Logos and uniforms of the New York Jets

The following is a history of the revisions and additions made to the uniforms and logos of the National Football Leagues's New York Jets franchise and their former incarnation, the Titans of New York.

History of the Jets' Logos and Uniforms

Mark Sanchez wearing the New York Titans throwback uniform in 2009

During their previous incarnation as the Titans, the team's jerseys were navy blue combined with gold lettering and a navy blue helmet.[1] The gold pants included two thin blue stripes that ran the length of the pant legs.[1] The uniform designs resembled those of Notre Dame's due to "some" relationship between the franchise's original principal owner Harry Wismer and the Fighting Irish;[2] Wismer, who was considered a sportscasting pioneer, broadcast replays of Notre Dame football games prior to owning the Titans.[3] The uniforms have also drawn comparisons to the University of Michigan jerseys.[4]

When a Sonny Werblin-led syndicate purchased the team and renamed it the Jets, the uniform underwent significant changes. The color scheme of the uniforms was changed to the now familiar green and white; white pants and green or white jerseys.[1] Werblin had embraced those colors because he was born on Saint Patrick's Day.[5] On either side of the now white helmet was the logo of a green airplane with "JETS" written in white inside the shape of the plane.[1] Furthermore, a green stripe ran down the midsection of the helmet, front to back.[1]

In 1965, the logo was changed to the shape of a green football with "JETS" written in white inside of the football; in the background of the logo was an outline of the letters "NY".[1] The uniforms underwent minor changes in 1968 when the shoulder stripes were slightly altered and a green belt replaced the former white belt on the pants.[1] Ten years later, in 1978, the team again changed the design and logo. The new uniform consisted of kelly green or white jerseys combined with white pants and a kelly green helmet with the logo, on either side of the helmet, spelling "JETS" in a "sleek, modern font" resembling the wing of a Jet.[1]

Minor changes were made to the uniform in 1986; a thin green or white ring was added around the jersey collar contrasting with the jersey color.[1] Additionally, a green stripe was added to both of the pant legs.[1] In 1990, the team added thin black stripes that outlined the stripes and numbers on the jersey; the Jets also began to wear kelly green pants when they wore their white road jerseys.[1] The signature NFL logo was added to the collar of the jerseys and on the left thigh of the pants in 1993.[6] In 1994, all teams in the NFL wore a patch commemorating the NFL's 75th anniversary.[6] The Jets also reintroduced their 1963 jerseys and 1965 helmet logo for a few games in 1994; one such instance was against the Miami Dolphins in September.[6][7]

Administrator and head coach Bill Parcells took the initiative in 1998 and began to the process of redesigning the team's uniforms.[8] Many of the Super Bowl veterans felt the previous design change in 1978 tampered with history.[8] Parcells, who sought to form the team's identity, changed the logo reverting to the 1965 logo, or rather, a modified version of the logo, since the oval was now more rounded at the ends and no longer resembled a football.[8] The Jets did not return to the kelly green of the AFL days, but adopted a shade close to forest green for both logo and uniforms.[8] A white helmet was introduced to contrast the green logo.[6] For the first time, the Jets logo was placed on the jersey on a patch on the left front shoulder.[6]

In 2002, the team introduced an updated away uniform that consisted of white pants and a white jersey.[9] The Jets also introduced an alternative uniform completely green with white sleeves.[10] In 2003, the team unveiled another alternative jersey, which features a white jersey with green pants.[11]

On October 14, 2007, the Jets celebrated their heritage with a special Titans Throwback Day.[12] The Jets wore their navy blue and gold uniforms, in honor of their previous incarnation, during their home game against the Philadelphia Eagles.[12] They also honored the four original Titans who played as Jets in Super Bowl III, Don Maynard, Bill Mathis, Larry Grantham and Curley Johnson,.[12] New York wore the throwback uniforms once more in December when the team played the Miami Dolphins at Dolphins Stadium.[13] The Jets went 1–1 in their throwbacks, dropping a 16–9 decision to the Eagles on October 14, 2007 and defeating the Dolphins, 40–13, on December 2, 2007.[13]

The throwback uniforms made another appearance in 2008. Originally scheduled for the home opener against the Patriots, the throwback days were changed to the second and third home games, against the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively.[14] Victories over the Cardinals (56–35) and Bengals (26–14) improved the Jets to 3–1 in Titan throwbacks. On October 26, 2008, the Jets honored the 1968 championship team displaying a commemorative 40th anniversary Super Bowl III patch on their left chest.[14] The team also held a halftime ceremony to honor the championship alumni.[14]

In 2009, the Jets introduced a modified version of the Titans’ throwbacks, a white jersey with gold pants.[15] The Jets wore the white Titans uniforms against the Oakland Raiders on October 25, 2009 and then once again against the Dolphins on November 1, 2009.[15] The Jets wore their blue Titans uniforms once again versus the Tennessee Titans on September 27, 2009.[15] The Jets' jerseys featured their 50th anniversary patch for the entire season while also bearing a commemorative AFL patch when the team wore their Titans throwbacks.[15] Those throwbacks did not make an appearance in 2010; however, they were re-introduced a year later for one home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Chastain, p. 185
  2. ↑ Magee, Jerry (December 4, 2007), A tribute to Titans of 1960s, The San Diego Union-Tribune, archived from the original on March 9, 2011, retrieved March 9, 2011
  3. ↑ Chastain, p. 42
  4. ↑ Chastain, p. 183
  5. ↑ Thomas Jr., Robert McG. "Sonny Werblin, an Impresario of New York's Sports Extravaganza, Is Dead at 81," The New York Times, Saturday, November 23, 1991.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Chastain, p. 186
  7. ↑ Anderson, Dave (September 18, 1994), "Pro Football; His Championship Seasons: Ewbank Reflects", The New York Times (The New York Times Company), archived from York Jets uniforms&st=nyt&pagewanted=2 the original Check |url= value (help) on March 14, 2011, retrieved March 14, 2011
  8. 1 2 3 4 Eskenazi, Gerald (January 9, 1999), "Pro Football: Jets Notebook; Parcells Tailored Dress for Success", The New York Times (The New York Times Company), archived from the original on March 9, 2011, retrieved March 9, 2011
  9. ↑ New York Jets Road Uniform (2002 - ), SportsLogos.net, September 1, 2005, archived from the original on March 9, 2011, retrieved March 9, 2011
  10. ↑ New York Jets Alternate Uniform (2002 - ), SportsLogos.net, September 1, 2005, archived from the original on March 9, 2011, retrieved March 9, 2011
  11. ↑ New York Jets Alternate Uniform (2003 - ), SportsLogos.net, September 1, 2005, archived from the original on March 9, 2011, retrieved March 9, 2011
  12. 1 2 3 Shorenstein, Melissa (August 22, 2007), 'Titans Throwback Day' Set, New York Jets, archived from the original on March 9, 2011, retrieved March 9, 2011
  13. 1 2 Year in Review - 2007, New York Jets, retrieved March 9, 2011
  14. 1 2 3 Allen, Eric (August 21, 2008), EA: Yes, Jets Will Be in Green for Patriots, New York Jets, archived from the original on March 9, 2011, retrieved March 9, 2011
  15. 1 2 3 4 Allen, Eric (August 27, 2009), New White Jerseys? Cotchery: 'They Pop', New York Jets, archived from the original on March 9, 2011, retrieved March 9, 2011
  16. ↑ Allen, Eric (September 13, 2011). "Jets Put on Titans Togs for Game vs. Jaguars". New York Jets. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2011.

Bibliography

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