The Five Worst Uniforms in NFL History

AOL Sports is compiling a list of the worst uniforms ever, and, because they're our friends and the subject matter lends itself to hilarity, we thought we'd join in the fun. So here's our look at the worst uniforms in NFL history.

In 1988, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Vinny Testaverde threw 35 interceptions. The Bucs' front office was horrified that the young quarterback they had just a year earlier selected with the first pick in the NFL draft was having so much trouble distinguishing his own receivers from the opposing secondary that they tried something drastic: They switched jersey colors.

Rather than wearing orange at home and white on the road, Tampa Bay switched to wearing white in every game, thinking that would make it easier for Testaverde to find his receivers downfield. That was the right move, but not because it would make Testaverde a better quarterback. It was the right move because those orange jerseys are hideous. We present here the five worst uniforms in NFL history:

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1976-96: A monstrosity.

2. Denver Broncos, 1960-61: Brown pants, yellow jersey with brown numbers, socks with vertical stripes. With a team that looked like that, it's a wonder the American Football League lived long enough to merge with the NFL.

3. Buffalo Bills, present: Kissing Suzy Kolber labeled the Bills' uniforms the ugliest in the NFL, and they really do look like something that would be more at home in the CFL.

4. Green Bay Packers, 1937: When the NFL wore throwback uniforms league-wide to celebrate its 75th anniversary, Brett Favre put on the Packers' 37 duds. Ophthalmologists were overrun with emergency calls as fans everywhere gouged out their eyes.

5. Everything in the Pro Bowl: A Packers helmet on top of a blue-and-white NFC jersey, a Raiders helmet on top of a red-and-white AFC jersey, every combination looks bad. Sorry, No Photos

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-05-2007 @ 9:51AM

mlmintampa said...

The only good thing about those Bucs uniforms now is that it seperates the bandwagon fans from the real fans in Tampa. When you see someone with a creamsicle jersey or a Bucco Bruce hat, you know they are a lifer.

6-05-2007 @ 10:23AM

Brad M. said...

I think the Seahawks' present uniforms deserve at least a dishonorable mention on this list.

6-05-2007 @ 11:09AM

alandback said...

The Bucs switched for Vinny because he is color blind.

6-05-2007 @ 10:46AM

Bruce Ciskie said...

Yes, it's traditional, but don't the Vikings deserve some sort of mention on this list for daring to use purple as a primary color?

6-11-2007 @ 1:25PM

abes said...

85 to 96 broncos uniform is ugly also the pats (80s) with the nfl player in the helmet its a disgrace

6-05-2007 @ 11:53AM

Dave said...

How the hell did the Bengals miss this list?

6-05-2007 @ 12:37PM

Aaron said...

Heck with the Bengals, HOW DID THE CLEVELAND BROWNS MISS THIS LIST?!?!?! Those dooky brown pumpkin heads are the ugliest uniforms in the NFL. Then they wear the orange jerseys every once in awhile. Too bad that hunter orange hasn't made them hunt a championship!

6-05-2007 @ 2:25PM

Marc Nelson Jr. said...

The Ravens' original unis were pretty awful:

http://www.weirdwolf.net/FFP/images/1990/Baltimore96.gif

6-05-2007 @ 2:50PM

wildtrout7 said...

I agree that Seattle's intimidating "blue man group" home uniforms belong in this article. -and with chartreuse piping? yuk.

6-05-2007 @ 7:22PM

Hallux Valgus said...

the Bengals deserve to be on this list. Any time a uniform screams "Designed By Zubaz," it sucks. Period.

6-06-2007 @ 2:26AM

LChase said...

Agree completely with any votes for the Bengals.

And as a Bills fan, I have to agree with their inclusion as well. Most of us are hoping they make the "throwbacks" the permanent unis at some point, because the current threads scream Arena League.
Thanks again, Tom Donahoe.

6-06-2007 @ 12:23PM

joe said...

NFL Current Worst Uniforms: Bengals, Ravens, Seahawks, Vikings(the worst)any team that wears the same colors top and bottom....

6-06-2007 @ 4:26PM

C Rau said...

The browns uniforms when they wear ORANGE pants or JERSEYS The Classic Orange helmet White or Brown Jersy andWhite pants are the only CLASSY Clevland Uniforms

The Rams uniforms since 1975? have been AWFUL Blue and White withe the Blue and white Rams helmet were THE best uni they ever had. Now Tennesee's uniy have ALWAYS looked like a backwater SEMII PRO TEAM

6-16-2007 @ 8:56PM

David said...

Ironically, the New England Patriots win BOTH the Best and Worst uniform competition.

The BEST uniform in NFL history was the 1976 Patriots, with their great "Pat Patriot" Minuteman logo, and fire-engine red jerseys. No team ever looked better. Unfortunately, Ben Dreith hated them so much, he stole a sure Super Bowl from the best team NOT to win.

The WORST uniform came in 1993, when Drew Bledsoe modeled his #11 outfit with the sissy striping on the pants, and that sickening "Flying Elvis" logo on an ugly silver helmet. That same day, the Red Sox were on TV, and Sean McDonough said, "Those new Patriots uniforms are...absolutely hideous."

6-17-2007 @ 7:39PM

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6-20-2007 @ 2:59PM

Tom in CT said...

I'm old enough to remember the Giants disco 70's uni's when they played at the Yale bowl, and then Shea. The took the basic ny on the helmet and jazzed it up with double lines. They also went with the blue road pants. I think the best era of uni's was up to the early 70's, things got better in the 80's and then started getting really bad in the late 90's with the monochromatic look. Whatever happened to the white helmet? Loved the early 70's bills and eagles helmets. Loved the old gray face masks too.

6-21-2007 @ 5:56PM

Eric said...

One of the best all-time - the 65/66 Broncos. When the NFL celebrated their 75th in '94 and they wore them, that was awesome!!

the bills wouldn't be so bad if there was some consistency in the pants to jersey striping. the red stripe down the blue jersey leading into the multicolored striping on the blue pants is horrific.

titans look better now adding the light blue pants. would love to see a dark blue jersey w/ the light blue pants combo.

at least...no one in the NFL (yet) has gone the way of Oregon and the U in college football (let's hope reebok never loses their license to NIKE, or we're all in trouble!!!) - or worse - those asymetrical jerseys that florida, miami, va tech had a couple years ago w/ one sleeve a different color.

6-23-2007 @ 11:15PM

Steve said...

Any football uniform with shoulder-pad numbers is an abomination. I was a loyal NY Giants fan until the year 2000, when they changed from sleeve numbers to shoulder-pad numbers. I will not watch a NFL game where both teams wear them. I feel Brett Favre's career has been tainted somewhat because he has worn them for all his career. Cleveland, New England, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, and Carolina should especially wear sleeve numbers; it would improve their uniforms tremendously. Just interchange the logo and the numbers.