Uniform Timeline

Welcome to the original Green Bay Packers Uniform Database.

Originally created in 1994, and moved online for its tenth anniversary in 2004, the Database seeks to chronicle the entire uniform history of the Green Bay Packers, covering nearly a century of football.

Click on the "Main Blog" tab at right to return to the blog.

YearUniform
1919Solid navy jerseys, gold pants, no numbers (HIST I, photo)
1920No new changes to uniform (HIST I, photo)
1921Dark blue jerseys with "ACME PACKERS" in gold across the front, gold pants, no numbers (GBP03; 501)

Note: in the book "Packers by the Numbers," the lettering is listed as being white, not gold. This is likely a mistake, as all other sources depict the lettering as gold.
1922No new changes to uniform (HIST I, photo)
1923Gold jersey with nine thin navy stripes on each sleeve, gold leggings, dark gold pants (GBP03; 501)
1924No new changes to uniform (HIST I, photo)
1925Introduction of uniform numbers; dark gold shirts with wide navy blue stripe covering shoulder and collar extending to top of each arm; tall gold leggings, light gold pants (GBP03; 501)
1926No new changes to uniform (HIST I, photo)
1927Elaborate, jockey-like jerseys, with inverted triangle tracing clavicles and 13 blue and gold vertical stripes from chest to stomach; faded blue canvas pants, gold socks with two blue stripes (GBP03; 501)
1928No new changes to uniform (HIST I, photo)
1929Solid navy jerseys, with small gold circle (~ 5" diameter) containing blue numbers on chest; solid tan pants. (HIST I, photo)


This uniform was the inspiration for the Packers' 2010-2014 alternate uniform.

A reversed version, with blue circle against a gold jersey, was also worn.
1930No new changes to uniform (HIST I, photo)
1931Solid dark navy jerseys with white numbers on back; gold pants; plain dark navy socks (HIST I, photo)
1932No new changes to uniform (HIST I, photo)
1933No new changes to uniform (HIST I, photo)
1934Introduction of large white numbers on chest
1935Introduction of first green uniform: Solid dark green jersey with gold numbers and green pants (HIST II, p?, photo)

Mid-season change: green jerseys with gold sleeves and shoulders (from neck to wrist), gold numbers; gold pants, tall green socks (HIST II, photo)

1936No new changes to uniform

1937Introduction of the classic Lambeau-era uniform: navy jersey with large gold yoke and numbers; gold pants, blue socks with two gold stripes; gold helmets. (PBN)(TC) This would be the inspiration for the 1994 throwback home uniform.

Preseason (August) game against the College All-Stars: green jerseys with ten-inch gold numbers on front and back; gold helmets and pants. These uniforms were made out of jockey satin and did not breathe; many Packers later blamed the loss on the hot, uncomfortable uniforms (Clarke Hinkle claimed to have lost 25 pounds during the game). (ECL)(PBN)(HIST II)

Starting in 1937, the league mandated that all players wear numerals a minumum of six inches high on the front of the jersey and eight inches high on the back of the jersey (TC)
1938White jersey added for Cleveland game at City Stadium to avoid confusion between the two navy-clad teams (after Halas complained of just such confusion in the Bears' game with Cleveland) (HIST II)

1939Additional alternate uniform added: Solid white jerseys with green numbers, gold pants; white socks (PBN).

This uniform was the basis for throwbacks worn against Detroit on Thanksiving Day, 2001.

The Packers wore the classic blue jerseys with gold yokes in the championship game with the Giants.

1940Front of gold yoke is raised, revealing in clearly-defined collar.
This would be the definitive Curly Lambeau uniform, lasting until he stepped down from his coaching duties.
1941By 1941, Packers have switched to all-blue socks.
1942
1943League mandates helmet use for all players (TC)
1944
1945
1946Introduction of new alternate jersey, same as home but with white in place of blue: White jersey with gold shoulders, gold numbers; gold helmets and pants; white socks.

