Falcons Throwback Uniforms: The 1966 Red Helmet and Every Era
Posted by JerseyZenith on Oct 25th 2026
- Falcons throwback uniforms are 1966-inspired, with a red helmet and a black jersey, and were kept for 2026.
- Atlanta Falcons uniform history began in 1966; Nike makes the modern sets.
- The first Falcons helmets in 1966 were red with a black falcon crest.
- Black helmets and silver pants arrived in 1990.
- The 1966 throwbacks were worn from 2009 to 2012 and again from 2016.
- Red returned as the home jersey on April 2, 2026.
This guide covers the main looks of the Atlanta Falcons from 1966 to 2026. It does not list every pants and sock combination.
Falcons uniform timeline
| Year | Change | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Red helmet, black or white jerseys | The first look, with gold helmet stripes |
| 1971 | Red jerseys introduced | Replaced black as the main jersey |
| 1978 | Silver pants | White jersey numbers turned red |
| 1990 | Black helmets and silver pants | A new identity |
| 2003 | New logo and uniforms | Black or white pants |
| 2004 | Red becomes the primary jersey | Black becomes the alternate |
| 2009 | 1966 throwbacks | Two home games |
| 2020 | Redesign: black home jersey | Gradient alternate until 2022 |
| 2026 | New primary uniforms; red returns | Unveiled April 2 |
The Falcons jerseys 2026 guide shows which of these looks the team wears this year.
Red helmets and black (1966 to 1989)
The Falcons began in 1966 with red helmets carrying a black falcon crest and a center black stripe flanked by gold and white stripes. According to Wikipedia those colors represented Georgia's red and black and Georgia Tech's white and gold. They wore white pants and either black or white jerseys. The team switched from black to red jerseys in 1971 and added silver pants in 1978, when the numbers on the white jersey changed from black to red. The facemask went from gray to white in 1978 and to black in 1984. In the 1980s the Falcons often wore white at home because of the heat.
Black helmets and silver pants (1990 to 2019)
In 1990 the design switched to black helmets, silver pants and either black or white jerseys. The numbers on the white jersey changed to red in 1997. In 2003 the logo was redesigned and the team introduced new uniforms with red trim down the sides and black or white pants. A red alternate jersey also appeared that year. In 2004 red became the primary jersey and black the alternate. The team wore all-black at home against the Saints for four straight years starting in 2004, then retired black pants after 2008. In 2009 the Falcons wore 1966 throwbacks for two home games and kept them through 2012, until the one-helmet rule retired them in 2013.
The 2020 redesign and the 2026 reset
In 2020 the Falcons moved to black as the primary home color for the first time since 2003. The new design added matte helmets, a larger falcon logo and gray facemasks, and a red and black gradient alternate that was dropped in 2023. In 2022 the throwback returned with the original red helmet. On April 2, 2026 the team unveiled new primary uniforms that bring red back as the home color, with silver accents on the pant striping and a silver facemask on the black low-gloss helmet.
Special uniforms
The Falcons revealed an all-red Color Rush uniform on September 13, 2016, but could not wear it until 2017 because the Buccaneers had a similar all-red set. In 2016 they also unveiled a mixed throwback set resembling their 1960s kits. From 2016 to 2021, because of the one-helmet shell rule, the throwbacks were paired with the black helmet and original logo decal. Starting in 2022, with alternate helmets allowed again, the red helmets returned.
Falcons throwbacks you can wear today
The Falcons throwback jerseys cover the 1966-inspired black look, including the Bijan Robinson throwback. For the current set, shop the home and away jerseys. The numbers the team honors are in the Falcons jersey numbers guide. Everything is in the Atlanta Falcons jerseys collection.
Falcons helmet history
The Falcons wore red helmets with a black falcon crest in 1966, with a black center stripe flanked by gold and white stripes. A prototype white helmet developed before 1974 was never worn. Black helmets arrived in 1990, and from 2016 to 2021 the throwback was paired with the black helmet and the original logo decal because of the one-shell rule. Since 2022 the throwback again uses the red helmet. The Falcons moved to matte helmets with an enlarged logo in 2020, and the April 2, 2026 set has a black low-gloss shell with a silver facemask. The Falcons helmet, Atlanta Falcons red helmet and falcons red helmets searches lead to the 1966 look.
Atlanta Falcons throwback uniforms and falcons retro uniforms were first worn in 2009 and again through 2012, then dropped until 2016. Old Atlanta Falcons uniforms and the Falcons uniform history are covered in the Falcons new uniforms guide. The full logo story is in the logo history guide. Browse the throwback jerseys and the legends jerseys. For the color codes, see the colors guide.
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Falcons uniform history FAQ
What were the first Falcons colors?
Red, black, white and gold, from 1966.
When did the Falcons switch to black helmets?
In 1990.
When did the Falcons wear black at home?
From 2020 to 2025.
What is the Falcons throwback?
A 1966-inspired uniform with a red helmet and black jersey.