Ranking the best and worst NFL rivalry uniforms of 2025, from Cardinals’ all-white set to Jets’ dark green look

Gilbert McGregor

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Ranking the best and worst NFL rivalry uniforms of 2025, from Cardinals’ all-white set to Jets’ dark green look image

Eight new looks are coming to the NFL during the 2025 season.

After months of anticipation, Nike and the NFL revealed the first-ever set of eight "Rivalries" uniforms on Thursday, Aug. 28. The "Rivalries" program begins with each team in the AFC East and NFC West receiving a new set of uniforms to wear in select divisional games.

As new uniforms are a natural entry point for comparison, The Sporting News takes a look at the best — and worst — of the new looks around the NFL.

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Ranking NFL rivalry uniforms for 2025

1. Cardinals

The speckled print on Arizona's white uniforms is meant to represent sand and dust storms in the Valley of the Sun. You don't see anything like this often, and these uniforms are unlike any of the others on this list.

2. Rams

It's not uncommon to see the Rams wearing navy, but it's been a while.

L.A.'s "Midnight Mode" uniforms feature a dark-blue base, white numbers, and the franchise's traditional color scheme on the sleeves. The contrast between the navy, royal, and yellow, coupled with the helmets, put the Rams near the top of the list.

3. Seahawks

This one is about the details.

Seattle celebrates its “12th Man” in its new uniforms, honoring fans in a big way. The helmets feature the team’s classic logo, while the jerseys display soundwaves representing the deafening noise at Lumen Field. The No. 12 is prominently incorporated inside each jersey number.

4. Dolphins

The Dolphins are going dark blue as well, complete with primary color accents. Given how unique Miami's color scheme is, the look stands out.

Fittingly, the Dolphins' theme plays on the depths of the ocean, and the reveal consists of heavy underwater themes. They get bonus points for shying away from using black, and the brightness provides the necessary contrast for these uniforms to pop.

5. Patriots

New England's uniforms are in an interesting spot as they leave more to be desired but also could be much, much worse.

The Patriots' Nor'easter-inspired threads are a "storm blue" shade and feature a neat detail: six stars that represent both the six states in New England and the franchise's six Super Bowl wins. Perhaps the neatest detail is a jersey number font that draws back to the Drew Bledsoe era, one of the more heralded looks in franchise history.

6. Bills

Nothing says cold front like icy-white uniforms complete with silver and blue accents. That's exactly what Buffalo went for.

The look is understandably devoid of red, but that results in the docking of a few style points. The Bills do get a bonus for the intense sleeve detail, which is a jeweled logo to make the cold front theme hit home.

7. Jets

The different shade of green is nice and the matte black helmets are sweet, but the franchise may have leaned a little too hard into the "Gotham City Football Club" inspiration.

This may be received better by Jets diehards, but the Gothic number font can be an eyesore with some digits, and that takes away from the overall look.

8. 49ers

The Niners have one of the more iconic brands in professional sports, and they've continued to refresh and modernize it throughout the years. Their Rivalries uniform feels like a strange mash-up of them all.

San Francisco has done black alternates in the past, and this reveal is basically an updated version of that uniform set, save for a few details. The saloon-style numbers and gold accents provide a switch-up, but feel clunky

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What are NFL 'Rivalries' uniforms?

In April 2025, NFL and Nike announced the launch of "Rivalries," described as "a new and exciting uniform and fan gear program that will give athletes and fans an opportunity to connect like never before."

Similar to Nike's MLB City Connect uniforms and NBA City Edition uniforms, NFL Rivalries uniforms are inspired by the team's local community. Participating teams will wear these uniforms during divisional rivalry games.

Nike and the NFL will begin with eight participating teams in 2025, starting with the four teams in the AFC East and the NFC West. Two more divisions will add Rivalries uniforms during each ensuing year.

  • 2025: AFC East (Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Patriots) and NFC West (49ers, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks)
  • 2026: AFC South (Colts, Jaguars, Texans and Titans) and NFC North (Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings)
  • 2027: AFC West (Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders) and NFC East (Commanders, Cowboys, Eagles and Giants)
  • 2028: AFC North (Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers) and NFC South (Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints)

MORE: Ranking the NFL's top 25 individual seasons since 2000

NFL Rivalries uniform schedule 2025

NFL Rivalries uniforms will debut in Week 4 of the 2025 season, starting with the first two matchups. There will be a total of eight Rivalries uniform games, all featuring divisional rivals.

The 49ers will be the final team to debut their Rivalries uniforms, as they will not wear them until the regular-season finale.

WeekDateGameTime (ET)
4Thursday, Sept. 25Seahawks at Cardinals8:15 p.m.
4Monday, Sept. 29Jets at Dolphins7:15 p.m.
5Sunday, Oct. 5Patriots at Bills8:20 p.m.
11Thursday, Nov. 13Jets at Patriots8:15 p.m.
11Sunday, Nov. 16Seahawks at Rams4:05 p.m.
14Sunday, Dec. 7Dolphins at Jets1 p.m.
16Thursday, Dec. 18Rams at Seahawks8:15 p.m.
18TBDSeahawks at 49ersTBD`

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.