When Nike became the official outfitter for the NFL, the possibilities were intriguing.
The reality has been less than that.
Apart from the Steve Grogan neck roll look that has been grafted onto many teams’ jerseys and the more-distracting-than-tinsel “flywire” at the front of the neck, Nike has fashioned for the Steelers a throwback uniform that ranks among the worst ever fashioned for any NFL team.
On Sunday, the Steelers will break out a look that looks like they broke out of prison. Sure, they’re the same shirts worn in 1934, when the Steelers were known as the Pirates. But it doesn’t mean they should be worn again.
But worn they’ll be on Sunday against the Redskins. The good news is they won’t be accompanied by the yellow helmets from past throwback outfits. The bad news is that the helmets won’t be noticed, thanks to the jerseys.