NFL rivalry jerseys 2026 are getting a fresh rollout, with Nike and the NFL confirming that eight new teams will join the Rivalries program for the upcoming season. It is the next step in a scheme that was designed to deepen the connection between fans, communities and their teams, and one that the league says has already become Fanatics’ best-selling merchandise release to date.
Taryn Hutt, the NFL’s vice president of club marketing, said revealing eight new Rivalries uniforms “marks the next chapter” in a program that has clearly found an audience. She added that spotlighting the AFC South and NFC North clubs, and the communities behind them, continues to capture “the spirit and tradition of football’s greatest divisional rivalries.”
Who is getting the new Rivalries uniforms?
The 2026 season will bring new Rivalries uniforms for teams from the AFC South and NFC North, including the Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. The rollout keeps the focus on division matchups, which is exactly where this concept feels strongest: familiar opponents, familiar noise and a uniform that is meant to heighten the sense of occasion.
Last year, the Nike x NFL Rivalries program launched as a first-of-its-kind uniform and apparel collection manufactured and sold by Fanatics. This year’s expansion suggests the league and Nike see room to grow the concept without changing what made it work in the first place.
When will the first debuts happen?
The schedule is already set for several of the most eye-catching reveal games. The Indianapolis Colts will debut their Rivalries uniform against the Houston Texans on Sept. 27 in Week 3 at 1 p.m. ET. The Green Bay Packers will follow against the Chicago Bears on Oct. 11 in Week 5 at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Later in the season, the Detroit Lions will unveil their new look against the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 1 in Week 8 at 1 p.m. ET. Those are the kinds of division games that give a uniform launch immediate relevance, because the opponent and the occasion do most of the heavy lifting.
Why the rollout matters
This is not just a branding exercise. The NFL says the program was built to strengthen the bond between clubs and their fan bases, and the early commercial response underlines that point. If a jersey launch becomes the league’s best-selling merchandise release to date, that tells you the appetite for rivalry-driven identity is already there.
For Nike and the NFL, the challenge now is to keep that momentum going. Eight new teams give the Rivalries program more reach, more matchups and more moments that feel tailored to the communities involved. In that sense, the 2026 season is less of a reset than a wider stage for a concept that has quickly become part of the league’s uniform conversation.
