Army vs. Navy uniforms, explained: The stories behind unique designs for 2025 football rivalry

Jake Mozarsky

•
Army vs. Navy uniforms, explained: The stories behind unique designs for 2025 football rivalry image

A spectacle of pageantry, patriotism, and pure football, the Army-Navy Game transcends the gridiron to become one of the most meaningful rivalries in American sports. It’s a timeless tradition where the future officers of the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy clash with fierce intensity.

But beyond the honor and the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, the annual battle also brings a different kind of spectacle: the highly-anticipated uniform reveal. Each season, both academies unveil uniquely themed kits that are not aesthetic gimmicks, but visual tributes to the history, heritage, and sacrifice of those who have served. For the 126th meeting in 2025, the stakes are raised as both the Army and Navy celebrate their 250th anniversaries, promising designs steeped in Revolutionary War-era history.

Let's dive into the details of the 2025 uniforms for the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen.

MORE: Complete college football bowl schedule

Army 'Service and Sacrifice' football uniform 2025

For the 126th meeting in 2025, Army unveiled its "250 Years of Service and Sacrifice" uniforms, an elaborate tribute meticulously crafted to honor the Army's founding in 1775 and the enduring legacy of its soldiers.

Every feature of the Nike-designed uniform serves as a historical callback, linking the players on the field to the Continental Army of 1775. The number and name typography are written in a script that mirrors the text of the United States Constitution, showcasing the Army's unique oath to a set of ideas rather than a monarch. Furthermore, the helmet is emblazoned with the year 1775 and features the Old Guard Espontoon, a ceremonial spear-point that symbolizes the Army’s historic role as the "tip of the spear" for the nation.

The marble, which serves as the primary color, is designed to symbolize the foundation of strength provided by the American people; it draws inspiration from the marble headstones in revered military cemeteries like Arlington National Cemetery. Details throughout the uniform directly reference the Revolutionary War era, including the use of purple streaks around the numbers and helmet outlines. This color pays homage to the Military Badge for Merit, first issued by George Washington, which later inspired the Purple Heart — "a decoration for those brave men and women wounded in service of their nation."

The jersey also displays the Great Chain logo, representing the 600-yard iron barrier stretched across the Hudson River at West Point during the Revolution, a strategic engineering feat that protected American liberty.  

The uniforms pays tribute to 250 years of service and sacrifice and carried the Army's Warrior Ethos: “I will always place the mission first, I will never accept defeat, I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade.” 

MORE: College Football Playoff bracket predictions

Navy 'Original Six Frigates' football uniform 2025

In collaboration with Under Armour, Navy has also brought in extremely specific details and tributes for its 250th anniversary jersey. The uniform centers its narrative on the Original Six Frigates that launched the U.S. Fleet, most notably the legendary USS Constitution.

The uniform's color is drawn directly from this history, utilizing Washed Navy to reflect the faded coats of early sailors from 1776 and a deeper "Nautical Navy" to symbolize Constitution's hull, nicknamed "Old Ironsides" for its ability to repel enemy cannon fire. Accents of "Heritage Red" mimic the color of the cannon carriages lining the sides of the historic frigate, while a base color of Stone represents the shade of the sails that propelled the ship through its storied, undefeated career.

Navy and Under Armour paid attention to every detail. It starts with the copper-colored helmet, which represents the copper sheathing historically used to protect the frigates' lower hulls. The jersey itself is adorned with symbolic rope detailing—six ropes to represent the Original Six Frigates — and contains exactly 250 knots embedded in the design to honor the service's anniversary milestone.

The typography for the numbers and the wordmark is modeled after the font used in the 1794 "Act to Provide Naval Armament," the congressional document that authorized the Navy's first ships.

"This anniversary will be recognized through a tribute to the six legendary ships that launched the fleet," Navy detailed in the uniform release.  "Every element of the campaign, from color and font choices to branding and detailing, draws inspiration from the Navy’s storied past, honoring its origins while reflecting its continued commitment to excellence and service."

MORE: What to know about Sherrone Moore's firing, arrest

News Correspondent