Kansas City Chiefs Uniform History
Posted by JerseyZenith on Oct 25th 2026
- The Texans of 1960 wore red and gold after Columbia blue and orange were dropped.
- The arrowhead helmet logo replaced the Texas design when the team moved in 1963.
- The first all-red combination came on September 15, 2013.
- The Chiefs have no official alternate, and throwbacks were worn only in 2009.
This guide covers the Chiefs' uniform history from 1960 to 2026, mostly from Wikipedia's logos and uniforms section. It does not cover every minor change.
Kansas City Chiefs uniform timeline
| Year | What changed | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Dallas Texans: red and gold; Texas-shaped helmet logo; grey facemasks | Columbia blue and orange were the first choice but dropped |
| 1963 | Move to Kansas City; the arrowhead replaces the Texas logo | The icon that defines the team |
| 1960–1967 | White pants with both jerseys | The original look |
| 1974 | Facemasks change from grey to white | A small update |
| 1989–1999 | White pants again with both jerseys | A return to white |
| 2006 | First white-on-white, in the opener against Cincinnati | A forecast-driven choice |
| 2007–2008 | Lamar Hunt and AFL patch added, permanent in 2008 | Honors the founder |
| 2009 | AFL 50th throwbacks; road pants alternate white and red | Only throwback season |
| 2013 | First all-red combination, September 15 against Dallas | Now an official look |
The Texans and the arrowhead (1960–1973)
The team started in 1960 as the Dallas Texans. Lamar Hunt first wanted Columbia blue and orange, but Bud Adams claimed Columbia blue for the Oilers, so Hunt went back to red and gold. The Texans' logo was the state of Texas in white with a yellow star for Dallas. The helmets had grey facemasks, and the team wore white pants with both jerseys through 1967.
When the team moved to Kansas City in 1963, it kept its red helmets and swapped the Texas design for a white arrowhead with a "KC" inside. Hunt sketched the arrowhead on a napkin, and the interlocking letters were inspired by the 49ers' "SF" oval. Facemasks became white in 1974.
A look that hardly changes (1974–2008)
The Chiefs' design stayed nearly the same for decades; Wikipedia counts four minor changes in total. White pants went with both jerseys again from 1989 to 1999. In the 2006 season opener, Kansas City wore white on white against the Bengals, who were forecast to wear black in hot weather. In 2007 the team added a patch honoring Lamar Hunt and the AFL, and it became permanent on both jerseys in 2008.
The red-on-red era (2009 to now)
In 2009, for the AFL's 50th anniversary, the team wore throwback uniforms in select games, and road pants alternated between white and red from then on. On September 15, 2013, Kansas City wore red jerseys with red pants for the first time, in the home opener against Dallas. It is now an official combination, often used in prime time, and inspired the Color Rush design. White-on-white has appeared only on occasion, including a Sunday-night game at Seattle on October 25, 2026, according to a secondary source.
The Chiefs have no official alternate jersey, and their president has said the bar to add one is high. For what to buy today, see Kansas City Chiefs jerseys 2026.
Looks you can wear today
We do not have a Chiefs throwback page, since the team has no official throwback. Shop the red home jersey and the white away jersey for the classic look. For the numbers behind each era, read the Kansas City Chiefs jersey numbers guide. Nike has made the NFL's uniforms since 2012, which is why the modern looks above share a template.
Chiefs uniform history FAQ
Why did the Chiefs have a Texas logo?
The team began as the Dallas Texans in 1960; the helmet logo was the state of Texas with a star for Dallas.
When did the Chiefs switch to the arrowhead?
In 1963, when the team moved to Kansas City.
When did the Chiefs first wear all red?
September 15, 2013, in the home opener against the Cowboys.
Do the Chiefs have throwback jerseys?
Only in 2009, for the AFL's 50th anniversary. The team has no official alternate.
What color pants do the Chiefs wear?
White or red; road pants alternate between the two since 2009.