This would be the basis of the throwback road uniform worn against the Bears at Soldier Field on Halloween Day 1994, with navy numbers instead of gold to improve legibility.
1947
1948
1949Alternate jersey added: solid dark blue jersey, no yoke, larger gold numbers
1950New head coach (Gene Ronzani), new uniforms: "We are the Green Bay Packers," he said as he added green to the color scheme. Packers use three varying uniform sets in rotation:
  • Classic Lambeau uniform not eliminated entirely: gold helmet, 1949 alternate solid blue jersey remains (PBN)
  • Kelly green jerseys and pants, gold numbers, gold stripes on the sleeves and down the pants
  • Alternate uniforms: gold jersey with green numbers and two green sleeve stripes, worn alternately with green or gold pants.
Modern plastic helmets adopted. The switch from leather to plastic was controversial nation-wide because of accusations that they caused more injuries than they prevented, so much so that the NFL banned plastic shells in 1948 (but lifted the ban the following year). (GBP08)
1951No new changes to uniform.
1952Addition of third alternate uniform: white jersey with green numbers and pants (PBN)

Packers continue the mix-and-match uniform set, resulting in this all-gold combo worn against the Lions on October 26th:


When the Packers played the Rams on December 7, the Packers wore the same all-gold uniform, resulting in a gold-on-gold matchup. LA coach Hampton Pool played the game under protest (the Rams won 45-27). (PBN)

In 1952, the NFL made its first attempt to organize the assignment of jersey numbers by position (this system was formally codified in 1973 and amended in 1989) (PBN)
1953
1954New coach (Lisle Blackbourn), new uniforms (again): solid navy blue jersey returns, with new three-stripe design in "dirty mustard gold" on sleeves and socks; faded gold pants. (GBP03; 501)(PBN)

Team also experiments (through 1958) with white uniform and helmets, with single navy stipe down pants, and navy jerseys with white numbers and sleeve striping (GBP03; 501)(PBN)

George Halas refuses to outfit his Bears in road whites for games at City Stadium in 1954 and 1955. As a result, both teams wear dark blue jerseys.
1955
1956For 1956 opener vs. Detroit, Packers break out green jersey with white pants and white helmets, but never wear again until '58. Team used its older green jerseys and gold pants (from the early '50s) in several road games. (GBP08) "TV numbers" added to sleeve (GBP03; 501)(PBN)
1957Uniform overhaul: dark bluish-green jersey with three gold bands on sleeves and gold numbers; gold helmets and pants; green and gold striped socks (white helmets were also worn) (PBN)

In 1957, Packers began consistently wearing white road uniforms, for television. (GBP08) This road uniform had no gold; white helmets and pants with single blue stripe, white socks with blue Northwestern stipes, white jerseys with blue Northwestern stipes and numbers.

1958New coach Scooter McLean brings back same green uniforms used in 1956 opener (white pants, white helmet). (GBP08)
1959Uniform overhaul: new head coach Vince Lombardi revamps uniforms to the familiar design still seen today with minor modifications. Original design had no helmet logo, and called for three-stripe design on socks; all players asked to wear the same style cleat. (GBP03; 502)

The Packers' new uniforms are characterized by "Braisher stripes", named for team equipment manager Gerald "Dad" Braisher. The green/white/green striping pattern, surrounded by a gold field, is repeated on the helmet, socks and jersey sleeves. Pants feature one thin white and two thin green stripes, resulting in a green/gold/white/gold/green pattern.

In 1959 road games only, white socks above worn on the road, with stripes to match the jersey sleeves. (GBP08)

During this period, the Packers experiment with green facemasks before adopting gray through 1980.
1960Team wears one style of green/gold striped socks, at home and on road.

1961Addition of first and only helmet logo in team history, "G" logo designed by team equipment manager Braisher. (GBP03; 502)(PCOM)
1962
1963Gold stripes removed from pants, leaving classic green/white/green Braisher stripe configuration.
1964
1965The Packers finally settle on the current Varsity Block number font, still worn today.

The classic Lombardi-era Packer uniform is complete.

