New Orleans Saints Uniform History
Posted by JerseyZenith on Oct 25th 2026
- Owner John Mecom's oil company inspired the original black and gold, according to a secondary source.
- The fleur-de-lis logo was black from 1967 to 1999, then old gold in 2000.
- The 2001–2011 home set was a gold helmet, black jersey and black pants.
- Alternate helmets arrived in 2022 (black) and 2025 (white); the gold jersey returned in 2025.
This guide covers the New Orleans Saints' uniform history from 1967 to 2026, using Wikipedia, the team and SportsLogos summaries. It does not cover every minor change.
New Orleans Saints uniform timeline
| Year | What changed | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Black and gold debut; black fleur-de-lis logo | Original identity |
| 1975 | Gold pants dropped for white pants, used until 1985 (search summary) | A change to the stripes and pants |
| 2000 | Fleur-de-lis becomes old gold with a black-white-black outline | New logo |
| 2002 | Last gold jersey before 2025, against the Vikings | The gold jersey gap |
| 2001–2011 | Gold helmet, black jersey, black pants at home | The Bush and Brees era look |
| 2018 | White uniforms at home against the Eagles after a bet | A one-game look |
| 2022 | Black alternate helmet unveiled in June | Alternate helmets return |
| 2025 | White alternate helmet (July 9) and Gameday Golds jersey (July 22) | The newest looks |
| 2026 | 60th season; 60th-season patch jerseys | Franchise milestone |
The original black and gold (1967–1999)
The Saints started in 1967 with black and gold, colors one secondary source ties to owner John Mecom's oil company. Sources disagree on the first helmet: one says gold with a black fleur-de-lis, another says black with a white one, so we do not state it. The fleur-de-lis logo was black with a thin black and white outline from 1967 to 1999. Early uniforms had gold pants, and one source says the team moved to white pants in 1975 and kept them until 1985.
Old gold and the black home set (2000–2011)
In 2000 the fleur-de-lis changed to old gold with a wider black, white and black outline. A 2002 update lightened the gold and added a platinum touch. The 2001–2011 home uniform paired a gold helmet with a black jersey and black pants. The last gold jersey of that era was worn in 2002 against Minnesota.
New helmets, then gold again (2012–2026)
In 2018 the Saints wore white at home against the Eagles because Sean Payton lost a bet. In June 2022, after the NFL allowed alternate helmets again, the team unveiled a black helmet and wore it in London against the Vikings in Week 4. On July 9, 2025 the Saints revealed a white alternate helmet, and on July 22 they unveiled the "Gameday Golds" alternate: a light gold jersey with black numbers, a black helmet and black pants. It was the first gold jersey in more than 20 years, and the debut was Week 1 against Arizona. 2026 is the 60th season, and we list 60th-season patch jerseys. For what to buy today, see New Orleans Saints jerseys 2026.
Looks you can wear today
We do not have a dedicated Saints throwback page. The closest options are the gold alternate jerseys, the classic black jerseys and the home and away styles. For the numbers behind each era, read the New Orleans Saints jersey numbers guide. Nike has made the NFL's uniforms since 2012, which is why the modern looks above share a template.
Saints uniform history FAQ
When did the Saints start wearing gold jerseys?
The gold alternate jersey was unveiled July 22, 2025. Before that, the last gold jersey was in 2002.
When did the Saints add alternate helmets?
Black in June 2022, white on July 9, 2025.
What colors were the first Saints uniforms?
Black and gold, from 1967.
Do the Saints have throwback jerseys?
We found no throwback announced for 2026.
What changed in 2000?
The fleur-de-lis became old gold with a broader black, white and black outline.