NFL Jersey Patches: What Each Patch Means in 2026
Posted by JerseyZenith on Oct 26th 2026
- Patch types: captain, award, memorial, anniversary and event.
- The Bears' GSH patch has been on the left sleeve since 1984.
- Super Bowl LX teams wore a USA 250 patch.
- Captain's C is covered in our separate guide.
This guide covers NFL jersey patches other than the captain C: awards, tributes, anniversaries and events. It does not cover jersey numbers.
NFL jersey patches by type
A patch on an NFL jersey means one of a few things: a captain, an award, a tribute to a person, an anniversary or a one-time event. The table groups them with examples. Our captain guide covers the C in detail, so this page focuses on the rest.
| Type | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Captain's C | A star-and-C patch on the chest | Up to six captains per team since 2007; see our captain patch guide |
| Award patch | Walter Payton Man of the Year patch, worn by Dak Prescott | Honors the winner of the NFL community award |
| Memorial patch | Bears: GSH (George Stanley Halas) on the left sleeve since 1984; VMH for Virginia Halas McCaskey in 2025 | Tribute to a person who died |
| Memorial patch | Colts: black patch for owner Jim Irsay, worn all 2025 season | He died on May 21, 2025 |
| Anniversary patch | Seahawks 50th season in 2025; Buccaneers 50th season in 2025 | Seattle's patch has "EST 1976" and 12 feathers |
| Anniversary patch | 49ers 80th anniversary and Texans 25th anniversary in 2026 | Reported for the 2026 season |
| Stadium patch | Bills: commemorative logo for the first game at the new Highmark Stadium | 2026 season |
| Event patch | Super Bowl LX: Super Bowl logo and a USA 250 patch, plus Seattle's 50th season patch | February 8, 2026 |
The standard marks: NFL shield and Nike
Every jersey also carries the NFL shield and the Nike swoosh, which are not patches in the same sense. Nike has supplied NFL uniforms since 2012, so a Nike NFL jersey from the 2026 season follows the same marks as in recent years.
Memorial and tribute patches
Tribute patches change by season. The Chicago Bears' GSH patch honors founder George Halas and has been on the left sleeve since 1984; in 2025 the team added a VMH patch for Virginia Halas McCaskey, who died on February 2, 2025, and a helmet decal for Steve McMichael. The Colts wore a patch for owner Jim Irsay in 2025. Read the GSH guide for the Bears' patches.
Anniversary and event patches in 2025 and 2026
The Seahawks' 50th-season patch on the left shoulder has a large blue 50, "EST 1976" and 12 feathers for the 12s. The team offered a replica of it on Game and Limited jerseys. Both Super Bowl LX teams wore a Super Bowl logo and a USA 250 patch, and the NFL is also marking the 250th anniversary on footballs in Week 18.
Do fan jerseys have patches?
It depends on the style. Many fan jerseys leave off captain's patches, and anniversary replicas are sold only for specific seasons. Check the product photo before you buy and compare tiers in the Nike tier guide. Shop Bears jerseys or Seahawks jerseys to see styles with team patches.
Where patches sit on a jersey
Placement varies. The captain's C sits on the left chest, the Bears' GSH patch is on the left sleeve and the Seahawks' 50th-season patch sat on the left shoulder. At Super Bowl LX, reports put the Super Bowl logo on the left chest for the Patriots and the right chest for the Seahawks, with the USA 250 patch on the opposite side. Those were pre-game reports, so check the product photo if placement matters.
Patch rules at a glance
Captain patches began in 2007, and a team can have up to six captains at a time. Memorial and anniversary patches are decided by each team and the league for a season, so they come and go. Nike has supplied the uniforms since 2012, and the patches go on Nike's base jersey. For the captain rules, read our captain patch guide.
Patches and the Nike tiers
On-field jerseys carry stitched patches, while fan Game and Limited jerseys usually leave them off or use replicas. The Seahawks, for example, offered a replica of their 50th-season patch on Game and Limited jerseys, with the on-field patch on Elite. See the tier guide before you pick.
Patch questions fans ask
People search for an NFL jersey patch or NFL patches on jerseys, and ask what the NFL jersey patches meaning is. They also look up a Chicago Bears jersey patch, the Chicago Bears patch on jersey sleeves and the Bears uniform patch, which is the GSH tribute described above. For the player-specific question, the Dak.Prescott jersey patch is a captain's C and the Walter Payton Man of the Year patch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the patch on NFL jerseys today?
It depends on the team: captain's C, a tribute, an anniversary or an event patch.
What are the patches on NFL jerseys?
Captain, award, memorial, anniversary and event patches.
Who is on the patch on NFL jerseys today?
Teams that honor people, such as the Bears (George Halas, Virginia Halas McCaskey) and the Colts (Jim Irsay).
What is the patch on Dak Prescott's jersey?
A captain's C and the Walter Payton Man of the Year patch.
What is the 50 patch on the Seahawks uniform?
The Seahawks' 50th-season patch with "EST 1976" and 12 feathers.
What is the M patch on the Bears uniform?
We could not confirm an "M" patch; the Bears' patches we found are GSH, VMH and a No. 89 tribute.
Sources
- Pro Football Hall of Fame, NFL teams commemorate legends and history with patches for 2025
- SportsLogos.net, Seahawks unveil 50th season logo and jersey patch
- CLLCT, Seahawks and Patriots wear USA 250 patches in Super Bowl LX (search summary only)
- SportsLogos.net, uniform patch tag (49ers 80th, Bills stadium patch, Texans 25th) (search summary only)
- Our captain patch guide and GSH guide