Most players now wearing five stripes on socks (GBP03; 502)
1966
1967
1968
1969NFL 50th anniversary patch added to left shoulder. (GBP03; 502)

1970Names added to the back of the jersey (conforming to league mandate as part of the AFL/NFL merger) (GBP03; 502)
1971
1972
1973
1974Majority of players begin wearing white shoes (GBP03; 502)
1975pant stripes widened by more than a inch (GBP03; 502)
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980Facemask changed from grey to green, this time for good. (GBP03; 502)
1981
1982
1983
1984New head coach Forrest Gregg makes most changes to uniform since Lombardi in 1959 - Logo added to each sleeve, white numbers in green oval added to pants, gold stripe added to pants (making stripe combination green/white/gold/white/green), TV numbers move from sleeve to shoulder, and gold/green/white/green/gold striping added to neckline. (GBP03; 502)
1985
1986
1987
1988Elimination of number from pants. Single gold ring added to socks. (GBP03; 502)
1989Pant striping returns to pre-1984 pattern (green/white/green); elimination of logo from sleeves. (GBP03; 502)

For the first time since the 1950s, the Packers wear white jerseys at home for the first two games of the season: a 23-21 loss to Tampa Bay in Week One and a 35-34 win over New Orleans in Week Two. The Packers have not worn white jerseys in a game at Lambeau Field since.
1990Starting with Week 16 (December 22), all NFL teams add American flag decal to the back of their helmets, in honor of "Operation Desert Shield" in the Middle East.

1991NFL shield decal added to helmets and NFL shield patch added to jersey neck (as part of league-wide branding initiative) (GBP03; 502)(photo), manufacturer's logo (MacGregor) added to sleeve
1992Solid green socks added (GBP03; 502)(photo), Starter assumes contract for uniforms, their logo replaces MacGregor on the sleeves.

1993Packers 75th anniversary patch added to left chest (GBP03; 502)(photo)

Manufacturer's logo also added to the pants.

NFL requires that coaches wear team-issued (and team-branded) clothing on the sidelines.

At this time, a uniform overhaul was proposed. Details here are quoted from the Packer Report, September 18, 1993:

Possible Color Change Outlined

There was a rumor Sunday the Packers would have a press conference concerning their uniforms colors during the week following the Eagle game. This, however, seemed certain: The Packers plan to change their uniforms next season, retaining the current dark green, but switching pants and helmets from the present yellow to metallic gold.

The Packers hope the changes will be approved by the NFL Properties by the beginning of next month so they can wear the new uniforms next season. Among other changes are the removal of stripes now on the helmet, jersey, and pants.

Packer President Bob Harlan told the Milwaukee Journal the gold was not the same as that worn by any other team and that it was selected by General Manager Ron Wolf and Coach Mike Holmgren. Harlan said the helmet would be switched from yellow to gold and have a large green "G" on each side and the jersey would have a smaller green "G" on each sleeve. The white numbers on the green home jerseys and the green numbers on the white road jerseys will also have a gold outline. The pants will be plain gold.

"Years and years ago, we wore a gold helmet and gold pants," Harlan said. "And I think that's what Ron wanted, a simpler uniform. They didn't want to look like New Orleans or the 49ers. They looked at different golds and picked out what they liked."
Here is my interpretation of what those new uniforms would have looked like:

Paul Lukas, who would go on to create the indispensable Uni Watch blog and Page 2 column for ESPN.com, describes his reaction to the announcement:

(I) once sent a letter to the Green Bay Packers, urging them to reconsider their plans to change their uniforms and color scheme (this was in 1993, six years before the advent of Uni Watch), and was surprised to get a phone call and a note from Packers CEO Bob Harlan (who, fortunately, later changed his mind about all the uniform changes described in that letter).
It is unknown whether Harlan and the Packers received any other negative feedback, but in any case the re-design was never actually implemented. Ron Wolf was quoted in the St. Petersburg Times, discussing the re-design and explaining his decision to withdraw it:
"I never liked the yellow color in the Packers scheme," Wolf said. "NFL books say it's 'green and gold' but anybody can see it's a Michigan kind of yellow, of maize, which didn't sit well with me.

