15. Denver Broncos (1997 to 2000)
Nike got their feet wet in the NFL market back in the mid 1990’s. One of the teams they sponsored were the Denver Broncos. Before the 1997 NFL season, they were known for having mediocre uniforms with a very weird color scheme. Nike gave them a very quick makeover, giving them uniforms that matched their swagger.
Denver got a makeover led by a relatively new concept. They already had a navy blue and orange color scheme, but never properly utilized it. Nike added orange stripes to the uniform, giving them a lot of flair with sharp edges. When they debuted the jersey, they looked like something from the future. But man did they look good. Denver’s uniforms turned out to be one of the most famous jerseys in the NFL.
The Broncos primary jersey hasn’t changed much since the 1997 makeover. Can you blame them? Their jerseys are terrific and it has only seen the most subtle of changes since its introduction. Of course, having John Elway, Shannon Sharpe, and Terrell Davis lead the Broncos to back-to-back Super bowl titles helped their exposure.
When you look at today’s NFL jerseys, it’s obvious they are inspired by the 1997 Broncos change. There are more stripes and other unique decals in jerseys than in the past. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. If this is true, the Broncos should be proud of their jersey. Perhaps their success with Denver’s jerseys is what got Nike back in the business, taking over for Reebok after the 2011 season.
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