Report: NFL updating uniform policy to allow throwbacks, alternates up to four times

The NFL is updating its uniform policy ahead of the 2025 season. Per Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, teams will be allowed to wear throwback or alternate uniforms up to four times per season.

The NFL is updating its uniform policy to allow teams to wear throwback or alternate uniforms up to four times per season. 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/gPQOcIFnGA

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 31, 2025

Previously, teams were permitted to wear throwbacks or alternates three times throughout the 17-game regular season. Teams with some of the best throwbacks in the sport — from the Seattle Seahawks to the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos to name a few — now have the opportunity to embrace nostalgia a little more.

Broncos team president Damani Leech said the proposal was introduced at the NFL Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday. He added the topic held a level of importance “to basically everyone in the room.”

“We just refreshed the policy, so now we’ll be able to wear the uniforms four times during the regular season,” Leech said. “That will be great. More opportunity to wear the throwbacks, but also more versatility with the helmets.

“So, as an example, we can wear our white helmets with orange-on-orange pants and jerseys. Things like that will just add more flexibility to the closet and hopefully be exciting for the players, but also for the fans.”

NFL teams can wear throwbacks, alternates more often in 2025

Other notable throwbacks and alternates that will return in 2025 are the Philadelphia Eagles’ Kelly Green jerseys, the Detroit Lions’ black tops and the Atlanta Falcons’ red helmeted throwbacks. The Tennessee Titans will be keeping their Houston Oilers throwbacks in the closet for the upcoming season.

Late founder and owner Bud Adams moved the team from Houston to Tennessee in 1997. But in 2023, the franchise wore the original Oilers uniforms once and twice this past season. In April 2024, Hannah McNair, wife of Texans owner Cal McNair, said the jerseys should have stayed in Houston.

“Houston takes a lot of pride in [the uniforms], and you know, Tennessee doesn’t care as much,” McNair said. “It’s not as meaningful to their fans.”