Dress Code: Cowboys Uniform History & Full NFL Rankings

Sean Martin

According to some Cowboys’ fans, the iconic blue star found on the team’s silver helmet was placed there by god himself to serve as a symbol of excellence in professional football. However, the Dallas Cowboys opened as an expansion team in 1960, sporting a clean blue star on a cleaner white helmet. The team, led by Tom Landry, finished the season 0-11-1 and dead last in the NFL Western Conference.

Safe to say the star did not have the greatest of debuts. The uniforms remained unchanged until 1964 when the stars were removed from the shoulders and the base helmet color was changed from white to the silver that we see today.

Cowboys Blog - Dress Code: Cowboys Uniform History and RankingsWith Landry still at the helm, these uniforms helped turn around the team’s fortunes. After a 5-8 finish in ’64, the Cowboys finished 7-7 the next season to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

The uniforms remained virtually unchanged through 1971 when the team won its first Super Bowl. Sporting their iconic whites, the Cowboys defeated the Dolphins 24-3.

Roger Staubach was named the game’s MVP.

NFL Blog - Dress Code: Cowboys Uniform History and Full NFL Rankings 32The Cowboys went on to win a total of 5 Super Bowls, most recently in 1995. They have worn white in all five championship games.

The team lost Super Bowl V while wearing blue, in a game against the Colts that is remembered as the “Blunder Bowl”.

The Cowboys will enter 2015 hoping to reach Super Bowl 50 in style. But where does their look rank in the NFL for 2015? View this list to find out…

Jacksonville Jaguars

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The new-look Jaguars land in last place on the list for a number of reasons.

The one that stands out right away is the awful two-tone helmet. What were they thinking!? The rest of the uniform has too much of a college feel to it, which I guess is fitting for a team that draws college level attendance.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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We can wait. Trust us.

The Buccaneers abandoned the creamsicle look in 1977 but are now making an attempt to honor the team’s past in 2015.

Not only is the orange trim completely out of place, but the helmet logo is oversized and the number font looks like something out of an arcade game. What a mess.

Miami Dolphins

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If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That is a valuable lesson the Miami Dolphins failed to learn when updating uniforms in 2013.

The team’s orange and teal color scheme mixed with unique logo has long made for one of the NFL’s most recognizable and fun uniforms. However, the new logo took away all facial features from the dolphin mascot.

The team is also sporting a much brighter, and more obnoxious, shade of teal.

Cleveland Browns

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The Browns are another team that will be rocking new threads in 2015, but the new look still has some major flaws.

The team’s color scheme of orange and brown is a tough hand for any designer to be dealt, and this new look does not shy away from flooding us with those two colors.

The bold “Cleveland” letters across the chest are a nice touch, but the rest of the uniform sets it back to #29 in our countdown.

Arizona Cardinals

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The Cardinals uniforms look lazily done, throwing together red and white throughout the jersey and pants seemingly at will.

This set would be salvageable if not for the pitiful black jerseys the team wears all too often.

Atlanta Falcons

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The Falcons have some pretty nice looking helmets, complete with one of the most innovative logos in the league.

However, the success of these unis ends right there.

The sleeve design on the jersey leaves something to be desired while the pants color scheme is just flat out bizarre.

Carolina Panthers

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The Panthers are one of the only teams to never fully update their uniforms.

The result is a look that is behind the times. While the all black look is intimidating and stylish, the white uniforms seen here look like something that an upstart high school football team with a low budget would wear.

Yet again, they do play in the NFC South.

Detroit Lions

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The Lions look is really held back by the unnecessary black trim.

They have a great thing going with a blue and silver color scheme, but the touches of black make the uniform a lot less impressive and hold Detroit to #25 on the list.

Chicago Bears

NFL Blog - Dress Code: Cowboys Uniform History and Full NFL Rankings

Chicago’s uniforms lack creativity, and the overall color scheme is dull.

Da Bears also land in the lower third thanks to their logo-less alternate helmets.

Ouch.

New York Jets

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The Jets do a good job of mixing green and white into their look, but the overall feel of the uniform is distracting and the helmet logo seems to exist solely to serve as another place for the team’s primary symbol.

Overall, it is still a pretty decent look.

Washington Redskins

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The Redskins look has changed many times over the decades, and what the team is going with currently may be one of their worst yet.

The vibrant yellow mixed with a strange burgundy causes the Skins to be a total eyesore.

San Diego Chargers

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The Bolts fall on the bottom half of this list, not because of any major flaw to their current look, but because of their past look that they chose to give up on.

The iconic powder blues from the team’s past make this current style lose a lot of its effect, and I have a hard time believing most San Diego fans – along with NFL fans in general – would be opposed to the return of one of the NFL’s greatest all-time looks.

Tennessee Titans

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The team has yet to come to terms with #2 overall pick Marcus Mariota, and it may be because of a disagreement with what the former Oregon QB will be wearing come game day.

