The Gridiron Uniform Database

By Tim Brulia

Chronology of NFL Game Officials Uniforms (1920-present)

1920: Cap (Optional): White flat cap or newsboy cap. Also, black flat/newsboy cap worn on occasion. Shirt: White cotton dress shirt with black bow tie. Pants: Plain white knickers. Also, plain white full length pants worn on occasion. Black belt worn with both styles. Socks: Black, no sanitary socks worn. Notes: 1) Officials supplied their own uniforms. This resulted in variances in styles and patterns of the caps, shirts, pants and socks throughout this era (1930-1940). 2) For very cold games, snap buttoned “varsity”-style jacket worn. Color either red or blue (undetermined). On back of jacket “N.F.L.” in tall white serifed arched lettering. Jackets supplied by the NFL.

1941: Cap (Optional): White baseball cap or white flat/newsboy cap. Shirt: Referee: Semi zippered front with black collar and cuffs. Thick black and white vertical stripes on torso and sleeves. Red block number on back. Umpire: Semi zippered front with black collar and cuffs. Thick red and white vertical stripes on torso and sleeves. Black block number on back. Head linesman: Semi zippered front with black collar and cuffs. Thick orange and white vertical stripes on torso and sleeves. Black block number with white outline on back. Field Judge: Semi zippered front with black collar and cuffs. Thick green and white vertical stripes on torso and sleeves. Black block number with white outline on back. Pants: Plain white knickers. Black belt. Socks: Referee: Black with two white stripes. Umpire: Black with two red stripes. Head linesman: Black with two orange stripes. Field Judge: Black with two green stripes. White sanitary socks worn over stirrups. Note: For very cold weather, “mackinaw-length” coat corresponding to design, colors and number could be optionally worn.

1947: Cap (now mandatory): White baseball cap. Shirt: semi-zippered front with black collar and white cuffs with thin black edge. Medium black and white vertical stripes on torso and sleeves. Tiny NFL shield worn on left breast and either flanking one white stripe and one black stripe or entirely within black stripe. Red block numbers on back. Pants: Plain white knickers. Black belt worn. Socks: Black with two white stripes.

1960: Cap: White baseball cap. Shirt: semi-zippered front with black collar, and white cuffs with thin black at edge. Thick black and white vertical stripes on torso and sleeves. Black rectangle on back with white NCAA font numbers inside the “box.” Pants: Plain white knickers. Black belt worn. Socks: Black with two white stripes. White sanitary socks worn, with stirrups exposed (white sanitary socks worn over stirrups if official wore high top cleats instead of low cut cleats). Note: Clear “slicker” could be optionally worn for rainy games.

1964: Optional short-sleeve shirt with same design as long sleeve shirt except for a very thin black cuff worn for very warm/hot weather games.

c.1968: Shirt: Cuffs on long-sleeve shirt now all black. “Recycled” white/black cuff shirt may still be worn by some officials possibly into the 1970's.

1969 only: Shirt: 50/NFL patch worn on left sleeve with a very thin white border.

1979: Cap: Referee only: Black baseball cap with a white soutache stripe dividing each cap panel. All other officials: White baseball cap. Shirt: (Both long sleeve and short sleeve) semi-zippered front with black collar and black cuffs. Thick vertical black and white torso and sleeve stripes. A small black swatch on left breast with abbreviated position and number in white inside the swatch (Position key: R = referee, U = umpire, HL = Head linesman, FJ = Field Judge, LJ = Line judge, SJ = Side Judge, BJ = back Judge), example: HL 14. Black nameplate on upper back with position in white sans serif letters (same as position in key except for Head linesman whose nameplate was listed as “LINESMAN”), below nameplate was black square with white NCAA font numerals inside the square. Officials now numbered by position as opposed to a general “pool” roster of officials. Pants: Plain white knickers. Black belt worn. Socks: Black with two white stripes. White sanitary socks with stirrups exposed. Note: Clear slicker no longer allowed to be worn for rainy games.

1982: Cap, Pants, Socks: Same as 1979. Shirt: Black “swatch” on left breast enlarged a bit. Abbreviated position placed above number. In essence the “swatch” also acts as a shirt pocket. Example: HL 14 Black nameplate now showed position abbreviation in larger lettering instead of name of position. Black square returns to black rectangle shape and is now larger as on 1960-1978 shirts to reflect a return to a pool roster as opposed to a position roster used from 1979-1981.

1982 only: Shirt: Black memorial armband held in place by white elastic band with white circle and “11” (for Vince Jacob) in black inside circle top-serifed font worn on left sleeve from 12/26 through end of season.

1985: Cap, Shirt, Pants: Same as 1979. Socks: Black with two white stripes. Stripes were slightly larger. White sanitary socks worn over stirrups.

1986: Cap, Pants, Socks: Same as 1979. Shirt: Variation on back numeral font. Some officials wearing block numerals instead of NCAA font. Both styles used concurrently.

