The NFL continues to make strides in the right direction towards further team uniform diversification. In fact, just this spring the NFL made it clear that each team will be able to have a third alternate helmet design, which is great for fans who want to see more throwbacks and creative new looks on Sundays. However, some NFL teams seem to already be dropping the ball with this new opportunity.
The New York Giants revealed their new "Century Red" uniforms on Thursday to commemorate their 100th season as an NFL franchise, and they were met with one unified response from media and fans of every NFL team around the league.
Closer look at the new #Giants “Century Red” uniforms. https://t.co/x223ujsogX pic.twitter.com/HaVRCB4b8T
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 16, 2024
You know it's bad when even the people who cover the team believe the new uniforms are ugly. Tommy G of Giants Country summed things up perfectly with his "ugly but historic" take. While the new uniforms do pay homage to the Giants' historic uniforms from the 1920s and 1930s, that doesn't change the fact that they're absolutely ugly.
Ladies and Gentlemen your New York Giants 100th anniversary uniforms.
— Tommy (@TommyG105) May 16, 2024
Ugly but historic.#Giants100 pic.twitter.com/4oA8EgvDpo
According to the New York Giants, the new look combines the 1938 season, 1933 jersey, and 1925 pants and socks. That's great and all, but it doesn't change the fact that the pants aren't even really a color.
Pieces of the past
— New York Giants (@Giants) May 16, 2024
• 1933 Jersey
• 1938 Helmet
• 1925 Pants & Socks
Even Barstool Sports' Big Cat weighed in. "What the heck?" is absolutely the right question that Giants fans should be asking right now.
What the heck? https://t.co/GywtBP6vdr
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) May 16, 2024
Top sports books like Hard Rock Bet and others were also chiming in with their disgust towards the hodgepodge collection of designs that don't go well together at all.
These new Giants uniforms are awful pic.twitter.com/6fBwFq3FnY
— Hard Rock Bet (@HardRockBet) May 16, 2024
And of course fans of various Giants' rival teams couldn't hold back. Cameron Magruder, a popular social media personality and Cowboys fan urged football fans to somehow find a way to be kind today, even after seeing the Giants throwback uniforms.
Drink water and be kind today (even after seeing the Giants throwback uniforms)
— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) May 16, 2024
Some college football personalities flat out thought the uniforms were a joke, and for good reason. The helmet design is a complete rip off of the Michigan Wolverines' iconic winged helmet. It looks really odd in red and blue.
Is this a prank? pic.twitter.com/GZlwLajw6n
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) May 16, 2024
While it's true that historically the winged helmet design was originally popularized by Fritz Crisler at Princeton in the mid 1930s--not Michigan Football itself--Crisler did take his iconic design and apply it to the Wolverines ahead of the 1938 season when he became the head coach. That winged Maize and Blue design has remained the team's primary helmet ever since.
Regardless of historical ownership or credit for the helmet design, one thing is clear to most every football fan around. The new Giants uniforms are an abomination. Hopefully the team throws them out and never uses the design ever again after this season.
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