Nike and the NFL Unveil Eight NFL Rivalries Uniforms for 2025
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Finally, the NFL is (almost) back. After a long six-plus months without any action from the National Football League, the season is set to begin on September 4, 2025 with a Thursday night match-up between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. While many fans are still scrambling to get last-minute fantasy drafts completed (including this author), the NFL and Nike have just unveiled eight different Rivalries uniforms.
In April, four months after signing a 10-year extension, Nike and the NFL announced the Rivalries Program, which spotlight the league’s most anticipated matchups through specially designed uniforms and fan gear. Kicking things off are eight teams, highlighting the AFC East and NFC West. After these uniforms debut on the field throughout the season, they’ll remain in the rotation as alternate unis for three years. Fans of teams in other divisions will have to wait until 2026 (AFC South & NFC North), 2027 (AFC West & NFC East), and 2028 (AFC North and NFC South).
“Nike has a rich history with football, and we’re excited to partner with the NFL on this new Rivalries program to help grow the sport and expand it for the next generation,” says Airhart Ryan, Director, NFL Apparel Product Design at Nike. “Each uniform was designed in collaboration with the club it represents to authentically reflect what makes their team, fans and communities wholly unique.”
Below are detailed images and design inspirations for each of the eight debut NFL Rivalries uniforms. The jerseys and matching gear will be available on Nike’s website September 10.
Arizona Cardinals - September 25 vs. Seattle Seahawks
The state of Arizona, its climate, and the Southwest region as a whole are represented on the Cardinals’ NFL Rivalries uniform. The cream and rusty design features a redesigned state flag outlined in copper on the sleeve, while the gritty splatter texture references the sand and dust storms that the Cardinals often play through. More hits of copper, the state metal of Arizona, are found on the outline of the numbers.
Buffalo Bills - October 5 vs. New England Patriots
The Buffalo Bills play in arguably the toughest climate during the winter months, but it doesn’t seem to affect them. Instead, the frigid temperatures and blinding snowstorms act as a home-field advantage, and Nike’s NFL Rivalries uniform reflects that. The white-out unis come with Bills blue accents on select portions, but the textures and silver trim throughout give it a frosted look. Inside the neckline is the phrase “Bills Mafia,” a nod to the team’s hardcore fanbase.
Los Angeles Rams - November 16 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Nike takes inspiration from the colors and patterns that surround the Los Angeles Rams‘ stadium after the sun goes down, and the uniforms worn by the team when they won their first NFL Championship in LA. A midnight blue design incorporates pops of bright yellow on the pant stripes and ram-horned shoulder. Inside the collar reads “Rams House,” a nod to SoFi Stadium, while the stadium’s perforated blue lights are represented on the cap sleeves and white number set.
Miami Dolphins - September 29 vs. New York Jets
The city of Miami is known for its bright lights and late-night scene, but Nike produced a primarily black jersey for the team. This may seem counterintuitive, especially if you consider the climate of South Florida, but they’re clean nonetheless. The dark pitch-blue uni has notes of iridescent aqua and orange to appear similar to how the lights of Miami appear from underwater. The team’s rally cry of “Go Fins!” is found on the inside of the neckline, while matte and iridescent finishes on the number set and Dolphins logo add depth and dimension to the design.
New England Patriots - November 13 vs. New York Jets
Unlike most teams, the New England Patriots represent a six-state region, and this is honored on the team’s Rivalries uni. The storm blue jersey takes direct inspiration from New England fog, with the reflective silver stripes across the shoulders designed to represent the beams of light shining off the lighthouse connected to Gillette Stadium. The six states in the New England region, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, are honored via the six embroidered stars around the neckline. Final details include the custom NE sleeve patch, a note inside the neckline “We Are All Patriots,” and perforated stripes and embroidery that call back to the uniforms worn during the Drew Bledsoe era.
New York Jets - December 7 vs. Miami Dolphins
Before they were the New York Jets, the team was originally called the Gotham City Football Club. Nike honors this former name with a moody jersey. Custom-designed textural graphics land on the cap sleeves and chest patch, speaking to the grit and grind displayed by the Jets and NYC. Gothic font is used on the number set, while “Gotham City Football” is written on the inside neckline.
San Francisco 49ers - January 4, 2026 vs. Seattle Seahawks
San Fran has a deep-rooted history in the Old West, and Nike taps into this for the 49ers' new unis. At first glance, it doesn’t appear too out of the ordinary for a 49ers jersey, which is exactly what Nike intended. Red stripes and gold trim are set against a black backdrop, while a classic saloon font inspired by the Gold Rush is added to the number set.
Seattle Seahawks - December 18 vs. Los Angeles Rams
While other teams have a geographical or weather advantage, the Seattle Seahawks have a 12th Man (the fans) that makes playing at Lumen Field a nightmare. The chants and screams from the crowd can reach upwards of 130 decibels (comparable to a jet engine at takeoff), with the stadium's design funneling this noise down to the field. Nike takes inspiration from this by incorporating soundwave patterns and ripple effects on the Rivalries jersey. The color palette directly references the city of Seattle, with the wolf grey background reminiscent of the skyline. Finishing the design is the iridescent number set with repeating “12s” to reference the fanbase.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