1988: Cap: Referee only: White baseball cap. All other officials: Black baseball cap with a white soutache stripe dividing each cap panel. Shirt, Pants, Socks: No change

1990 only: Shirt: Black armband with white block “60” (for Dick Jorgensen) worn on left sleeve, held in place by white elastic band. Worn from 10/14 through end of season. Cap, Pants, Socks: No change.

1991: Shirt: Tiny NFL patch with very thin white outline worn on right breast, fully inside black stripe. All officials now wearing block numerals on back. Swatch on left breast listing position abbreviation and number in block font. Cap, Pants, Socks: No change.

1991 only: Shirt: Black armband with white block “14” (for Gene Barth) worn on left sleeve, held in place by white elastic band, from 10/13 through end of season.

1992: Shirt: NFL patch on right breast enlarged very slightly so that white outline met outer edge of black stripe. Cap, Pants, Socks: No change.

1994 only: Cap (worn for throwback games): White flat cap with NFL 75th season patch on back worn by all officials. Regular baseball caps worn all other weeks. Shirt: NFL 75th season patch worn on right breast in place of small NFL shield. Black Dave Hamilton memorial armband with white block “42” worn on left sleeve, held in place by white elastic band for Conference Championships, Super Bowl XXIX and the Pro Bowl. Pants, Socks: No change.

1995: Cap: Small Logo Athletic vector on center rear of white cap, right-center rear of black cap. Shirt: NFL shield returned to right breast. Pants, Socks: No change.

1998: Cap: Small NFL shield on center rear of white cap, right-center rear of black cap.

2001: Cap: NFL shield on caps smaller in size. Shirt: US flag patch added to front of shirt and placed above NFL Shield on right breast. Worn from 9/23 through end of season.

2002: Shirt: US Flag worn in 2001 becomes a permanent feature.

2003: Shirt: US Flag patch repositioned above position/number swatch on left breast.

2005: Cap: NFL shield remains on front of cap as worn for Super Bowl XXXIX. However, shield is slightly smaller. Also, white soutache stripe between front two panels is removed from black caps. Small NFL shield on rear of caps is removed.

2006: Cap: NFL shield slightly larger on cap front. Referee cap is white. All other officials' caps are black with white soutache stripe separating cap panels except for front two panels. Shirt: Black zippered collar (always zipped up) and thin black cuff (short sleeves) or thicker black cuff (long sleeves). Thin black and medium white vertical torso stripes and black side panels. Outer Black stripes flare thicker to meet raglan sleeve cut at shoulder blades. Black sleeves with a medium/thick white stripe that starts at neck side and extends length of sleeve. Black shirt pocket on left breast with small NFL shield outlined in white. Small position abbreviation with small number on back in black semi-block font inside white rectangular area on back. On left sleeve, small white rectangle with small black number in semi-rounded font. Small NFL shield on center black stripe at nape of neck below black collar. Pants: Plain white knickered pants with white belt worn with short sleeved shirts. Black long pants with medium white side stripe with black belt worn with long sleeved shirts. Socks: Black with two medium white stripes. White sanitary socks. Worn with white knickered pants. Socks not exposed when worn with long black pants.

Exception in 2006: One game featured officials in short-sleeve shirt/black long pants combo.

2008: Pants: Medium black side stripe added to white pants.

2009 (AFL Legacy games only): Cap: Referee: Orange baseball cap with thick black soutache stripes separating panels. AFL logo (without circle) on front. All other positions: White baseball cap with thick orange soutache stripes separating panels. AFL logo (without circle) on front. Shirt: (Short sleeve and long sleeve) Black collar and black cuffs. Medium orange/thin white vertical stripes on torso and sleeves. AFL logo (without circle) outlined in white on left breast centered on thin stripe and flanking medium orange stripes. Small AFL logo (without circle) outlined in white on left sleeve. Large back orange block numbers outlined in white. Pants: Plain white knickered pants with black belt. Socks: White with thick black stripe.

2012: Shirt abbreviation removed for preseason and first three weeks of regular season due to replacement officials working games. Pants: White knickered pants no longer worn. Caps: No change. Socks: No longer exposed due to long black pants being worn full-time.

Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II: (1966 and 1967 seasons) Cap: White baseball cap with black button, black visor and black soutache stripe separating each panel. Shirt: Short sleeved with black zippered collar and thin black cuff. Thick black and white vertical torso stripes. Black sleeves with small NCAA font white numbers on both sleeves. Pants: White knickered pants with micro thin black side stripe and black belt. Socks: Black with two medium white stripes. White sanitary socks with low stirrups exposed.

Super Bowl XXXI: (1996 season) Shirt: Pete Rozelle commemorative patch worn on right breast in place of NFL shield for SB game. Patch consisted of white script "Pete" outlined in black superimposed over NFL shield.

Super Bowl XXXIII: (1998 season) Shirt: Super Bowl XXXIII logo patch worn in place of NFL shield : on right breast for SB game.

