When Did NFL Referees Start Wearing Black Pants?

A look at the history of NFL referees and when they started wearing black pants.

The Early Days

The NFL has been through many changes since it was founded in 1920. The game has changed and so has the equipment and uniforms worn by the players and referees. In the early days of the NFL, referees wore white pants. So when did they switch to black pants?

The first NFL game

The first NFL game was played on October 3, 1920, between the Chicago Bears and the Omaha Nebres. There were no huddles and only leather helmets were used. The game was so different from today that it is barely recognizable. The biggest change, of course, is the black pants worn by all NFL referees. When did this change take place?

The answer is simple: 1932. That’s when the NFL made blatant refereeing mistakes a thing of the past by hiring former players as officials. This new crop of officials wore black pants in order to stand out from the players, who were all wearing white pants.

While this may seem like a small change, it had a big impact on the game. It made officiating much easier and helped to ensure that errors were not made that could potentially cost a team the game. Today, NFL referees are some of the best in all of sports and they continue to wear black pants as a symbol of their authority on the field.

The first NFL rulebook

The first NFL rulebook was published in 1933. It contained a section on “Player’s Equipment,” which stated: “All players must wear stockings that cover the entire leg from above the knee to the ankle bone.” (Rule 1, Section 5, Article 1).

The rule was meant to prevent injuries, but it also had the effect of making all players look uniform. In those days, most players wore black high-top cleats, so their legs would have looked very similar even without the rule.

The rulebook also contained a section on “Uniforms,” which stated: “The home team shall wear dark-colored jerseys, and the visiting team shall wear white jerseys.” (Rule 3, Section 5, Article 1). Again, this was meant to promote player safety by making it easier for players to see each other on the field.

Interestingly, there was no mention of pants color in the NFL rulebook until 1946. That year, the rules were amended to state: “Pants must be worn low on the hips and may not be rolled up or cut above the knee.” (Rule 1, Section 5, Article 3).

There is no record of why this change was made, but it is possible that it was simply a response to changing fashion trends. In the 1940s, pants began to get tighter and were often worn rolled up or cut off at the knee. This trend continued into the 1950s with the advent of “drainpipe” trousers.

It is also possible that the change was made for player safety reasons. Loose-fitting pants can be a trip hazard, and they can also get caught on other players’ cleats. By mandating that pants be worn low on the hips and not rolled up or cut above the knee, referees could ensure that players’ movement would not be restricted.

Whatever the reason for the change, it resulted in a new era of NFL fashion. For the first time, all players were required to wear black pants as part of their uniform.

The 1930s

The NFL has seen many changes throughout its history, including the addition of black pants for referees. This change took place in the 1930s and has been a staple ever since. Prior to the 1930s, referees wore white pants. The switch to black was likely made in order to allow the referees to blend in with the crowd and not stand out as much.

The first NFL playoff game

The first NFL playoff game was the 1932 NFL Playoff Game, a game between the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans to decide the NFL championship. The game was played on December 18, 1932, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won 9–0, and became the first team to win an NFL championship.

The game was not originally intended to be a playoff game; it was scheduled as the final game of the 1932 NFL season. However, after the Spartans’ victory in their final game against the New York Giants on December 4 gave them a 6–1–4 record (the Giants finished second at 6–3–3), it was apparent that a playoff game would be necessary to decide the championship. The league had originally decided that if there was a tie for first place in any division at the end of the season, a one-game playoff would be held to determine the division winner.

The first NFL championship game

The first NFL championship game was played on December 18, 1932, between the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans. The game was played at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won the game, 9-0.

This was the first year that NFL referees wore black pants. Before that, they had worn white pants.

The 1940s

In the 1940s, NFL referees started wearing black pants. This was mainly due to the fact that they wanted to be more visible on the field. Black pants made it easier for the referees to be seen by the players and the fans. However, there are some who believe that the switch had more to do with fashion than anything else.

The first NFL Pro Bowl

The first NFL Pro Bowl was played on January 15, 1939 at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. The game was originally conceived as a way to raise money for charities, and it was also meant to be a showcase for the league’s best players. The game was not played in 1940 or 1941 due to World War II, but it resumed in 1942.

In the early years of the Pro Bowl, the teams were often made up of players from different conferences or even different teams. This changed in 1951, when the NFL began dividing the teams by conference. The Pro Bowl has been held annually since 1951, with the exception of 1959, when it was canceled due to the construction of stadium facilities in Honolulu.

The Pro Bowl was traditionally held at the end of the NFL season, but it was moved to the week before the Super Bowl in 2010. It has been held at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii since 1980.

The first NFL All-Star game

On August 3, 1940, the first NFL All-Star game was played in Chicago, Illinois. The game was a benefit for the then-newly formed Players’ Association, which was trying to increase its membership. Sixty-six NFL players were divided into two teams: the White team and the Blue team. The Blue team won 6–0.

The 1950s

The 1950s were a time of change for the NFL. In an effort to improve the game’s image, the league made several rule changes and moved the headquarters from Philadelphia to New York City. One of the most noticeable changes was the switch from white to black referee pants.

The first Super Bowl

The first Super Bowl was played on January 15, 1967, pitting the Green Bay Packers against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers won easily, 35-10. But it wasn’t just the game that made history. It was also the first time that NFL referees wore black pants.

The change came about because of a suggestion from Art McNally, then the head of officiating for the NFL. He thought that the black pants would help referees stand out on the field and be more visible to players and fans alike.

The idea caught on, and today black pants are a staple of NFL officiating uniforms. But they’re not just for function anymore – they’ve also become a fashion statement. Many referees say that they feel more confident and authoritative on the field when they’re wearing black pants. And who can blame them? They look great!

The first NFL Draft

The very first NFL Draft took place in 1936. At that time, there were nine rounds and a total of 100 players were selected. Of those 100 players, only 17 ended up playing in at least one regular season NFL game. In the 1950s, the NFL Draft saw an increase in rounds (up to 30 by 1957) and a decrease in the number of players selected per round (down to 11 by 1957). The 1953 NFL Draft is notable for being the first year that African American players were selected.

The 1960s

In the 1960s, the NFL made a switch to having its referees wear black pants instead of the traditional white pants. The reason for this change is not entirely clear, but it is speculated that it was simply a matter of aesthetics. Many believe that the black pants make the refs look more professional and authoritative.

The first AFL-NFL Championship game

On January 15, 1967, the first AFL-NFL Championship game was held. The Green Bay Packers, who had won the NFL Championship, faced off against the Kansas City Chiefs, who had won the AFL Championship. The Packers won the game by a score of 35-10.

This game is significant because it was the first time that teams from the two rival leagues had faced off against each other in a championship game. It was also the first time that NFL referees wore black pants. Prior to this game, all NFL referees had worn white pants.

The first Super Bowl

The first Super Bowl was played on January 15, 1967. The Green Bay Packers, led by legendary coach Vince Lombardi, defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10. That game is considered one of the most important moments in NFL history.