The two tone blue uniforms are a total disaster. The logo just also doesn’t seem to fit with an NFL team.

Minnesota Vikings

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The Vikings have changed their shade of purple a number of times but seem to finally have a scheme that works well.

The shine on the helmet mixed with the clean purple and white jersey is a nice look. The two colored pants stripe holds this uniform back and puts the Vikings at the middle of the road.

New York Giants

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The Giants slide on this list mostly for thinking that these bright white pants with awkward piping were a good idea.

The rest of the uniform is bearable, although some more red in the jersey wouldn’t hurt.

Philadelphia Eagles

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Barring a Chip Kelly uniform redesign to make his team look even more like the Oregon Ducks, the 2015 Eagles style lands at #17 in the countdown.

The many different shades of green the team wears is distracting while the helmet tone seems to be caught between dark green and black. Speaking of black, the team also breaks out their all black alternates way too often.

A return to the Kelly green may be better suited for the Eagles.

Houston Texans

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The Texans basic look actually works very well, complete with one of the best helmets in the league.

It also helps when you have JJ Watt, who could be just as intimidating in a bright pink jersey.

Seattle Seahawks

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This new Seattle look was a headline design from Nike’s recent NFL makeover.

The ultra-modern uniforms work very well in mixing blue with the bright green found on the shoulders and numbers.

Buffalo Bills

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The Bills may lead the league in uniform combinations over the years, but their current look should be here to stay.

The color scheme is awesome, and the overall look has found a perfect balance between their AFL past and modern NFL style.

St. Louis Rams

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Despite only wearing this yellow and blue set as an alternate now, the Rams look is like none other in the NFL.

Complete with one of the coolest helmets in the league, the jersey and pants fit together perfectly to create an unforgettable style at #13 in our countdown.

Kansas City Chiefs

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Psychologically, the color red is associated with energy, aggression, and excitement. No wonder it is a great look for a team with one of the best fan bases in the league.

The all red look has not changed much from the team’s AFL past, and the yellow detailing is perfectly done.

Baltimore Ravens

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The Ravens purple and black style is one of the best in the NFL. The team is also one of the few in the league that can honestly say they make an all black alternate look good.

Take notes, Eagles and Cardinals.

The shoulder insignia honoring the state of Maryland’s unique flag is also a very nice touch.

 Indianapolis Colts

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The Colts look is simple, but also one of the most visually appealing in the NFL.

The dual stripe on the shoulder and horseshoe helmet land the Colts into the top 10.

Oakland Raiders

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The Raiders have always been known for the silver and black, and the style puts them near the top of the countdown.

The black jerseys with silver numbering are a thing of beauty, complete with a perfect helmet. Raiders first round pick Amari Cooper will sure look good rocking these colors in the bay area.

New England Patriots

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The Patriots red, white and blue style has served as a symbol of excellence in the NFL during this decade.

While the jerseys have a little bit too much going on, the pants work with the design well and the red facemasks are probably the best in the league.

Patriots fans have no reason to feel deflated over their team’s threads.

Cincinnati Bengals

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The Bengals look is like none other in the NFL, and for the sake of this countdown – that is a very good thing!

The helmet has no set design, and the frequent use of Bengal stripes gives Cincy a style that few teams could pull off. These uniforms would look awesome in the second round of the playoffs.

New Orleans Saints

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The Saints black and gold style embodies the party atmosphere of New Orleans.

The black coloring is simplistic and allows the gold numbers and detailing to stand out.

The gold helmet is also very well done.

Pittsburgh Steelers

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Speaking of black and gold, the Steelers come in at #5 in the countdown.

Their look is known throughout the NFL, and the fierce black found all the way through the helmet embodies the city of Pittsburgh.

San Francisco 49ers

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The 49ers garnet and gold is a signature look that has not required much change over the years.

Unfortunately, the team had a stretch where they nearly ruined the iconic style by shadowing the numbers in black. However, the team is back to their simplistic but elegant style and all is right with the world that is bay area NFL uniforms.

Denver Broncos

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The Broncos orange look is sharp, and the team has a great balance between the base orange and blue.

The team that calls Mile High Stadium their homelands high on the countdown at #3.

Green Bay Packers

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The Packers signature green and yellow is a well put together look from helmet to toe.

The helmets are nice, and the simplistic jersey on top of the yellow pants is a pleasure to look at. The pants striping is also well done and simplistic.

Dallas Cowboys

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No surprise here, as America’s Team’s classic white look lands at #1.

The Cowboys have made a name for themselves by bending the rules and wearing white at home.

The clean blue and white look cannot be topped, complete with the shining helmet and star!

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Disagree with any of the rankings? Comment below on who you feel should be ranked higher- or lower- or tweet @ShoreSportsNJ.