2022 Audacy Sports NFL uniform rankings

While we're fond of the team's white helmets, this current iteration of their uniforms looked bad when they were introduced in 2005. Now, they look bad and dated, with the black lining on their uniforms one of the biggest eyesores in the league. Owner Michael Bidwell said in February that new uniforms are "on the radar." Until then, they're doomed to the final spot on the list.

The uniform refresh that the Falcons did in 2020 was a disaster. The font for the numbers is brutal. "ATL" being written across the front looks like something you would see from a Division II college team. And the red and black gradient alternates are one of the worst uniforms that the league has ever seen. It's cool that the classic red helmets are coming back on select occasions in 2022, but the sooner the Falcons can ditch these uniforms, the better. We would suggest returning to their 1990s look on a full-time basis.

The team's long-time name was a slur, and it was long overdue when they ditched it in 2020. Their new name isn't very good, though, and the uniforms look like something you would create in Madden 07 with limited options. The W on the helmet looks worse than the ones they used over the last two seasons when they just went by the nickname "Football Team." Unironically, they probably should have just stayed the WFT.

Introduced prior to the 2019 season, the Jets really bungled their attempt at a refresh, perhaps fitting given how they've performed in the first three seasons with these uniforms. As we said with the Falcons, "New York" across the front looks cheap. The black alternates are the best of three bad uniforms, and they'll get a black helmet this year.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk regularly refers to these navy blue helmets -- used since 2018 -- as looking like bowling balls, which is hard to unsee. The navy-on-navy uniforms are especially tough to look at, and the tri-colored shoulder patches look like a cheap attempt at recreating the Seattle Seahawks uniforms. It's hard to believe this franchise was once the Houston Oilers, owners of maybe the greatest logo in NFL history.

The Rams are reigning Super Bowl Champions, but that doesn't help them on a countdown like this. Their royal blue helmets with yellow horns are pretty solid on their own, but the uniforms that go with them are anything but. The gradient numbers with lining inside them are atrocious, as is the patch on the left chest that says "Los Angeles Rams." One slight improvement for 2022 is that the Rams will no longer wear the much-maligned "bone" white uniforms as their primary look on the road, instead switching to a more traditional white.

It's been a step up from their gradient helmets, but the uniform kit that the Jaguars unveiled in 2018 is bland. The next time that the Jaguars alter their look, maybe they should bring back the Jaguar logo on all four paws that used to be on the sleeves of their jerseys. Heck, it would be interesting to see what it would look like on a helmet.

Perhaps appropriately, the Patriots refreshed their uniforms in 2020, the first season post Tom Brady. Unfortunately, the uniforms aren't very good. The red and white patches on the shoulders were fine as the team's "Color Rush" alternate, but too much to be worn as a primary uniform. The silver lining is that with the NFL's controversial one-helmet rule eliminated, the "Pat Patriot" throwbacks will be back in 2022.

The Lions have had their current look since 2017, and there's plenty to critique about it. While we like their "Honolulu Blue" color, "Lions" being written on the right sleeve isn't necessary, nor are the stripes in the middle of their helmet. If it was up to us, the Lions would return to the simpler look they had prior to 2009. That means a silver helmet with just the outline of the Lion, no additional marks to make the Lion look tougher. It's a Lion, it's plenty tough.

Without sounding hyperbolic, every season that the Dolphins play without the cartoon Dolphin wearing a football helmet logo on their helmets is a crime against humanity. The more realistic Dolphin logo was an attempt to fix what wasn't broken. Whether it's going back to the throwbacks from early in their history currently worn as an alternate on a full-time basis or a look similar to what they had during the 2000s, the Dolphins need to bring back their iconic logo.

The Texans primary uniforms are actually pretty strong, but the team's "Color Rush" look (pictured above) doesn't do much for us. And while the team's "battle red" alternate uniform tops are sharp, the glossy red helmet they will wear with it beginning in 2022 is too much.

There's nothing necessarily wrong with the Giants uniforms, but the white ones pictured above are bland. The Giants "Color Rush" alternates are excellent, as are what we'll call the Lawrence Taylor Era blue throwback uniforms set to be worn twice this season. If the Giants permanently returned to having "Giants" written on their helmets rather than "NY," they would shoot up this list.

If you look close enough at Trey Lance above, you'll see that the 49ers have made some small uniform tweaks ahead of the 2022 season. The 49ers have returned to three stripes on their sleeves, rather than two. Also, the "saloon" font returns just below the NFL shield on the front of San Francisco's uniforms, and on the back of their helmets.

On one hand, the "white tiger" Bengals uniforms might be one of the best in NFL history, especially now that they have a matching helmet. On the other hand, the tweaks that the Bengals before the 2021 season made their uniforms a bit too simple. These need something else, perhaps the Bengal walking on all four paws on the right sleeve.

Even if the Bears primary navy blue and white uniforms aren't flashy, they are classic, as is their helmet. Unfortunately, the Bears lose points here because of the orange alternate helmet they've introduced in 2022. The orange alternate tops were a nice change of pace, but the matching helmet makes them look like they should be playing a football game at the Nickelodeon studios.