"I put together a proposal to change Green Bay uniforms, replacing the yellow with a gold much like we see on Rams uniforms and helmets. There were some other changes but I wasn't messing with the "G' on Packers helmets.

"Everything was approved by the seven-member executive committee that operates the Packers. All I had to do was give the go-ahead.

"I repeatedly looked over drawings of the new Packers uniform, thinking I would soon be pulling the trigger on changes. But, after a little more thought, decided it just didn't fly. We needed to fix what was truly broken. What we really had to have was better people on the field."
If the Lombardi-era uniforms were ever to be radically changed, that was the time. The Green and Gold has since regained its prominence, thanks in no small part to the team that Wolf put on the field. If the Packers had won a Super Bowl in these uniforms, there is a possibility that the fans could have come to accept the change.

In recent interviews, Ron Wolf has since reiterated his preference for a metallic gold over the Packers' athletic gold.
1994NFL 75th anniversary patch added to left chest (GBP03; 502)(photo)

In celebration of the NFL's 75th anniversary, all teams wore throwback uniforms during some point of the season. The Packers wore throwbacks modeled on the classic 1937 Lambeau-era uniforms. There were two versions of this uniform: a navy home uniform, and a white road uniform. The Packers wore these uniforms at least four times during the 1994 season.

Throwback home uniform worn 09/18/1994 against Philadelphia, 10/02/1994 against New England and 09/25/1994 against Tampa Bay:
Navy jersey with gold shoulders extending to end of sleeves; gold numbers; navy name; NFL 75th Anniversary patch on left chest; solid tan pants, blue socks; solid gold helmet



Throwback road uniform worn 10/31/1994 against Chicago:
White jersey with gold shoulders extending to end of sleeves; navy name and numbers; NFL 75th Anniversary patch on left chest; solid tan pants, blue socks; solid gold helmet



For this Halloween game, left tackle Ken Ruettgers added Jack o'Lantern graphics to his solid-gold helmet (picture courtesy Paul Junio).

The throwback jerseys featured sewn-on tackle-twill numbers, which wouldn't return to the Packers' regular jerseys until the next season.
1995Silkscreen numbers replaced with sewn-on versions.
1996Super Bowl XXXI (Jan. 26, 1997): Special helmet decal worn to honor former Commissioner Pete Rozelle, who died December 6, 1996 – script "Pete" over the NFL shield.
1997Nike assumes uniform contract, swoosh replaces Starter logo on sleeves and front of pants

Sleeve stripes reduced from five to three (maintaining same gold/green/white/green/gold configuration); NFL shield added to left thigh of pants (GBP03; 502)(photo)

Super Bowl XXII (Jan. 25, 1998): For the first time, Super Bowl logo patch worn on left chest.

1998No new changes to uniform
1999No new changes to uniform
2000No new changes to uniform
2001Reebok acquires uniform contract for entire NFL, their logo replaces the swoosh on sleeves and front of pants

Helmets now painted with metallic, "pearlized" shade of gold

Throwback uniform for Thanksgiving game against Detroit:
solid white jersey with green name and numbers, solid tan pants, solid gold helmet with grey facemask, black shoes.

2002"NFL EQUIPMENT" tag replaces NFL shield on jersey neck and front of pants (GBP03; 502)(photo)

2003Lambeau Field rededication patch worn 09/14/2003 (photo)

Throwback uniform for Thanksgiving game (09/27/2003) against Detroit:
white jersey with green name and numbers, stripe pattern green/gold/green (three on collar, five on sleeve), gold pants with thin green/white/green stripes, green socks with gold/green/white/green/gold stripes (repeated twice) standard helmet with grey facemask, black shoes (photo)

"3" decal added to back of helmet for all games starting with December 7th (Week 13) to honor Tony Canadeo after his death.

2004"40" helmet decal worn for one game on September 19th (Week 2) against the Bears. This decal was worn by all 1,440 active players to honor Pat Tillman, the first NFL player killed in combat since the Vietnam War. "92" decal added to back of helmet for all games starting with January 3rd (Week 17) to honor Reggie White after his death.

