Where Do Texans' ‘Ruined’ Uniforms Rank in NFL?

It may be time for the Houston Texans to embrace a new look.

Since joining the NFL as an expansion franchise in 2002, the Houston Texans haven't made a ton of tweaks to their uniforms. 

The most notable was the addition of "Battle Red" alternate tops in 2003, which at various times have been worn with matching red pants, steel blue pants and white pants. In 2022, the Texans introduced a Battle Red alternate helmet, which is slated to be worn on three occasions this upcoming season. 

However, the Battle Red helmet, in our opinion, has proven to be overkill, as the contrast of the steel blue helmet previously worn with the alternate uniforms was a good look. And with the Texans expected to introduce new uniforms ahead of the 2024 season, their current kit came in at No. 23 on our FanNation/SI countdown of all 32 NFL uniforms sets. 

"If the Texans are discontent with their uniforms enough to be teasing new ones for the 2024 season, it's hard to have them rated much higher than this. The "battle red" jerseys used to be a great alternate, but the matching helmets that the Texans introduced in 2022 have ruined the look. Hopefully the Texans keep their excellent primary logo, but it might be time for the first uniform overhaul in the franchise's brief history." 

But while there are critiques to make of the Battle Red helmets, one would think they will move forward with whatever new uniforms are coming in 2024, presumably still as an alternate. It would be hard to believe the Texans would go to the trouble of creating alternate helmets, wear them once in 2022, three times in 2023 and never again. 

What's interesting, though, is that Hannah McNair -- wife of CEO Cal McNair -- teased the possibility of another color entering the uniform mix for Houston as part of this refresh back in May. 

"You'll have your blue, your white and, you know, the other," McNair said, according to Matt Young of The Houston Chronicle. 

Is "the other" just Battle Red? It seems like if it was, McNair would have just said that. There's, of course, speculation that it will be some version of powder blue, which the Houston Oilers donned from 1960-1996. 

What complicates that idea, though, is that the Oilers became the Tennessee Titans, who have reintroduced Oilers throwbacks to the mix for 2023. Would the NFL allow Houston to reclaim the same blue that they once loved so much? 

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