Here's an example of not doing too much with crush orange. This uniform is loud enough as it is, the last thing it needs is a matching orange helmet. Then again, if the Broncos ditched these helmets and returned to the lighter shade of blue and logo used from 1968-1996, they would separate themselves from the middle of the pack.

What the Eagles call "midnight" green is back for a 26th season as the team's primary color, and it's generally been a pretty solid look. Philadelphia has also added a black helmet to pair with their all black alternate uniforms. Fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the classic Kelly green uniforms as an alternate in 2023.

When the Seahawks first introduced their current threads in 2012, they were considered ahead of the curve. We're still fond of the team's white uniforms and gray alternates, but the navy-on-navy that the Seahawks use fairly frequently is too dark when also paired with a navy blue helmet. And the neon green "Color Rush" alternates that came along in 2016 are overkill.

The uniforms that the Buccaneers wore from 2014 to 2019 were among the worst primary looks in NFL history. Smartly, the Bucs returned to a look pretty similar to what they wore from 1997-2013 just in time for Tom Brady's arrival in 2020. The script that says "Buccaneers" is written above the number on the front of the jersey and the black pirate ship on the right sleeve are both excellent touches. Tampa Bay would be even higher if they admitted defeat and cut their losses on the hideous gray alternates that drag down an otherwise solid uniform kit. The good news is that the team's classic creamsicle throwbacks are returning as an alternate in 2023.

Some old-school fans will be dismissive of the Panthers uniforms being ranked this high because they aren't a classic NFL franchise. That's fine, the Panthers didn't begin play until 1995, but they have an excellent trio of uniforms that fit their team and home state. The silver helmets that the Panthers have worn for their entire existence are excellent, and the black alternate helmet being introduced for the 2022 season should be a nice addition.

The Ravens -- unless you consider their prior history as the first iteration of the Cleveland Browns -- played their first season in 1996. In the time since then, they've proven that the Minnesota Vikings don't have a monopoly on the color purple in the NFL. Also, among the many teams with black alternate tops in the NFL, Baltimore stands out.

Only having your logo on one side of your helmet has always seemed a little goofy, but at this point, it would stand out in a negative way if the Steelers added their logo to the left side of their helmets. Pittsburgh is one of the NFL's classic franchises, and it remains cool that all three professional sports teams in the city use the same color scheme.

Speaking of purple, the Vikings are the team in sport most associated with what can be a polarizing color. The team's current uniforms are celebrating their 10th season in 2022, highlighted by a beautiful matte purple helmet. The "primetime purple" alternates introduced in 2016 are the cherry on top of some excellent threads.

The Chargers were one of many teams that unveiled new uniforms before the 2020 season, and the look has generally grown on us. Of course, the powder blue tops are classic, and we may like the royal blue alternates pictured above even more. We aren't especially fond of the navy-on-navy alternates that the Chargers have, but they have plenty of proponents. Where we'll break with this uniform set is the yellow pants, which are worn with both the powder blue and white tops. Don't overthink it, white pants look much better with both of these uniform tops than yellow.

Since moving from Dallas to Kansas City in 1963, the most drastic uniform changes that the Chiefs have made is trying out different pant and uniform top combinations. With a sustained run as one of the NFL's elite teams under Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, fans have gotten a chance to truly appreciate a classic uniform set.

If this was just about helmets, the Cowboys would be No. 1, as the star is iconic. The jerseys -- even the navy blue tops they aren't fond of wearing -- are simple, but in a good way. Fans can look forward to the return of the team's Thanksgiving uniforms in 2022.

The Saints have had a pretty consistent look since the mid-1980s, with the fleur-de-lis at the forefront of their gold, black and white uniforms. Gone is the NFL's one helmet rule, so when the Saints wear their excellent white-on-white throwback uniforms this year, they'll do so with a new black helmet.

It's hard to imagine the Packers ever tweaking their green and gold primary uniforms -- they've become so associated with a team consistently in contention thanks to the play of a Hall of Fame quarterback at Lambeau Field. The green-on-green alternates that debuted with a blank yellow helmet in 2021 feel a bit like an Oregon Ducks jersey, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The Colts are like the Detroit Tigers of the NFL, they don't need to introduce a third uniform top because their primary uniforms are so classic. The white helmet with the horseshoe logo is such a clean look, regardless of whether the Colts are wearing their white or blue uniform tops.

The Bills turned the page on one of the worst uniform schemes in NFL history in 2011, and did an incredible job creating a new look that pays homage to the past but feels modern. We're big fans of the team's blue-on-blue uniforms, and while there are calls to bring back the red helmets of the 1990s in some form, we actually prefer their current white helmets with blue and red stripes down the center.

The Browns had an amateurish look from 2015-2019, before wisely returning to simpler uniforms in 2020. The blank orange helmet is one of the best in the league, and the Browns have found a way to make brown, orange and white one of the sharpest color schemes in the league. Additionally, the 75th anniversary uniforms worn in 2021 should become a permanent alternate.

If the Oakland Athletics ever relocate to Las Vegas, they should follow the Raiders playbook -- don't alter your classic uniforms. If you ranked the 10 best uniforms in the NFL, both the Raiders black and white uniform tops would probably crack the list. And the Raider logo makes you think of John Facenda talking about the autumn wind.