The Rivalries Program Expands
The NFL's latest batch of "Rivalries" alternate jerseys is out, with eight teams unveiled this week as part of the league's new series of community-inspired looks. The program launched last season with the AFC East (Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots) and NFC West (49ers, Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks), and now expands in 2026 to the AFC South and NFC North.
The new teams are the Bears, Colts, Jaguars, Lions, Packers, Texans, Titans, and Vikings, who will wear the jerseys for one in-division home game this season. The concept mirrors the NBA's City Edition and MLB's City Connect uniforms, as Sports Illustrated and theScore both noted. The NFL says the program aims to "deepen the connection fans and communities have with their football teams," per Sports Illustrated.
Each club is required to wear the alternate look for one home contest against a divisional rival each season over a three-year stretch, according to theScore. The AFC West and NFC East (2027) and the AFC North and NFC South (2028) are set to join later.
Ranking the Eight New Looks
Both Sports Illustrated and theScore ranked the jerseys from worst to best, but the two outlets' orders diverged substantially. Sports Illustrated placed the Jaguars last at No. 8, followed by the Colts, Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings, Titans, and Texans at No. 1. theScore's list went Colts (8), Jaguars (7), Texans (6), Lions (5), Titans (4), Bears (3), Packers (2), and Vikings (1).
For the Jaguars, Sports Illustrated described the design as "rough," citing a teal helmet that "significantly clashes" with a gold facemask, and jaguar-printed pants and numbers that were "a choice." theScore was more forgiving, saying the alternate font and color were "arguably better" than the team's main uniforms, but still not sold on the helmet and called the black-on-black spots on the pants "tacky."
The Colts' jersey, per theScore, features the team's horseshoe for the first time, but black stripes are hard to see against a predominantly dark gray uniform. Sports Illustrated emphasized a "pretty hideous gray color" and said the "dark, intense tones" used to evoke power and speed forced the writer to look away.
At the Texas vs. Tennessee match, the Texans' design draws a close comparison, as theScore noted: "If you had to double-check that those jerseys actually belong to the Texans, not the Tennessee Titans, you're not the only one." Houston's uniform, which references the state's largest city, has "some solid new elements" but suffers from the similarity to a division rival. Sports Illustrated ranked the Texans first overall but provided no description of their uniforms.
For the Lions, theScore said the design "looks like the Carolina Panthers' uniforms," and Sports Illustrated agreed it was [end] too similar to their normal white look, despite the "Detroit" wordmark and a hidden lion eye in the shoulder.
The Titans' uniform honors Nashville with navy and Titans blue. Sports Illustrated highlighted the six strings on the helmet stripe and shoulders, numbers resembling neon lights, and a nod to "a city where the signs never go dark" — which multiple sources echo.
The Bears' design returns to orange helmets, and both outlets note tradition font and colors, though Sports Illustrated said the navy and orange doesn't deviate from the team's usual palette, calling it more of a throwback. theScore praised the striped socks and ends and the 1940s-inspired orange numbers.
The Packers' look, per Sports Illustrated, is inspired by their shareholder base of 538,967, with stock-certificate-inspired numbers and striped sleeves in vintage green, yellow, and alabaster. theScore liked the cream helmet and "refreshed" green and gold, but noted the collar could be better.
The Vikings, the subjective favorites of theScore and a near-top pick for Sports Illustrated, wear all purple with gold details. The design includes the Nordic runes "Skol", references to a battle sword on pants and helmet, braided sleeve stripes, and the "spirit of the North," plus a new "Purple Dynasty" base color in lieu of traditional purple.
Sourcing and Differences
Sports Illustrated's piece relied on the outlet's own opinionated writing, while theScore framed its ranking through a similar critical lens. Both outlets agree on the three lowest-rated teams (Jaguars, Colts, Texans, or in the no. 8-6 slots in different orders), and both praise the Packers and Vikings as top-half designs. The differences in ordering show how subjective uniform ranking can be: Sports Illustrated puts the Titans second and the Texans first, while theScore places the Titans fourth and the Vikings first.
As with any aesthetic ranking, the judgment is inherently personal, but the facts of what each jersey looks like are clear from both descriptions.