Scanning Paul Brown Stadium on Sundays, the Cincinnati Bengals organization noticed how popular its color rush jerseys were.
There were a number of those all-white uniforms with prominent stripes on the shoulders and the pants in the stands. Jersey sales gave the Bengals the same feedback.
So when the Bengals changed uniforms for the first time in 17 years, they built on what was most popular with the fanbase.
On Monday morning at Paul Brown Stadium, the Bengals unveiled their three new uniforms for the 2021 season. The new look features no color blocks around the uniforms – a throwback to old Bengals jerseys – in addition to bold stripes on the shoulders.
“There was a two to three year process,” Bengals director of strategy and engagement Elizabeth Blackburn said. “We went through working with Nike to get from our current uniforms and our color rush uniforms, which was kind of the starting point for the new design, all the way through to the new stripes, new uniforms you saw today.”
Blackburn said the franchise wanted the new uniforms to be “clean, sleek and iconic.” The design includes a unique number font and a traditional side panel with a stripes design.
One of the franchise’s tag-lines for the 2021 season is “New Stripes,” and those stripes appear on the shoulders and the pants.
“These uniforms excite me,” quarterback Joe Burrow said. “I think the fans will like them and they’ll be good for us. The guys that are here are the kind of people that are going to take this organization to where we want to go. We’re the future. It’s going to be a fun ride.”
“We’re really excited about this. It’s going to bring a lot of energy to us and the fan base,” defensive end Sam Hubbard said. “This symbolizes a fresh start where we can go out and accomplish what we want to accomplish.”
The uniforms also feature Paul Brown’s signature on the inside of the collar. The founder of the Bengals was recently named one of the inaugural members of the new Ring of Honor, and the signature inside the jerseys is another connection to the franchise’s history.
“We have a great past,” Blackburn said. “Paul Brown’s signature staying in our uniforms is remembering the past and setting the bar of high standards that he achieved.”
On Monday, the Bengals showed an all-white version, an all-black version and an orange uniform with white pants. At the uniform release, there were jerseys of running back Joe Mixon, safety Jessie Bates III, Hubbard and Burrow.
Since the Bengals don’t have a second alternate jersey, they will have the opportunity to add a fourth uniform in the future, potentially a throwback.
“That is a possibility and we are aware of the possibility and might explore it in the future.” Blackburn said.
The Bengals’ black jersey will be their home uniform, the white is their away uniform and the orange is their alternate. But the team will have the opportunity to wear different combinations over the course of the season.
“I think it’s fierce,” Blackburn said. “It’s meant to be fierce and intimidating, and we want our guys when they wear it to feel that way.”
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