the past four months, the Jets are bringing their two most iconic identities back to the field. "The Classic" uniform, worn during one of the most significant moments in pro football history, provides the franchise an opportunity to highlight a uniform donned by 15 of its 19 players in its Ring of Honor. On October 14th, against the Bills, the Jets will revive a familiar sight, celebrating a timeless tradition and reconnecting with their storied past.
