New England Patriots - NESN.com
A leaked look at what could be the New England Patriots’ Rivalries uniform has fans sounding off ahead of its official debut.
Circulating images appear to show a darker Columbia blue jersey paired with a white helmet, breaking from New England’s traditional color palette.
While the NFL’s Rivalries series aims to highlight classic matchups and regional pride, the early reaction from Patriots fans has been anything but enthusiastic.
Many had hoped for a return to the bold royal blue of the 1990s, which would have offered a nostalgic nod to a beloved era. Instead, the rumored look leans more toward Tennessee Titans territory than anything uniquely New England.
According to Sara Marshall of Musket Fire, “Most were hoping to see a nod to the past, perhaps something reminiscent of the infamous ’90s getup… but what they were certainly not envisioning is the latest rumored uniform circulating online.”
Fans can still hope this version is not final. The Patriots are expected to reveal their Rivalries uniform officially on August 28 and wear it for the first time against the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football in Week 11.
The team’s social media teasers have hinted at stormy imagery, nautical references and themes of Boston versus New York, aligning with Nike’s regional design strategy seen in other leagues.
This new alternate is one of several uniform looks the team will wear this season. New England also announced it will bring back the red ‘Pat Patriot’ throwbacks for two games.
Until the official reveal, the debate over the icy blue design continues to spark reactions across fan pages.
Patriots Uniform Tracker, one of the most comprehensive sources of uniform news on social media, was among the first to circulate the image. As of now, the jury is still out on whether seeing them in person will change minds.
