NFL 2023 Changes

[PaleVermilion81]

7 minutes ago, Volt said:

This uniform would be an upgrade and it's a great example of how adding subtle Red detailing really adds a nice pop.  I know the Nike haters will not agree with how it's implemented here and I understand that, but that's now how it has to be done.  Good stuff.

 

If that is how it has to be done, then it 100% should not be done. 

 

 

[HOOVER]

15 hours ago, Indigo said:

I personally feel like three colors is hard enough to work with in the NFL (Jags, Bucs,  Titans, ect.) so four would be near impossible to balance properly. The above concept is nice, but it makes the swoosh an intentional design element, which is a no-go in my book.

 

What if the Ravens were to drop black and use dark purple, gold and red? It would keep the core of purple and gold (without stepping on the toes of Minnesota), keep the "gothic" feel, and refresh the look with a color commonly found in the state flag.

Definitely harder to work with, which is exactly why Tennessee ended up using Red on the Swoosh.  Have to start shoehorning colors in and that's what happens.

I don't dislike the idea of eliminating Black for the Ravens but I think the issue there is that you'd end up with a Purple helmet very similar to the Vikings.  The Vikings helmet actually would've been a good Ravens helmet.  But ultimately I think the Ravens helmet, as-is, is something to not get too far away from. 

 

A Satin/Anodized finish, like the Vikings use with Purple, would be tremendous in Black for the Ravens, and it would separate their helmet from the dozen or so other gloss Black helmets in the league.   This would then require some Black to still be used in the uniforms.   Here's a Satin Black mini-helmet from Riddell with some gold for reference:  

 

 

More than most teams, the Ravens SHOULD be a team that uses Black, considering that their namesake is actually a black bird.  Still, I'd entertain a Purple helmet as their Purple pants now are terrific.
 

 

[HOOVER]

7 minutes ago, PaleVermilion81 said:

 

If that is how it has to be done, then it 100% should not be done. 

 

 

 

Sorry, that was a typo.  Should've said "not" instead of "now".  Editing.

[leopard88]

16 hours ago, Brave-Bird 08 said:

 

Shameless plug

 

 

My  biggest issue with this is the name and number font.  I know the Ravens have been using it on their website and on social media for a few years.  However, on the uniform, it looks like a custom font being used for custom font's sake* and reminds me a bit of the Titans number font.

 

Also, is that a purple-flaked black helmet, like Jags' old teal-flaked helmet?  I've always thought that is an intriguing idea for the Ravens and am curious to see how it would look in real life.  At a minimum, it would be consistent with the actual bird, which is black with a purple sheen.

 

* -- I think Buc use CFCS for this, but I wasn't sure if this an official CCSLC thing like BFBS.

[HOOVER]

10 minutes ago, Sec19Row53 said:

I was sorta expecting MORE red - but I don't know how to add it without making things vibrate. Maybe an outline on the number or an additional sleeve stripe with the gold?

Definitely hard to do, and hard to do well without overdoing it.  Maybe just a subtle, not quite pinstripe, but thin stripe on the sleeve between the Black & Gold, and maybe similar subtle, almost shading/shadowing with a thin Red accent on the numbers.   Tough nut to crack but if actually considered, hopefully the professionals could figure it out.

[HOOVER]

10 minutes ago, leopard88 said:

 

My  biggest issue with this is the name and number font.  I know the Ravens have been using it on their website and on social media for a few years.  However, on the uniform, it looks like a custom font being used for custom font's sake* and reminds me a bit of the Titans number font.

 

Also, is that a purple-flaked black helmet, like Jags' old teal-flaked helmet?  I've always thought that is an intriguing idea for the Ravens and am curious to see how it would look in real life.  At a minimum, it would be consistent with the actual bird, which is black with a purple sheen.

 

* -- I think Buc use CFCS for this, but I wasn't sure if this an official CCSLC thing like BFBS.

 

Agreed on the font, would not use that - but I understand why it was chosen for the concept.  

[HOOVER]

18 minutes ago, Volt said:

Definitely hard to do, and hard to do well without overdoing it.  Maybe just a subtle, not quite pinstripe, but thin stripe on the sleeve between the Black & Gold, and maybe similar subtle, almost shading/shadowing with a thin Red accent on the numbers.   Tough nut to crack but if actually considered, hopefully the professionals could figure it out.

 

Random thought:  could use a font similar to the Grizzlies, but more stylized with a gothic touch for the Ravens.  Adding a thin outline could help get you to 4 colors:

 

 

 

 

On PURPLE:  Black fill, Gold outline, Red inside accent

On BLACK:  Purple fill, Red outline, Gold inside accent

On WHITE:  Purple fill, Gold outline, Red inside accent

Completely spitballing here and have barely even visualized these in my head, but it present a possible solution just add a very subtle bit of Red. 

I never thought of it before seeing that media guide cover yesterday...but a touch of Red really makes this brand come alive, and it's been sitting there all this time, in the eye of their Raven logo.

[HOOVER]

Gotta go pack for a cross-country flight, so last thoughts here for a bit on font:

 

Something like this could be a start for a clean, bold font that works in athletics while still having some gothic character:

 

 

https://www.dafont.com/waruna.font?fpp=200&text=1234567890

 

 

 

And while this font is wildly overdesigned, a cleaner version could be a nice base to start with to design a more stylized number font that has that inside color element referenced in my Grizzlies post above:

 

 

https://www.dafont.com/rackles.font?fpp=200&text=1234567890

 

For quick visualization, if this were on a White jersey, imagine the inside striping elements being Gold, and the little dots on those elements being Red, like the eye of the Raven.  Add a Purple outline and you've got all 4 colors.  On a Purple jersey, you use the same exact setup, although legibility (Black on Purple with no outline) comes into play.  On a Black jersey...ah, screw it...in this rebrand, they wouldn't have a Black jersey.  But I guess it could be made to work if it did.

