The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the most iconic franchises in the NFL, known for their vibrant red home jerseys. However, the team has occasionally worn alternate black jerseys over the years. Here is a look at the history of the Chiefs black jerseys.
The Origins of the Black Jersey
The Chiefs first wore a black jersey in a game during the 1998 season under coach Marty Schottenheimer. The black jersey featured red lettering and trim and was worn with white pants. It gave the team a very different look from the traditional red jerseys.
The black jersey was only utilized for a couple of games that season before being shelved. It wouldn’t be brought back out again until over a decade later when Todd Haley became coach in 2009.
The Black Jersey Returns
In 2009, the Chiefs bewildered fans when they took the field wearing black jerseys for a home game against the Dallas Cowboys. This updated version had black letters with red trim and was worn with white pants.
The team started wearing the black jerseys for select games in 2009 and 2010. Then in 2011, the Chiefs wore the black jersey for their home opener on 9/11 against the Buffalo Bills to honor the anniversary.
The Blackout Jersey Era
In 2013, new Chiefs coach Andy Reid decided to make the black jerseys a regular part of the Chiefs uniform rotation. The team designated them as their “Blackout” alternates and wore them for a home game each season.
From 2013 to 2019, the Chiefs wore the black jerseys in one home game per season, usually for a night game where they encouraged fans to wear black as well. This created a “Blackout” atmosphere at Arrowhead Stadium.
| Year | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Oakland Raiders | Win 24-7 |
| 2014 | New England Patriots | Loss 41-14 |
| 2015 | Detroit Lions | Win 45-10 |
| 2016 | Tennessee Titans | Win 19-17 |
| 2017 | Denver Broncos | Win 29-19 |
| 2018 | Baltimore Ravens | Win 27-24 |
| 2019 | Indianapolis Colts | Loss 19-13 |
The black jerseys became associated with some of the Chiefs’ biggest home games during this era. The crowd loved the unique look and amped up atmosphere.
A New Black Jersey Design
In 2020, the Chiefs unveiled a brand new black alternate jersey design. This one featured a distressed black jersey with red numbering. It also had matching black pants instead of white.
The Chiefs wore this updated black uniform combo for two home games during the 2020 season. Fans responded positively to the edgier look.
The Future of the Black Jersey
Currently, it is unclear if the Chiefs plan to continue using black alternate jerseys moving forward. The NFL has relaxed restrictions on alternate uniforms, so the team could potentially wear them more often.
Based on the fan response, it seems likely that some version of a black jersey will remain part of the Chiefs uniform rotation. The black jersey has become a tradition for “Blackout” games at Arrowhead.
While the classic red home jersey will always be the Chiefs’ primary look, the black jersey adds some nice variety. It also looks great under the lights at night games. Expect to continue seeing the Chiefs in black every so often as the franchise embraces the alternate jersey’s popularity.
Conclusion
In summary, while not an every year occurrence, the Kansas City Chiefs have worn black alternate jerseys periodically since 1998. The black jersey went through a few designs before becoming a yearly “Blackout” tradition under Andy Reid from 2013 to 2019.
The Chiefs introduced a new black jersey in 2020 that was edgier and better received. It seems likely some form of black jersey will remain in the team’s uniform rotation for big games in the future.
So while not an every week look, the Chiefs black jersey has an interesting history and adds excitement when utilized. It has given fans memorable “Blackout” moments at Arrowhead Stadium. The black jersey has become a unique part of Chiefs lore over the past two decades.
In the early days of the franchise, black jerseys were not part of the Chiefs uniform lineup. But coaches like Marty Schottenheimer, Todd Haley, and Andy Reid have embraced the alternate black jersey more in recent eras. The black jersey is now a tradition that Chiefs Kingdom associates with the team’s identity.
While loud and proud in their classic red, the Chiefs have shown they can pull off black pretty well too. Don’t be surprised if you see Kansas City break out those sleek black uniforms under the lights at home games in the future as they look to build their legend while putting a new spin on tradition.
