Vikings Reveal 2023 Throwback Uniforms
Dustin Baker
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It took about 12 years, but the Minnesota Vikings finally did it.
They’ve turned back the clock to the 1960s and 1970s — the Golden Age of Vikings football — and will don throwback uniforms in 2023.
Vikings Reveal 2023 Throwback Uniforms
In a streaming event exclusive to season-ticket holders, the Vikings unveiled the new apparel, paying homage to the Purple People Eaters and the four Vikings teams that reached Super Bowls decades ago.
CJ. Ham joined Tatum Everett on the broadcast wearing the new uniforms and relayed his excitement about the development. A lifelong fan, Ham recalled the Vikings wearing similar uniforms in 2009 and cited Brett Favre leading the way.
The jerseys flashback to the 1960s and 1970s, along with the pants. The Vikings helmet and logo — which virtually never change — will remain the same, except for the facemask. The franchise brought back the gray color.
Minnesota will wear the new uniforms for one game only — Week 1 at home versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And that’s 54 days from now.
Fran Tarkenton also joined the jersey-reveal event with Everett, but his connection was choppy, and the show ended soon after. Before the technical difficulties, Tarkenton reminisced on his playing time in the throwback uniforms from what appeared to be his home office.
For non-Vikings fans, the uniforms will probably incite the Spider-man meme — the outfits don’t really look different to outsiders. The helmets appear unchanged, aside from gray facemasking. The logo — the horns — of course, are untouched. But the jersey pattern, number-lettering, and style are indeed a clock turnback to 50+ years ago.
The Vikings social media account also posted a tribute video to accompany the uniform announcement.
Minnesota is among the few NFL teams that seldom change anything with logos or uniforms. The club produced a ‘white out’ event against the New York Giants last December, where players wore all-white uniforms, and fans were asked to join. And they mostly obliged, creating a charming effect at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Next to color rush uniforms, which are also called Primetime Purple, the ‘new’ throwbacks to the 1960s mark the most significant tweak to Minnesota’s attire in years. And, as a reminder, the Vikings are expected to wear the throwbacks for a single game.
Most fans on social media immediately fell in love with new threads and called for the Vikings to wear them all the time.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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