Jets Uniforms Have Defined the Franchise’s Eras

The team has seen many changes to their wardrobe in recent years, almost as often as they have attempted to change the culture at One Jets Drive. The jerseys have ranged from fashionable to irredeemable, yet all of them carry a history with them. With such a range, it feels fitting to rank the uniforms based off their looks and also the history that is forever connected to them.

The Worst: 2019-2023

After firing Todd Bowles at the end of the 2018 season, the Jets hired “offensive guru” Adam Gase to be their head coach. Gase was recommended to the Jets by Peyton Manning, as the hall of fame quarterback played under Gase’s offense in Denver.

With a new head coach to lead their young quarterback, Sam Darnold, the Jets looked to change the culture and distance themselves from the past near decade of losing. With that came a new look to the team, changing their uniforms for the first time in 20 years.

In a now infamous event, the Jets unveiling their new uniforms marked the beginning of a new era. On a stage live in front of Jets fans, Darnold, Jamal Adams, Quincy Enunwa, Robby Anderson (now known as Chosen Anderson), Leonard Williams and Chris Herndon donned the new look. These players were supposed to be the faces of the future.

Why is the reveal now infamous? Everyone from the reveal was gone within two years. Williams was traded mid-season to the Giants after a poor start. Enunwa suffered a neck injury during the season, which led to him being forced to retire. Adams had a messy split with the Jets, who traded him to Seattle after the 2019 season. Anderson left the team in free agency, signing with the Panthers.

The last two survivors from the reveal event were Darnold and Herndon. At the end of the 2020 season, Gase was fired. With his departure, Darnold was traded to the Panthers as the new coaching regime wanted to start fresh. Herndon actually made it to the beginning of the 2020-21 season but was traded after training camp to the Vikings. In only two years, the future displayed in the jersey reveal was all gone.

In terms of the jersey’s themselves, they never really caught on with fans. The green was seen as the ugliest, but the white jersey was solid. The most intriguing option was the black uniform; the first time the Jets have used said color in franchise history. Still, the overall design wasn’t the greatest, and fans were already asking for a change directly after the reveal.

These jerseys remained through the early years of Robert Saleh’s tenure and were last in action during the 2023 season. During 2023, the Jets debuted the “Legacy White” alternate uniforms, which were a hit with fans. After Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles and the team went 7-10, the 2019 uniforms were scrapped. Teams have to wait five seasons before changing jerseys again, and the moment the Jets could, they did.

Return To Form: 2024-Current

After fan support for the Legacy White uniforms was unanimous during the 2024 offseason, the Jets had an easy choice to make for their new uniforms. The legacy jerseys became the official uniform. Along with the white came a green and a black variation of the uniform. Additionally, with the team promoting the legacy uniforms, the Jets got a new alternate as well. The classic uniform the Jets wore prior to 2019 made its triumphant return in week six.

While fans from other teams claimed that the jerseys didn’t change at all, Jets fans could tell the difference and were very happy with the look. As far as the saying “Look good, play good!” goes, the Jets finally looked good.

As far as “play good”, so far, they haven’t. After getting Rodgers back from his Achilles tear, the Jets were once again thinking playoffs, maybe even a trip to the Super Bowl. They started the season 2-1, but only won three games the rest of the way, going 5-12.

Despite the poor debut season, history hasn’t made its ruling on this installment of Jets apparel. With Aaron Glenn taking the helm at head coach, there is once again a culture shift with the Jets. These uniforms have a chance to be the gear the Jets wear when they return to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, or another symbol of despair.

The Peak: 1998-2018

While we should all strive to create new memories and not dwell in the past, sometimes the past had it the best.

It isn’t just nostalgia, the Jets 20 year run in the “classic” uniforms was the best. For one, the uniforms looked great. The helmet stripes, the shoulder colors, the hunter green shade — all of it made for an amazing jersey; hence the reason they returned as an alternate last season.

The current day uniforms rival the classics, but the history in those uniforms are yet to be topped. The last time the Jets made the playoffs were in these uniforms. Even the last time they had a winning season was in these jerseys.

These uniforms were featured in some of the most memorable moments in franchise history, good or bad. For every “buttfumble“, there’s a divisional round victory against the Patriots in Foxborough. When there’s a Week 17 loss in Buffalo, there was a Monday Night Miracle. Legends like Darrelle Revis and Nick Mangold also repped this uniform during their playing careers. In recent years, the Jets have not had much good come to them. But back when these uniforms were worn, they looked great and made fans proud to support them.