The Washington Commanders celebrated the franchise’s 93rd anniversary on Wednesday morning by unveiling a new alternate helmet and uniform that was heavily inspired by their 1979-2019 road design, which included three Super Bowl victories (XVII, XXII and XXVI).
“We are excited to celebrate Washington’s rich history with these iconic, Super Bowl Era uniforms this season,” team president Mark Clouse said. “Ever since Josh Harris and our ownership group acquired the team back in 2023, they’ve placed great value in finding ways to connect the past and present and pay homage to those that made the Burgundy and Gold what it is today.”
The white jerseys feature burgundy numbers outlined in gold, a burgundy collar, burgundy and gold cuffs and numbers on the sleeves, though it lacks a wordmark above the numbers that was added in 2002.
The burgundy helmet prominently displays the Commanders’ primary “W” logo on the sides, but features a gold facemask – which became a fixture on the Redskins’ helmets in 1978 – and the classic striping pattern that first appeared in 1972.
“These uniforms honor the most successful era of our franchise – one that reflects a culture of excellence and encompasses many historical moments and special memories amongst our fanbase,” Clouse said. “We look forward to bringing that nostalgic feeling back to fans, while incorporating a modern feel for our next generation of fans.”
The uniform is complete with burgundy pants, which include gold and white stripes down the sides, as well as white socks with a red and gold striping pattern. It’s also a significant departure from their current road design, which includes a minimal amount of gold.
The Commanders will debut their new throwback-inspired alternate uniforms during their Sunday Night Football matchup with the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 2, then wear them against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 30 and Dallas Cowboys on Christmas.
That leaves just one potential appearance for their existing black alternate uniforms, which were introduced alongside their current branding in 2022, as teams are permitted to wear alternate or throwback designs in as many as four games each season.
It’s been reported that the new look will become part of a full redesign in 2026, similar to how the New York Jets wore their “New York Sack Exchange” throwback uniforms in 2023 and then promoted them to full-time road status in 2024.
The Jets also revealed matching green home and black alternate uniforms inspired by their 1978-89 design in that rollout, which means we should expect the Commanders do reveal a burgundy jersey, gold pants and (perhaps) a new black alternate design next summer.
Photos courtesy of @Commanders on X/Twitter.
