The Kansas City Chiefs away jersey is white in color. The Chiefs have worn white jerseys for away games throughout most of their history, with some exceptions.
Quick Answer
The quick answer is that the Chiefs away jersey is white. This has been the standard away jersey color for the team, with only occasional exceptions, since the franchise was established in 1960.
Kansas City Chiefs Team History
The Chiefs franchise was originally known as the Dallas Texans when it began play in the American Football League (AFL) in 1960. The team wore red jerseys at home and white jerseys on the road. In 1963, the team relocated to Kansas City and changed its name to the Chiefs.
The Chiefs have worn red at home and white on the road ever since, with only minor changes to the uniform design over the decades. In the early 2000s, the Chiefs debuted an alternate red jersey that was worn for some away games. But the primary away jersey has remained white.
Here is a brief history of the Chiefs’ jersey colors by decade:
1960s
- Home: Red jersey, white pants
- Away: White jersey, red pants
1970s-1990s
- Home: Red jersey, white pants
- Away: White jersey, red pants
2000s
- Home: Red jersey, white pants
- Away: White jersey, red pants (primary)
- Alternate Away: Red jersey, white pants
2010s-Present
- Home: Red jersey, white pants
- Away: White jersey, red pants
So for the majority of Chiefs history, the away uniform has been a white jersey with red pants, with only occasional use of an alternate red jersey on the road.
Current Chiefs Away Uniform
The current Chiefs away uniform, worn since 2021, consists of:
- White jersey with red numbering/lettering
- Red pants
- White socks
The white Chiefs jersey has red trim around the sleeves and collar. The player’s number is in red with a yellow outline, while the player’s name on the back of the jersey is in red.
The helmet is red with a white arrowhead logo outlined in black. This is the same helmet worn for home games.
So in summary, the current Kansas City Chiefs away uniform uses a white jersey, which has been the franchise’s primary road jersey color throughout its history.
Notable Exceptions
While white jerseys have almost always been used for the Chiefs away uniform, there have been some exceptions:
- 1968 – Chiefs wore red jerseys during the away game vs New York Jets in the AFL divisional playoffs.
- 1991 – For a Monday Night Football game vs the Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs wore red jerseys paired with white pants.
- 2002-2009 – The Chiefs introduced an alternate red jersey worn for some away games.
However, these exceptions were irregular occurrences, not permanent uniform changes. The primary away jersey has remained white.
Why White Jerseys for Away Teams?
Wearing white jerseys for away games is a longstanding tradition in football at all levels. Here are some popular theories on why away teams wear white jerseys:
- White jerseys reflect heat better under sunny conditions. This could help away teams play in hot weather.
- White provides contrast against field colors so players stand out. This may help quarterbacks locate receivers.
- It follows tradition and allows home team to wear colored jerseys that fans identify with.
So wearing white jerseys on the road likely emerged partly for practical reasons and partly due to tradition. But the Chiefs have followed the away whites custom almost exclusively throughout their history.
Do Other NFL Teams Follow this Custom?
All NFL teams adhere to the tradition of wearing colored jerseys at home and white on the road. A few exceptions:
- The Dallas Cowboys opt for white jerseys at home to match their iconic white helmets.
- The Miami Dolphins have worn white at home at times to help with heat.
- Teams occasionally wear alternate colored jerseys on the road.
But while the Cowboys are a notable exception, white away jerseys remain the norm throughout the NFL, just as with the Chiefs.
Conclusion
To summarize, the Kansas City Chiefs away jersey is white in color, which follows the team’s historical tradition of wearing white on the road. This aligns with the common NFL practice of home teams using colored jerseys while away teams wear white. While there have been isolated exceptions, the Chiefs franchise has overwhelmingly opted for white as the primary away jersey color throughout its history in both the AFL and NFL. So for Chiefs fans wondering what color to look for when the team is on the road, the answer is white.
| Decade | Chiefs Home Jersey | Chiefs Away Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | Red jersey, white pants | White jersey, red pants |
| 1970s-1990s | Red jersey, white pants | White jersey, red pants |
| 2000s | Red jersey, white pants | White jersey, red pants (primary) Alternate Away: Red jersey, white pants |
| 2010s-Present | Red jersey, white pants | White jersey, red pants |
| Element | Current Chiefs Away Uniform |
|---|---|
| Jersey | White with red numbering/lettering |
| Pants | Red |
| Socks | White |
| Helmet | Red with white arrowhead logo |
