49ers Throwback Uniforms: From 1946 to the 1994 Look
Posted by JerseyZenith on Oct 25th 2026
- The 49ers began in 1946 in cardinal red.
- Gold helmets and pants arrived in 1964.
- The 1994 season is the basis for today's throwbacks.
- The first black alternate came in 2015.
This guide covers the San Francisco 49ers' uniform history from the team's early years to 2026, mostly from Wikipedia's logos and uniforms timeline. It does not cover every minor change.
San Francisco 49ers uniform timeline
| Year | What changed | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1946–1963 | Red, white or silver helmets; cardinal red home and white road jerseys; a mustached gold miner logo | The original look |
| 1950 | Three sleeve stripes appear | A classic detail |
| 1964–1988 | Silver elements become 49ers Gold: gold helmets and beige-gold pants | The look of the dynasty years |
| 1989–1993 | Less bold sleeve stripes; black outline on the SF logo; NFL Shield added in 1991; socks switch to solid red | A refinement |
| 1994 | 1955-style throwbacks; red jerseys with solid red socks after the Week 9 bye; 49–26 win over San Diego in Super Bowl XXIX | The season behind today's 1994 throwback |
| 1996 | 50th anniversary redesign: deeper cardinal red, redesigned helmet, full-time white pants | A new look |
| 2006–2008 | Gold pants return; retro alternates worn on eight occasions; black cleats | A move back to gold |
| 2009 | New uniforms with a metallic gold helmet and classic red-white-red helmet stripes | Reveal on April 25 |
| 2012 | Nike becomes the uniform maker | The modern template |
| 2015–2017 | First alternate, all black, unveiled April 30, 2015; worn for Color Rush in 2016; retired after 2017 | The origin of the black jersey |
| 2018 | All-white alternate based on the 1994 throwbacks | The white throwback |
| 2022 | Third sleeve stripe returns and the saloon-font wordmark is restored | A return to classic details |
| 2025 | Black Rivalries uniform with red and gold trim, worn at home against each NFC West opponent over three seasons | The newest alternate |
Red, gold and the miner
The 49ers began in 1946 with cardinal red home jerseys, white road jerseys and a mustached gold miner logo. Silver elements became 49ers Gold in 1964, and the gold helmet and beige-gold pants stayed for about 30 years, the period most fans connect with the Montana and Rice teams.
The 1994 throwbacks
The 1994 team wore 1955-style throwbacks and, after the Week 9 bye, got NFL permission to wear red jerseys and solid red socks for the rest of the season. The team went 13–3, beat the Cowboys 38–28 in the NFC Championship and beat the San Diego Chargers 49–26 in Super Bowl XXIX. In 2026 the 49ers wear red 1994 throwbacks twice and a white 1994 throwback once.
Gold pants and zippers
Gold pants returned for the 2006 opener, and the 49ers wore retro alternates on eight occasions from 2006 to 2008. The 2009 uniforms, revealed on April 25, added a metallic gold helmet, the classic red-white-red helmet stripes and zippered pants. Those pieces carry through to the gold pants the team still pairs with scarlet and white in some 2026 games.
Black alternates
The first black alternate came in 2015, was worn for Color Rush in 2016 and was retired after 2017. The Rivalries uniform in 2025 brought a mostly black look back, with red and gold trim and a black helmet with a gold facemask. In 2026 it is worn once, against the Rams on December 13.
The Nike era
Nike became the uniform maker in 2012, and a Vapor Untouchable template with two sleeve stripes debuted in 2017. In 2022 the third sleeve stripe returned and the saloon-font wordmark was restored. In 2026 the 49ers wear scarlet at home and white on the road.
Which era should you buy?
| Era | Closest current style | Where to shop |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlet home | Scarlet home | 49ers home jerseys |
| White road | White away | 49ers away jerseys |
| 1994 throwbacks | Alternate | 49ers alternate jerseys |
| Black | Rivalries / black | black 49ers jerseys |
Our listings use the current Nike designs. If you want an older look, the closest current style is usually the best match, and each product page says which style it is.
Shop the modern looks
See the San Francisco 49ers jerseys, the San Francisco 49ers jerseys 2026 guide and the 49ers jersey numbers guide. The 49ers home jersey, the away jersey and the alternate jerseys show how today's design connects to the eras above.
49ers jerseys through the years
The 49ers' jerseys through the years moved from cardinal red and a mustached gold miner in 1946, to gold helmets and pants in 1964, to the metallic gold helmet in 2009 and the black Rivalries uniform in 2025. The 49ers throwback jersey of 1994 is the look behind today's alternates.
San Francisco 49ers helmets through the years
The 49ers' gold helmet is the look fans know best, and the 2025 Rivalries helmet added a black shell with a gold facemask.
| Year | Helmet |
|---|---|
| 1964–1988 | Gold helmets |
| 2009 | Metallic gold helmet with red-white-red stripes |
| 2025 | Black Rivalries helmet with a gold facemask and two red stripes |
For logo changes, read the 49ers logo history, and see 49ers colors and the NFL helmets guide. Our legends jerseys page covers Retired Player styles.
Other ways to search for the 49ers throwback uniforms and helmets
Fans also search for 49ers football helmet, san francisco 49ers helmet logo, 49ers football helmets, 49ers black helmet, 49ers new helmet and 49ers retro uniforms. Those searches all lead to the same uniforms, helmets and throwbacks described here.
FAQ
When did the 49ers wear gold helmets?
From 1964 to 1988 and again in the metallic gold helmet introduced in 2009.
What are the 49ers 1994 throwbacks?
A red and white look that honors the team's 1994 championship season.
When did the 49ers first wear black?
The first all-black alternate was unveiled in 2015.
When did Nike start making 49ers uniforms?
In 2012.
What do the 49ers wear in 2026?
See our San Francisco 49ers jerseys 2026 guide for every uniform and date.
Which 49ers numbers are retired?
See our 49ers jersey numbers guide.
What was the original 49ers jersey?
The jersey 49ers original was cardinal red at home and white on the road, with a mustached gold miner logo from 1946.
Where can I see 49ers jerseys through the years?
The timeline above lists 49ers jerseys through the years from 1946 to 2025.
What color is the 49ers helmet?
Gold since 2009 (metallic), after gold helmets from 1964 to 1988; the Rivalries helmet is black.
What is the 49ers helmet logo?
The SF oval, in use since 1962.