The Indianapolis Colts unveiled their new alternate uniforms and helmets. The reception has been less than positive.
The Indianapolis Colts have arguably the most classic uniforms in football. The simple white and blue (or blue and white) with two stripes on the shoulder and two stripes down the pants. That horseshoe logo is timeless. That white helmet is timeliness.
There will never be a reason to change.
Of course, we live in the 21st century, specifically in 2023. Never have sports teams been more eager to flood the market with new goods and new “ideas” to profit from. Thus was born the “alternate” uniform, and several spinoffs of the alternate uniform concept that have infested every major American sports league.
The Colts are the latest victim of this trend, recently unveiling their ‘Indiana Nights’ look for the upcoming season. In the spirit of complete honesty, let’s keep it real. These uniforms are not good.
Indianapolis Colts unveil terrible ‘Indiana Nights’ uniforms and helmets
As crisp and cool as the Indiana Nights. pic.twitter.com/dsxWC4secT
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) July 20, 2023
There is a place for crisp, clean, and modern. The Colts, however, are not that place. You have the classic football uniform design; why deviate for these Duke ripoffs that feel completely removed from the franchise’s rustic aesthetic.
It is truly alarming how closely these uniforms adhere to the current Duke aesthetic. Maybe Duke is ripping off Indianapolis is a roundabout sort of way, but these ‘Indiana Nights’ uniforms — and please describe to me what an ~Indiana Night~ entails — are completely out of touch with what makes the Colts’ look special.
The fandom has already voiced its strong disapproval.
The Colts alternate features a black helmet and a "heathered" blue unitard. I'm a huge fan of the Colts primaries, but I fundamentally don't understand this one. Who was asking for this? pic.twitter.com/uRtaMOcfKt
— NFL Fashion Advice (@fashion_nfl) July 20, 2023
The new Colts helmet would've been much more palatable with something like the Duke blackout look. Even black pants to break up the blue unitard would be an improvement. pic.twitter.com/RTmNTONGid
— NFL Fashion Advice (@fashion_nfl) July 20, 2023
The Colts understandably want to usher in a new era of Indianapolis football. The days of Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, and veteran has-beens like Matt Ryan are in the rearview mirror. It’s a new age, hopefully built around the most exciting QB talent from April’s NFL Draft in No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson.
New head coach Shane Steichen is expected to completely revamp a team that spent half of last season operating under a high school coach. He captained the NFC champion Eagles to 49 touchdowns last season, making Philadelphia the No. 2 scoring offense in the entire NFL. He did so with a balanced pass-run QB in Jalen Hurts; he already has the blueprint for Richardson.
The Colts probably won’t win many games next season. It’s a long-term project for Steichen. These uniforms ultimately won’t have a profound impact on the product, but one simply doesn’t watch the Colts for a black helmet. It’s wrong; borderline unacceptable. Sometimes new eras start with embracing what came before. In this instance, the Colts shouldn’t tinker with what has already stood the test of time.