Have to tone down all those points, but the more I look at this font, the more I like something like it for the Ravens.

 

All in all, I don't know that we're getting new Ravens unis any time soon, but it's a fun brand to speculate on.

[TBGKon]

2 minutes ago, Volt said:

Gotta go pack for a cross-country flight, so last thoughts here for a bit on font:

 

Something like this could be a start for a clean, bold font that works in athletics while still having some gothic character:

https://www.dafont.com/waruna.font?fpp=200&text=1234567890

 I could go with this for sure...

[PaleVermilion81]

44 minutes ago, Volt said:

 

Sorry, that was a typo.  Should've said "not" instead of "now".  Editing.

 

Whew  had me worried haha

[FiddySicks]

1 hour ago, Volt said:

This uniform would be an upgrade and it's a great example of how adding subtle Red detailing really adds a nice pop.  I know the Nike haters will not agree with how it's implemented here and I understand that, but that's not how it has to be done.  Good stuff.

One of my very favorite looks for any football team is TCU with the black, purple, and just a small splash of red on the trim to contrast the two darker colors and make everything pop. I think the Ravens could do something similar (silver and gold are a pretty easy swap in this scenario) and look fantastic. This concept you posted is a very good start. 

[Indigo]

Ironically I was the one a few months ago who was staunchly opposed to Baltimore adding red, but I've definitely come around on the idea. 

 

[tBBP]

There may be another approach to this scenario if red absolutely has to be a part of this colorway, especially if gold and white must also remain: darken the purple and eliminate the black. Something like this:

 

 

(Their current purple is closer to that middle square.)

 

It's either that or keep the black but 86 the gold (which is also not a bad idea). 

 

I'll have to play around with this some more in my free time—y'all done gave me some new fodder to work with in revisiting the case study I did on this whole Ravens brand identity...

[HOOVER]

1 hour ago, tBBP said:

There may be another approach to this scenario if red absolutely has to be a part of this colorway, especially if gold and white must also remain: darken the purple and eliminate the black. Something like this:

 

 

(Their current purple is closer to that middle square.)

 

It's either that or keep the black but 86 the gold (which is also not a bad idea). 

 

I'll have to play around with this some more in my free time—y'all done gave me some new fodder to work with in revisiting the case study I did on this whole Ravens brand identity...

 

Really look forward to seeing mock-ups with Red incorporated.  I think they could keep all 4 colors and do a modest update to their existing set, but elevated by an update to fonts, helmet finish/striping, and subtle addition of Red.

As @FiddySicks mentioned, TCU has done some of this (sometimes well, sometimes not).   These examples don't nail it, but start to give you an idea of how a little Red can mix well with Purple & Black.  The trick is keeping Gold in there and after looking up these images, I think you have to:

 

 

 

 

[sky1324]

I'd much rather the Ravens keep purple/black/gold than drop the gold and add red. I think those TCU unis are terrible and I think what Baltimore has now is a unique and recognizable color scheme. My preference would be to drop red full-time (including the awful flag logos) but if they were to add red, I'd want purple/gold/red. No team needs four colors.

[Chawls]

Are the Texans getting new unis in 2023? I’m still not clear on that. 

[DCarp1231]

1 minute ago, Chawls said:

Are the Texans getting new unis in 2023? I’m still not clear on that. 

A new alt jersey presumably for 2023.

 

Entirely new uniform set likely in 2024. ‘25 at the latest.

[8BW14]

The Texans are going to eff up their uniforms soooo hard. What they wear now is a very solid uniform with a great logo. I’ll never understand the powder blue/red circle jerk. THEY ARE NOT THE OILERS!!! The worst thing is that once they change, they will probably never go back.

Literally the only thing I would change about their uniforms would be the pants stripe:

white w/red tapered stripe(for the blue jerseys)

white w/blue tapered stripe (for red and white jerseys)

blue w/red tapered stripe (all three jerseys really)

*and they always need to wear red socks with blue pants.

 

[MJWalker45]

12 minutes ago, 8BW14 said:

The Texans are going to eff up their uniforms soooo hard.what they wear now is a very solid uniform with a great logo. I’ll never understand the powder blue/red circle jerk. THEY ARE NOT THE OILERS!!! The works thing is that once they change, they will probably never go back.

If the Titans had kept the old Oilers look, while using their current designs I think the fan base would have less to talk about. But since the Titans are a predominantly navy blue team now, Houston fans stuck in nostalgia want the Texans to take the colors. I'd almost rather they go the city of Pittsburgh route and copy the Astros than try to look like a revamped Oilers team. And just to be clear, I don't want that. But now I may just have to mockup a design based on it. 

[HopewellJones]

32 minutes ago, 8BW14 said:

The Texans are going to eff up their uniforms soooo hard.what they wear now is a very solid uniform with a great logo. I’ll never understand the powder blue/red circle jerk. THEY ARE NOT THE OILERS!!! The works thing is that once they change, they will probably never go back.

Literally the only thing I would change about their uniforms would be the pants stripe:

white w/red tapered stripe(for the blue jerseys)

white w/blue tapered stripe (for red and white jerseys)

blue w/red tapered stripe (all three jerseys really)

*and they always need to wear red socks with blue pants.

 

Powder/Red is simply a better color scheme than Navy/Red. Don't care about history.