A new era of Minnesota Vikings football begins in 2024. Kirk Cousins is out; JJ McCarthy (and, potentially Sam Darnold) is in. But that’s not the only change you’ll see in the Twin Cities this fall. The team with some of the league’s most recognizable jerseys has made purple an afterthought.
And it works.
The Vikings unveiled new alternate “Winter Warrior” uniforms for the upcoming season that shunt the team’s primary colors to the sideline. Purple only appears on numbers, lettering and accents. Gold is nowhere to be found. The end result is a kit unlike any in the franchise’s 65-year history.
Introducing: The Winter Warrior 🥶 pic.twitter.com/dYrfQMUPuG
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 6, 2024
Well, hot damn. There’s a little bit of “TCU needs a primetime game alternate” feel to these uniforms, but it doesn’t mean they don’t look great. Head coach Kevin O’Connell pretty much summed things up with his (extremely Minnesotan) reaction, per Vikings.com.
“Goodness gracious,” he said upon his first look at the uniform, adorning a mannequin against an Arctic-themed photo set. “Our fans, they’ve gotta like these, right? These are sweet. I love the metallic. White helmets? I love it.
“Where’s mine? Where’s the coach’s head-to-toe white warmup jumpsuit?” O’Connell quipped.
The coldest uniforms in the game 🥶🥶https://t.co/xTb9VznKug pic.twitter.com/WjdDDNOwPB
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 6, 2024
It’s tough to be subtle when you’re dealing with the color palette of a Penn State crowd for a conference rivalry game, but the Vikings pulled it off. There’s just enough purple to make these kits pop, owing to stripes that are simultaneously gentle and sharp.
The silver outlines on the numbers add a touch of extra depth and effort that make the whole jersey look more professional. Look closely enough and you’ll see those outlines finish with dripping icicle elements, blending the steel of armor with the frozen climate outside.
These uniforms found the theme and nailed the assignment. Welp, looks like it’s time to update this year’s alternate uniform rankings (the Broncos’ pile of garbage remains in last place).