Super Bowl XXXIV: (1999 season) Shirt: Super Bowl XXXIV logo patch worn in place of NFL Shield on right breast for SB game.

Super Bowl XXXV: (2000 season) Shirt: Super Bowl XXXV logo patch worn in place of NFL Shield on right breast for SB game.

Super Bowl XXXVI: (2001 season) Shirt: Super Bowl XXXVI logo patch worn above position/number swatches on left breast for SB game.

Super Bowl XXXVIII: (2003 season) Cap: Small SB XXXVIII patch worn on right side of cap for SB game. Shirt: Super Bowl XXXVIII logo patch worn below NFL shield on right breast for SB game.

Super Bowl XXXIX: (2004 season) Cap: NFL shield added to front of cap for Super Bowl XXXIX. Small SB XXXIX patch worn on right side of cap. Shirt: Super Bowl XXXIX logo patch worn above NFL shield on right breast for SB game.

Super Bowl XL: (2005 season) Cap: Super Bowl XL logo patch worn on left side of cap. Shirt: Super Bowl XL logo patch worn above NFL shield on right breast for SB game.

Super Bowl XLI: (2006 season) Cap: Super Bowl XLI logo patch worn on right side of cap. Shirt: Super Bowl XLI logo patch worn on right breast over thin flared black stripe.

Super Bowl XLII: (2007 season) Cap: Super Bowl XLII logo patch worn on right side of cap. Shirt: Super Bowl XLII logo patch worn on right breast over thin flared black stripe.

Super Bowl XLIII: (2008 season) Cap: Super Bowl XLIII logo patch worn or right aide of cap. Shirt: Super Bowl XLIII logo patch worn on right breast over white stripe between black side stripe and thin flared black stripe.

Super Bowl XLIV: (2009 season) Cap: Super Bowl XLIV logo patch worn or right aide of cap. Shirt: Super Bowl XLIV logo patch worn on right breast over white stripe between black side stripe and thin flared black stripe.

Super Bowl XLV: (2010 season) Cap: Super Bowl XLV logo patch worn or right aide of cap. Shirt: Super Bowl XLV logo patch worn on right breast over white stripe between black side stripe and thin flared black stripe.

AFL
1960 Cap: Referee: Black baseball cap with orange soutache stripe separating panels. White “A” as pn AFL logo on front of cap. All other officials: White baseball cap with orange soutache stripe separating panels. Black “A” as on AFL logo on front of cap. Shirt: (short-sleeve and long-sleeve same) Black collar and cuffs. Medium orange and thin white vertical stripes on torso and sleeves. AFL logo without circle and with white outline positioned on left breast. Small AFL logo (without circle) with white outline on left sleeve. Large block black numbers on back with white outline. Pants: Plain white knickered pants with black belt. Socks: Black. White sanitary socks covering black stirrups.

1961 Cap: Referee: Black baseball cap with orange soutache stripe separating panels. AFL logo without circle on front of cap outlined in white. All other officials: White baseball cap with orange soutache stripe separating panels. AFL logo white out circle on front of cap. Shirt: (short-sleeve and long-sleeve same) Black collar and cuffs. Medium orange and thin white vertical stripes on torso and sleeves. AFL logo without circle and with white outline positioned on left breast. Pants: Plain white knickered pants with black belt. Socks: Black with two thin orange stripes. White sanitary socks covering black stirrups. Note: No numbers on shirt.

1965 Cap: Referee: Black baseball cap with red soutache stripe separating panels except for front with uncircled AFL logo on front outlined in white. All other officials: Red baseball cap with black sotache stripe separating panels except for front with uncircled AFL logo on front outlined in white. Shirt (short sleeve and long sleeve same): Black zippered collar and cuffs. Medium red and thin white vertical stripes on torso and sleeves. Uncircled AFL logo with white outline positioned on left breast over red stripe. Large white rectangle on back with black block numbers inside of rectangle. Very small AFL logo with thin white outline on upper left sleeve and very small numbers in black on upper right sleeve. Pants: Plain white knickers with black belt. Socks: Black with two thin red stripes. White sanitary socks covering black stirrups.

1968 and 1969 Same as NFL officials, except no 50?NFL patch as worn by NFL officials in 1969.

AAFC
1946 Cap (Optional): White baseball cap or white newsboy cap. Shirt: Thin black and white stripes or thin red and white vertical stripes (both used) on torso and sleeves, horizontal stripes on shoulder yoke. Black and white or red and white collar and cuffs. Shirt with full front buttons. Large block number on back in red with thin white outline (black and white striped shirt) or large block number on back in black with think white outline (red and white striped shirt). Pants: Plain white knickers with black belt. Socks: Black with two think red stripes. White sanitary socks covering stirrups.

1949 Cap (now mandatory): White baseball cap. Shirt and Pants: No change. Socks: Black. White sanitary socks covering stirrups.