The Giants are one of the many NFL teams unveiling new uniforms ahead of the 2024 NFL season.
It won’t be New York’s primary uniforms that change. Instead, the team is breaking out a throwback jersey to celebrate its 100th season in the NFL.
The design of the throwbacks is simple. The Giants took pieces from several uniforms from their early days in the league and created a mashup.
The result? The new uniforms aren’t exactly fan favorites. They have been compared with animus to the Steelers’ well-known “Bumble Bee” jerseys.
Here’s what to know about the Giants’ “Century Red” uniforms, what they look like and how they were made.
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Giants new uniforms, explained
The Giants unveiled their new “Century Red” uniforms Thursday as they prepare to celebrate their 100th NFL season. New York can wear the uniforms up to two times during the 2024 NFL season.
Below is a look at the uniform, per the Giants’ official X account:
Introducing 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒅
Our 100th Season commemorative uniform will be worn up to two times this year pic.twitter.com/E0aArfsaOW
— New York Giants (@Giants) May 16, 2024
Inspired by our history, built for today pic.twitter.com/wt8THJky3k
— New York Giants (@Giants) May 16, 2024
The uniforms are an amalgamation of three different uniforms from New York’s history, per the team. The jersey itself is modeled after the Giants’ 1933 uniforms. The pants and socks come from their 1925 uniforms, while the helmet is based on the one the team wore in 1938.
The Giants provided an image of the old helmet compared to the new one. The original was a single-strap, leatherhead-style helmet with no facemask, which differs starkly from the current headgear. The only similarity is the striped blue and red appearance of the helmet.
Then → Now pic.twitter.com/QyiKnZsHfv
— New York Giants (@Giants) May 16, 2024
The throwbacks were met with strong reactions from fans, who largely disapproved. Why? Despite their homage to past New York uniforms, many felt the Giants’ uniforms were too similar to some other professional sports franchises.
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Giants uniforms elicit Montreal Canadiens, Michigan football comparisons
Notably, the Giants’ new threads drew comparisons to the Montreal Canadiens and Michigan Wolverines.
The Canadiens’ resemblance stemmed largely from the Giants’ jerseys, which many thought looked like hockey uniforms. That prompted jokes from many across the sports media landscape on social media.
Montreal Canadiens called New York Giants and demanded their uniforms back. pic.twitter.com/VAGHeIzI7b
— Woody Paige (@woodypaige) May 16, 2024
The Montreal Canadiens called. They want their uniforms back. https://t.co/7RZYopfOVb
— Pat Fitzmaurice (@Fitz_FF) May 16, 2024
NYG are honoring the Montreal Canadiens.
FINALLY. pic.twitter.com/m1A70U5dK2— Dave Dameshek (@Dameshek) May 16, 2024
Throwing it back to the 1932 Montreal Canadiens.https://t.co/c8cbfFQoxM pic.twitter.com/Lxcuj5ERNs
— dafoomie (@dafoomie) May 16, 2024
Montreal Canadiens vibes https://t.co/xibNleifmP
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) May 16, 2024
The Montreal Canadiens seeing this pic.twitter.com/mG5nY2BAxb
— BetRivers Sportsbook (@BetRivers) May 16, 2024
While the jersey had Canadiens vibes, the helmet looked a lot like Michigan’s iconic headpiece. This is thanks to the old-school Giants helmet having red cuts interwoven with the blue helmet on their initial leather headgear.
That style of helmet was en vogue in 1938, so the Giants didn’t simply steal the idea from the Wolverines. Even so, NFL fans enjoyed ribbing the Giants and implying they had copied Michigan.
The Michigan Football Giants. pic.twitter.com/UOcxGBnZjw
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) May 16, 2024
Evidently, Michigan consummated the relationship with the Steelers’ throwbacks. pic.twitter.com/Lmp8zGJekS
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 16, 2024
Oh my god and it has the Michigan style winged helmet this is the worst jersey ever made in any professional sport in history https://t.co/zxxkmvOYTm
— Gene Ross (@Gene_Ross23) May 16, 2024
Isn’t that just the Michigan helmet but red? https://t.co/KRiUnjmEei
— Alex Gardner (@AlexRGardner) May 16, 2024
The Giants took Michigan’s helmet, slapped it on top of the Montreal Alouettes jerseys, and touched it up using Microsoft Paint
Yes that is Johnny Manziel pic.twitter.com/1cXMMorJXe
— Philly Fly (@thephillyfly) May 16, 2024
The Giants’ throwbacks weren’t particularly well-received by fans because of these comparisons. Many believed they lacked originality despite the jerseys, helmets, pants and socks paying tribute to uniforms previously worn by the team.
Perhaps New York should have used their Bill Parcells-era Giants uniforms to honor their 100th anniversary.
But if the Giants can find success in the “Century Red” uniforms, maybe fans will change their tune as the team looks to get back on track in 2024.
