Sports

Ranking the 5 New NFL Uniforms for 2026

By Luke Easterling Athlon Sports

NFL players will tell you that if you look good, you feel good, and if you feel good, you play good.

That's probably why so many teams made changes to their uniforms this offseason, whether they were trying to find any possible advantage to get them over the hump in pursuit of a championship, or perhaps do anything at all to enter the conversation as a playoff contender after too many years of irrelevance.

Five teams made some level of noticeable change to their overall uniform offerings heading into the 2026 season, and here's how I rank their updates:

5. Los Angeles Rams

Pros: The Rams made the fewest wholesale changes among the teams on this list, but they were necessary. Gone is the awful gradient on the jersey numbers, as well as the eyesore that was the rectangular nameplate patch on the left side of the chest. This was addition by subtraction, and while the overall look won't be noticeably different from the game-broadcast angle, these subtle changes are a big improvement up close.

Cons: I still think they're due for a navy-and-white throwback set. I would do it with classic block numbers, but even if they kept the current/modern look with that old-school color combo from the Deacon Jones era, it would be a fantastic alternate option that would elevate their entire closet.

4. Tennessee Titans

Pros: I have to admit off the top that I didn't hate the Titans' previous look. I get why others didn't like it, but I thought it was unique and fun, and felt decidedly "Titans." That said, most teams are better off going with a cleaner, more classic look overall (see the previous teams on this list), and the Titans took that approach. The classic Oilers color scheme is undefeated, and I love the guitar-string stripes to give it the Nashville feel. I didn't think there was anything wrong with what they had before, but I can't deny they look better now.

Cons: I won't argue the improvement of this overall look, but in terms of team identity, this feels like the "Nashville Foilers." They're clearly leaning into the Oilers' past look, but the only thing "Titans" about the entire set is a more boring version of the logo on the helmet. This feels too much like just trying to stick it to the Houston Texans instead of actually embracing their own franchise identity (where's the navy blue the Titans have always had?). Also, a red or blue facemask would pop more on the white helmet.

3. Washington Commanders

Pros: If the Falcons didn't have the worst uniforms in the league, it was only because the Commanders might have had worse. Keeping it simple is an easy way to win after the awful look they've had in recent years, and they leaned into the layup by basically just bringing back their old look. The all-black alternates look great in the more classic format, and this overall look simply does a better job of utilizing a strong color combo. The bar was incredibly low, but this is a massive improvement just by going back to what worked before.

Cons: I get what they're trying to do by putting the spear on the black alternate helmet, but I think it's a whiff of a nostalgia grab. It doesn't weave through the "W" correctly, as multiple fans have pointed out on social media. I wonder if they quietly fix it at some point before the season.

2. Atlanta Falcons

Pros: Perhaps the team in the league most in need of a complete overhaul, the Falcons understood the assignment, going to a much cleaner look after spending the last few years languishing under terrible gradients and oversized wordmarks on the chest. Both base jerseys have a more classic look, but the notches in the font give it an iconic feel that takes it up a notch. Every jersey/pants combo looks great, and the digits are finally legible across the board (that drop-shadow was awful). They were smart to leave the helmet mostly unchanged, too, since it was the only good thing about the previous look.

Cons: Not doing a black jersey in the same style because they already have a black throwback uniform is a miss, and one I hope they fix at some point down the road. There's room for an alternate black version of the new jersey and the th

1. Baltimore Ravens

Pros: It's tough for a team that already looks this good to make changes without ruining a good thing, but the Ravens managed to pull it off. Trading out asymmetrical drop-shadow for an even number outline in that new iridescent purple is a win, and the feathered collar design gives them an iconic feel they didn't have before. The new pant stripe is a welcome addition, and the side-perspective logo on the purple alternate helmet is another improvement. The updated sleeve logos are awesome, both in terms of design tweaks and texture updates. Throw in the new matte black helmet with the red eyes (immediately one of the coolest helmet offerings in the league), and you've got a crowd-pleaser across the board.

Cons: If I had to manufacture a gripe with this set, it's the lack of gold as an accent color, now that they've dropped it from the number outline. There's pretty much nothing below the neck that ties back to the gold in the helmet logo, which makes it feel like it's missing from everything else, or shouldn't be in the logo at all. I'm reaching, though. They crushed this.

Related: NFL Draft Grades: Instant Analysis of Every Team's 2026 Class

Copyright 2026 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 7:01 AM.

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