New York Jets Reveal “New York Sack Exchange” Throwback Uniforms

*Photos courtesy of @nyjets on Twitter.*

The New York Jets on Monday morning officially revealed their “New York Sack Exchange” throwback uniforms, which they’ll wear on Sept. 11 against the Buffalo Bills and Oct. 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

When these Jets took flight, they ascended to great heights.

Introducing our Legacy White Uniform, inspired by the New York Sack Exchange. pic.twitter.com/zfceKkyuOh
— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 24, 2023

The uniforms, which were originally worn from 1978-89, include a white jersey with two green stripes on the sleeves, contrasting green collar and green numbers, as well as white pants with a single green stripe down the sides and solid green socks.

They’ll be paired with the Jets’ standard Gotham green helmet, though they’ll swap the black facemask and their current logo for a white facemask and the retro “JETS” wordmark, which is italicized and features a jet extending from the “J.”

This part of the uniform is not historically accurate, as New York wore Kelly green helmets at the time, but that’s because the Jets are limited in their throwback options due to their black alternate helmets, which they unveiled last season.

This marks the second throwback design for the Jets, who wore New York Titans uniforms at least twice every season from 2007-09, including a home and road version in 2009 as part of the AFL’s 50th anniversary season, as well as once in 2011.

Those uniforms included a navy blue helmet, which the Titans – not to be confused with the franchise in Tennessee that was previously the Oilers – wore from 1960-62. The Jets also wore white helmets from 1963-77 and 1998-2019.

Meanwhile, the current throwback uniforms pay homage to one of the most disruptive defensive lines in NFL history, which notably featured ends Mark Gastineau and Joe Klecko and tackles Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam.

The four earned the nickname of the “New York Sack Exchange” after they were unofficially credited with a league-leading 66 sacks in 1981, which led to the NFL to establish sacks as an official statistic the following season.

The moniker was initially selected as part of a preseason fan contest held by a team magazine, but it officially stuck once Gastineau, Klecko, Lyons and Salaam were invited to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange later that year.

In addition to the throwback uniforms, the Jets will paint their retro logo on the 50-yard line at MetLife Stadium, which which no longer features the NFL shield at midfield. They’ll also have throwback end zone designs and vintage wall wrap for those games.

Lastly, New York will don its alternate black uniforms against the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 24 as part of the NFL’s first Black Friday game.