Why Are NFL Teams Wearing White at Home?

It’s a tradition that dates back to the early days of the NFL, but why do teams wear white at home? There are a few reasons…

It started with the Miami Dolphins in 1972

In 1972, the Miami Dolphins became the first team in NFL history to wear white jerseys at home. The team’s owner at the time, Joe Robbie, believed that white jerseys looked better on television. The trend soon caught on with other teams, and now it’s very common for NFL teams to wear white at home.

There are a few other reasons why teams may choose to wear white at home. For one, white jerseys tend to stay cleaner than dark jerseys. This is especially important for teams that play in hot weather climates. White jerseys also help players stay cooler in the heat.

While there are some benefits to wearing white at home, there are also some drawbacks. One downside is that it can be harder for players to stand out from their teammates in white jerseys. This can make it difficult for fans and TV viewers to tell who is who on the field. Additionally, white jerseys can get dirty more easily than dark jerseys, which can be a problem for teams that don’t have good laundry facilities.

The Dallas Cowboys followed suit in 1979

In 1978, the NFL made a rule change that required teams to wear their colored jerseys at home, and their white jerseys on the road. The thinking behind the rule was that it would be easier for fans to tell who was who, and it would also cut down on dirty laundry. But there was one team that didn’t want to comply: the Miami Dolphins.

The Dallas Cowboys followed suit in 1979, and when they played the Dolphins in the Super Bowl that year, they wore their white jerseys at home. The Dolphins, of course, wore their orange jerseys. The Cowboys won the game, and when they did it again in 1980, they decided to keep wearing white at home.

Since then, a number of teams have followed suit, and today it’s not uncommon to see teams like the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Green Bay Packers wearing white at home.

The trend caught on in the 1980s

The tradition of home teams wearing white dates back to the early days of the NFL, when teams would often wear darker-colored jerseys at home and white on the road so that opponents would have a harder time seeing them. The trend caught on in the 1980s, when teams began to realize that white jerseys made it easier for fans to see them, and it has been common ever since. There are exceptions – some teams, like the Green Bay Packers, have always worn green at home – but in general, most teams will wear white at home and their darker jerseys on the road.

The New England Patriots bucked the trend in 1994

In 1994, the New England Patriots bucked the trend and became the first team to wear white at home during the playoffs. The following year, they won the Super Bowl. Since then, several teams have followed suit and started wearing white at home during the playoffs.

The most likely reason for this is that teams believe it gives them an edge. White jerseys are easier to see, so players can react more quickly to plays. They also absorb less heat than dark jerseys, which can be an advantage in cold weather games.

Of course, there are also some drawbacks to wearing white at home. For one thing, it can be harder to stand out in a crowd when everyone is wearing the same color. And there’s always the risk that a team will forget its colored jerseys and have to wear white anyway.

The Buffalo Bills brought it back in 2002

In 2002, the Buffalo Bills brought back an old tradition by wearing white at home for the first time in franchise history. Since then, several other teams have followed suit. The most notable example is the New England Patriots, who have been wearing white at home since 2003.

There are a few theories as to why this trend has caught on. One is that it makes it easier for teams to stay cool in hot weather, as white reflects heat better than darker colors. Another is that it gives teams a psychological advantage, as they appear “cleaner” and more organized than their opponents.Whatever the reason, it’s become clear that white is the new black when it comes to NFL home jerseys.

The Philadelphia Eagles made it their thing in 2003

In 2003, the Philadelphia Eagles implemented a new strategy: they would wear white jerseys at home games during the hot summer months. The idea was that white would reflect heat better than dark colors, and thus keep players cooler and less fatigued during the game.

Other teams soon caught on, and now it’s not uncommon to see NFL teams wearing white at home games during the summer months. In fact, the league even has a “White House” rule in place that requires teams to wear their white jerseys at home if the temperature is above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

So if you’re wondering why NFL teams are wearing white at home, now you know!

The Arizona Cardinals made it their thing in 2004

Sure, the Cardinals were 0-8 when they started their now annual tradition of wearing white at home in 2004, but that didn’t stop them from doing it. In fact, they’ve been doing it ever since, and they’re not alone.

A quick scan of NFL team websites shows that at least a dozen teams have made a habit of wearing white at home, including the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers. (The New England Patriots also wear white at home on occasion.)

So why the sudden change? According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, it’s all about keeping cool: “In Arizona, the thinking is that lighter colored jerseys reflect more heat than darker ones. And with the Cardinals playing their home games in a domed stadium, they really don’t have to worry about the elements.”

Makes sense to us.

It’s all about tradition now

The tradition started back in the days when teams played in leather helmets and didn’t have face masks. Believe it or not, those early leather helmets got pretty sweaty, so the lighter-colored jerseys helped keep players cooler.

These days, of course, all NFL players wear modern helmets with face masks, and they have all sorts of high-tech cooling gear to help them keep their cool during games. So why do they still wear white at home?

It’s all about tradition now. In the NFL, traditions are sacrosanct, and the league knows that its fans love nothing more than to see their teams sticking to time-honored customs. Wearing white at home is one of those traditions, and it’s not going anywhere any time soon.