The Washington Commanders will debut new uniforms in 2026. Well, they’re not exactly new, considering the franchise wore the uniforms during its most successful years. The Commanders will debut a new alternate uniform in 2026 that’s a stark improvement.
Washington has undergone many changes in recent years. It began in 2020 when the franchise changed its name from the Redskins to the basic and temporary moniker, “Football Team.”
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That change meant a new helmet. In 2022, there was another change. The Football Team was now the Commanders, and it was permanent. Those changes brought not only a new name, but also a new rebranding, new uniforms and legions of unhappy fans. The rebranding was a complete flop, something the new ownership understood when they took over in 2023.
While changing the name proved too difficult, Josh Harris and his partners immediately went to work. The primary goal was to build a new stadium in Washington, D.C. That’s happening. New ownership also made significant investments into the team’s current home, Northwest Stadium, and completely renovated the franchise’s headquarters.
Harris extended an olive branch to the fans, too. In 2025, the Commanders debuted their Super Bowl alternates for three home games, with the goal of making them permanent in 2026. Another mission accomplished.
The Athletic recently named the best and worst uniforms for all 32 NFL franchises. You probably don’t need to think too hard to guess those choices.
The Commanders are bringing back a variation of the iconic uniforms from the franchise’s three Super Bowl wins, and for good reason: It’s crisp, it’s clean and it’s a classic — a reflection of the franchise at its peak. The version from the Gibbs era was even nicer than today’s, however, because players wore baggy sleeves, so the burgundy and gold stripes were more noticeable.
Did you notice that The Athletic said they tied for the best uniforms? That’s right. It named Washington’s 2002 70th-anniversary uniforms as tied for the top spot. These were amazing uniforms. And some fans wondered if the Commanders would bring back those helmets for 2026. Unfortunately, they did not.
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Here is a reminder of those uniforms:
Now, for the worst, this is easy:
When the franchise unveiled its new name and logo in 2022, it also unveiled these uniforms that seem better fit for a recreational soccer team than a pro football franchise. The burgundy was brightened and looked a bit like USC’s “cardinal” red, the jersey numbers and names were difficult to view from afar and the overall ensembles lacked character — a complete departure from the team’s signature look. Plus, the all-black uniforms, while crisp, resembled the Steelers. — Nicki Jhabvala
Even the fans who liked the Commanders’ jerseys over the last few years would probably agree with this one. Which uniforms in Washington’s franchise history — over 90 years — were worse than these? The white, burgundy and black jerseys all looked like they belonged on an expansion team. For fans who hated the name Commanders, the uniforms were essentially an added insult.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Best and worst uniforms in franchise history
