It’s appropriate that the NFL’s ‘Rivalries’ uniform rollout for the 2025 season will conclude with one of the league’s fiercest set of foes meeting in a high-stakes Week 18 matchup in prime time.
The San Francisco 49ers will be the eighth team to utilize their new alternates Saturday night when they don the ‘For the Faithful’ threads against the Seattle Seahawks when the squads clash at Levi’s Stadium with the NFC West title and conference’s No. 1 playoff seed on the line. It will mark the first time the Niners have worn black jerseys in eight years, though the new ones should pop in a way the simpler black-and-red ones they occasionally used between 2015 and 2017 did.
The 49ers are asking their fans − alternately known as the ‘Faithful’ − to wear black.
What’s new about the 49ers’ ‘Rivalries’ uniforms?
For the first time, the Niners will be in monochrome black as they also wear black helmets − which they’ve never had since joining the NFL in 1950. The dome is matte black, adorned with a pair of red stripes down the centerline, the familiar interlocking ‘SF’ logo and gold-coated facemasks intended to sparkle under Levi’s Stadium’s lights. ‘Faithful’ is scripted on the headgear’s back bumper.
The red jersey numbers are outlined in gold and presented in a saloon-like font derived by the franchise’s classic wordmark. A cursive ‘Faithful’ is etched above the numbers on the chest, enabling the franchise to express its ‘steadfast appreciation for the unwavering dedication of 49ers fans across the globe.’ “Faithful to the Bay,’ the club motto, is stitched inside the collar. Per Nike, the look is ‘inspired by the Gold Rush era that once defined San Francisco.’
Said All-Pro tight end George Kittle, who helped design the ‘For the Faithful’ uniforms: ‘We wanted something fun, something different that we don’t really ever do. I haven’t worn all black since my rookie season. But we never had black helmets so I’m the most excited about this bad boy. Holy cow we are going to look cool. I feel violent when we wear all black, like we’re just standing on business. All ten toes.’
What are NFL ‘Rivalries’ uniforms by Nike?
Think of them as the football version of the sports apparel company’s NBA ‘City Edition’ uniforms or Major League Baseball’s ‘City Connect’ jerseys. Signaled during the NFL draft and unveiled in August, Nike has strived to create something that further strengthens NFL teams’ bonds to their unique civic environments. And, as “rivalries” would suggest, all of them will be worn in intra-divisional matchups.
‘The 2025 Rivalries uniforms will celebrate storied local traditions and unite fan communities with designs unique to select cities and teams,” Nike announced during the rollout.
‘The designs are rooted extensively in the legacies and inspirations true to each team, serving as authentic, competitive expressions of community pride while giving athletes and fans an opportunity to connect like never before.’
Which NFL teams have ‘Rivalries’ uniforms?
Eventually all of them. But for 2025, each team in the AFC East and NFC West is scheduled to wear its “Rivalries” unis one time this season. Two additional divisions will be added to the rotation in each of the next three seasons, and the “Rivalries” option then becomes part of a team’s closet for the following three years.
