NFL Reportedly Changes Rule to Let Teams Wear Alternate, Throwback Uniforms 4 Times

Get ready to see a larger variety of uniforms during the 2025 NFL season.

Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz reported Monday the NFL is altering its uniform policy to allow teams to wear their throwback and alternate jerseys more often in the future. The new policy will permit teams to wear such uniforms up to four times throughout a single season, increasing the maximum from three times in 2024.

This comes after the NFL made a significant change to its uniform policy last offseason when it allowed for teams to start using a third helmet.

The league first permitted alternate helmets for the 2022 season, and last offseason's rule change gave teams the option to add a third one. Those that went through a re-design process for the 2024 campaign were allowed to start using a third helmet immediately, while the entire league will be permitted to do so starting with the upcoming season.

With the entire league now allowed to use a third helmet, there will be even more combinations available with the expanded use of throwback and alternate jerseys.

It won't be a drastic change, as teams were previously allowed to wear such uniforms up to three times in a season. 

Denver Broncos President Damani Leech told reporters that uniforms were important "to basically everyone in the room," which helped the proposal that was introduced Monday at the league's annual meetings pass so quickly.

"I think the cadence of our games of once a week allows them to have a sense of weight and specialness to them, which is exciting," Leech said. "I think the fans love it and get excited about what the players are wearing that particular week."

It is no surprise the Broncos were pleased with the change, as their 1977 throwback jerseys were among those that stood out the most in 2024. Other notable ones were the Kelly Greens of the Philadelphia Eagles, black jerseys of the Detroit Lions, and white jerseys and helmets of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Now those teams will be able to wear those jerseys an additional time every season.