Hail to the Alternate!

The Washington ownership group that is led by Josh Harris have once again heightened their credentials with the launch of an alternate jersey for the 2025 season.

In a strategic move to honour the past legacy, while continuing to evolve the Commanders brand, Washington will play three regular season games wearing the new/old uniforms:

• Nov 2 vs Seahawks (Sunday Night Football)

• Nov 30 vs Broncos

• Dec 25 vs Cowboys (Christmas Day on Netflix)

  
  

Design Highlights

Helmet

• Rich burgundy base paired with gold facemask

• Retro striping (white-burgundy-gold-burgundy-white) reminiscent of the 1980s champions, now featuring the modern “W” logo on each side)

Jersey

• Classic white jersey with burgundy collar, accompanied by sleeve cuffs with burgundy and gold stripes

• Burgundy numbers outlined in gold; no wordmarks, maintaining a clean throwback aesthetic

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Pants & Socks

• Burgundy pants with parallel gold-and-white stripes

• White socks echoing the burgundy and gold striping

  
  

Here at UKHTTC, we asked UK fans what they thought of this homage to pass success:

Wales Commander Aled:

“When I first became a fan of Washington back in ’92, it wasn’t geography that led me there, it was colour. Burgundy and gold just happened to be my primary school uniform colours. And the white jersey? The one worn in the Super Bowl? Wow. From that strange coincidence bloomed a lifelong connection. The old logo sealed the deal, stirring something deep that made this faraway franchise feel like home.

Over the years, I’ve learned to embrace the changes in the team’s look and identity but when I saw the press release for the new alternate white uniform, I was hit with a wave of emotion. It felt like stepping into a time machine and being reminded of exactly why I fell in love with this team in the first place.

There’s not much that needs saying about the new look and that’s part of its brilliance. It’s instantly recognisable: clean, simple, and timeless. I genuinely love the white jersey. It’s not just a change of colour; it’s a connection to the past. This isn’t a gimmick, it’s a nod to legacy. Watching the current players model it, you could feel their pride, a sense that they’re not just wearing a uniform but carrying history on their shoulders. It’s as if the jersey itself is calling out to the glory days and saying, “Let’s run it back.” And as a fan from miles and decades away, I couldn’t be more ready”.

Simon Thurston adds:

“I became a fan back in 1982 when the NFL was first broadcast in the UK. Knowing nothing about any of the teams and who was good or bad, my choice of team was purely based on the uniform.

It was a toss-up between the Cincinnati Bengals and their new tiger-striped uniforms, and Washington. The combination of burgundy, gold and white, positioned and proportioned perfectly across the helmet, jersey and pants -- together with the logo -- instantly captivated me.

After a decade of fandom and 3 Lombardi’s to the good, I was happy with my choice!

Fast forward to 2022, and as someone who's worked in branding and marketing for over 25 years, I always felt the transition to a new name should have featured more a nod to the past. In the same way the Washington Football Team did (although, truth be told, this transition needed to be done quickly, hence the likeness to the previous name, in my humble opinion.) However, there's also a small part of me that understands why they went for -- in the wake of controversial circumstances -- an almost clean-break from the legacy uniforms.

Whilst not a huge fan of those uniforms (or indeed the name, at the time), I will be a fan of this franchise for life and just accepted them. But then, just this week, they did what most fans have been praying for since the name change. And how beautiful they look, too! However, the significance transcends pure aesthetics -- it's honouring those players, coaches and front office staff that brought us fans so much joy over the years. The magic moments: Darrell Grant's pick-6, Doug Williams hyper-extending his knee and then breaking many a Superbowl record (and winning the MVP to boot!), 3 home shutouts to start the regular season and arguably the best team ever in 1991. I could go on.

I've never stopped being a fan. Never will. But since the change of ownership, then the drafting of Jayden Daniels, and then THIS -- the magic may have just returned to Washington. Hail!”

And finally, UKHTTC founder, Christian Burt:

The current administration appears to have a consistent ability to make sound decisions. It is likely that the new alternate uniform will replace the previous burgundy and white version, which did not generate significant enthusiasm among fans. The new white alternate design is expected to be well-received and will achieve strong sales for the franchise. There is also potential for a similarly traditional design to eventually replace the existing burgundy and gold jersey.

From an aesthetic perspective, the use of traditional numbering on the alternate uniform evokes a sense of familiarity with Washington's historical identity. While it seems unlikely that there will be a direct reference to the Redskins name or imagery in future branding, it is encouraging to see the team acknowledge its heritage through recent launch materials.

Although some fans may remain dissatisfied with the name change, the combination of the current ownership group, a highly promising young quarterback, and the prospect of returning to RFK Stadium presents an opportune moment for renewed support of the Commanders"