When the NFL switched their uniform to Nike and the Seahawks became the first team to undergo a major aesthetic face lift, then team president Peter McLoughlin spoke openly about plans to include a throwback uniform. In fact his exact words at the time were “we’re talking about a throwback for sure.”
So what happened?
Most likely the whole idea was crushed by a combination of new NFL rules and a fan vote that went a different way.
Back in 2002, in the midst of their first big uniform style change, the Seahawks put it to a fan vote. Stay with the grey/silver helmet color or go dark blue? By voting in favor of blue, fans may have unknowingly prevented the team from ever going to a throwback. In 2013, the NFL clarified a rule on alternate uniforms, no matter what teams chose to do with the twice-yearly alternates they’re allowed to play with, helmets could not change. It was a safety issue, they said. They didn’t want players changing out helmets that they had custom fitted and felt comfortable (and safe) in. You can change out the decals, but not the helmet itself.
Effectively, this ended any hope of the Seahawks using a full throwback. Sure, they could choose to wear the old silver pants and classic jersey, but it would clash horribly with the darker blue of the current helmets.
Maybe McLoughlin wasn’t aware of this limitation when he made those comments five years ago, or perhaps he thought there was some leeway. There wasn’t.
Whatever the case, what we got was the far-too-subtle-to-really-make-a-difference Wolf Grey pants and jersey, and the expansion era uni style will likely stay locked away forever.
unno:
