To give themselves a fresh look in 2024, the New York Jets reached into their past.
As part of a rebranding, the Jets unveiled a new uniform and a new logo on Monday. The logo is a modernized version of the one used from 1978 to 1997. The Jets are billing it as a homage to the Sack Exchange era -- a reference to the celebrated defensive front four that marked the franchise's identity from 1979 to the mid-1980s.
"We work for the fans," Jets owner Woody Johnson said. "They have consistently asked for us to return to our roots, and we heard them. The new uniforms are explicitly designed to look and feel like the New York Jets while refreshing the club's iconic logo -- viewed as our most identifiable mark."
Timeless tradition never goes out of style #JetUp
— New York Jets (@nyjets) April 15, 2024
✈️ https://t.co/Lk3d5uFbp2 pic.twitter.com/hdXZPTJ3vH
They're calling the new look their "Legacy Collection." It includes three uniform versions -- Legacy Green, Legacy White and Legacy Black. The jerseys feature double-striped shoulders and single-stripe pants, the same design the team wore throughout the Sack Exchange era.
The helmet logo features the outline of a jet plane atop "JETS" -- the old look from the 1980s. Previously, the logo featured a football and "JETS" -- shades of their 1968 Super Bowl team.
The Jets debuted the white pants, white jersey "Legacy Collection" in the 2023 season opener as part of an alternate uniform look, sparking fan interest. Now it will be their permanent look. This is the second time in five years the Jets have changed their primary uniform.
Maybe the new threads will change their mojo. The Jets have gone 13 straight seasons without a playoff appearance, the longest active streak in the NFL.