2005"FÚTBOL AMERICANO" helmet decal worn for one game on Monday Night Football, October 3rd (Week 4) at Carolina. This decal was worn by all NFL teams in Week 4 to commemorate the first time regular-season game played outside the United States — the Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers, played on October 2 in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca).
2006No new changes to uniform
2007Lambeau Field 50th Anniversary patch worn on home jerseys.

Black "21" helmet decal worn by all teams in Week 14 game to honor murdered Washington safety Sean Taylor. Players are allowed to wear the decal for the remainder of the season.

Also in Week 14, the Dallas Cowboys chose to wear their blue throwback jerseys at home, putting the Packers in their road whites. Had the Packers worn their green jerseys in Dallas, the equipment staff would have removed the Lambeau Field patches and replaced them after the game.

NFL institutes a standardized uniform patch for team captains. Patch is square, bordered in gold, incorporating a sans-serif "C" above four white stars. Stars are colored gold, left to right, for each season of a captain's tenure (starting with 2007). For home jerseys, the "C" is white against a background of the jersey color (teams such as the Giants have standard blue and alternate red versions). For road jerseys the "C" is in team color against a white background. The Packers (along with roughly one-third of the league) elect not to use the patches in the regular season, because they select captains on a game-by-game basis. The team selects captains for the entire post-season, though, and so the patches are added to Packers uniforms for the playoffs.

2008Updated NFL shield introduced starting with the 2008 Draft.

New shield appears on updated "NFL EQUIPMENT" tag on uniform.

After wearing white cleats in pre-season games, the Packers to black shoes for the regular season, the first time (excluding throwbacks) the team has worn black since 1974.
For the first game, a memorial patch for Gene Upshaw, deceased head of the players' union, is worn by all current players.

A similar helmet decal is worn for the entire season.

2009No new changes to uniform.

For October 5th Monday Night game in Minneapolis, certain Packers wear pink gloves, shoes and accessories as part of NFL initiative to raise breast cancer awareness. Special pink-ribbon logo is added to the back of helmets, and sideline gear is trimmed in pink.

As in 2007, the Packers eschew the League's captain patches during the regular season, but issue them for the playoffs.
2010New alternate uniform added, based on 1929 uniform, worn against the 49ers on December 5th: Navy jersey with navy numbers in large gold circle on chest, gold name and numbers on back. Canvas-colored pants, navy socks, brown helmet with gray facemask (to simulate leather helmet). The 1929 details have been updated to reflect current NFL uniform regulations: the circle, which was originally ~5 inches in diameter, has been enlarged, and the Reebok and NFL logos are retained in this uniform.

NFL regulations require each alternate to have a 5-season lifespan, so no other alternate can be introduced until 2015. Click here for a photo and more details.

Once again, the Packers eschew captain patches during the regular season, but issue them for the playoffs.

Super Bowl XLV (Feb. 6, 2011): Packers elect to wear their green home jerseys. A Super Bowl logo patch is added to the left chest.

2011The Packers wear their throwback uniforms (now designated "re-created 1929 uniforms") on October 16th against the St. Louis Rams at Lambeau Field.

Captain patches are once again worn only in the post-season.
2012Nike assumes the league-wide uniform contract; Packers uniform remains largely unchanged, as Nike branding replaces Reebok, the "NFL EQUIPMENT" patch is replaced with a rubber NFL shield logo and the two hip logos trade sides:


Source guide:
GBPGreen Bay Packers Media Guide (year; page)
PCOMPackers.com, the Official Web site of the Green Bay Packers
(http://www.packers.com/)
TCTony Canadeo biography "In Seach of a Hero"
ECLCurly Lambeau biography "Lambeau: The Man Behind the Mystique"
HIST"The History of the Green Bay Packers" by Larry
D. Names (volume number; page)
PBN"Packers by the Numbers"
JSPPMilwaukee Journal-Sentinel Packers Plus website (www.jsonline.com/packer)
photoPhotographic documentation
ownOwn an example
Football uniform template courtesy of WA Designs
Background image courtesy of Absolute Background Textures Archive

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