Are Seahawks '02-'11 uniforms so ugly that they've become cool?

Should the Seahawks pay respect to their least respected uniform era? Seaside Joe 1925

Rarely can fans agree on anything, even when they root for the same team. I can’t even say that Geno Smith is good without being pulled in opposite directions for being “too biased” to have an opinion. Biased for or against Geno? Both! That depends on which comment you left because I’ve realized that it is absolutely impossible to ever say “the right thing” about most things Seahawks…there will always be disagreement no matter what I or another Seahawks fan share as an opinion. No topic has universal agremeement.

Except maybe that Seattle’s 2002 uniform re-design was atrocious and possibly the ugliest in the league for its 10-year run. Even this post at NFL.com for “best and worst uniform changes” put the Seahawks squarely at the top for worst:

“The Seahawks are the only team making a change for 2012. That’s a wise move, because it’d be hard to look much worse than they have over the past decade. Who knew there were so many unattractive shades of blue? Rest in peace, “Seahawks Blue”; you may be gone from this world, but we’ll see you for eternity in NFL Films highlights of Emmitt Smith breaking the rushing record, Matt Hasselbeck erroneously guaranteeing an OT win in Lambeau, and your coach accusing the refs at Super Bowl XL of being Steelers fans.”

I’m not sure if the last one really applies because coaches don’t wear uniforms…

I think shades of the same colors on a parka or a polo are far easier to digest than the Seahawks uniforms of the era. Seattle’s uniforms of the ‘02-’11 era somehow felt immediately dated even though you also couldn’t pin down from what year they were born. It was like they skipped the Seahawks store entirely and were instantly placed on discount racks at Ross, Marshall’s, and T.J. Maxx. That was the look they had: Cheap, used, and honestly for most people a little too embarassing to wear in public.

If you think I’m being too harsh, look at this photo circa the previous uniform era:

What do you think looks better: The three uniforms in front or the one guy behind them in the uniform color and design that Seahawks fans still desire to see today? The people in the front row were so embarassed about the uniforms that they painted their faces and covered their hair with wigs!

Now look at this more recent photo:

There’s a ton of love for the post-2011 uniforms, but also several homages (is the plural for homage, homagi?) to the pre-2002 uniforms, color, and style. I didn’t spot a single person in ‘02-’11 navy blue and yet there are at least four people in neon.

Though we can’t think of several Seahawks legends without picturing them in these uniforms—Shaun Alexander, Matt Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, Steve Hutchinson, Darrell Jackson, Marcus Trufant, Lofa Tatupu, and even Marshawn Lynch during his most famous play—the colors and design are absolutely despised by most Seahawks fans. And if you still don’t believe me, I also ran a poll on Twitter if Seahawks fans ever want to see these uniforms again. Despite an overwhelming plea over many years to have throwbacks for the ‘80s and ‘90s, nine out of ten Seattle fans don’t ever want a throwback night for the aughts:

Whenever I see an overwhelming majority like that, this is where the rebellious part of my brain takes over—the part that got me sent to the vice principal’s office almost every week in high school—and dares to entertain the possibility of bringing back “ugly” for the sake of “cool”. Because to me, it can be very “cool” to do something that 90% of people think you should never do. This is basically Billie Eilish’s entire aesthetic and she’s arguably the most influential style god of the gen-z era:

It is because you won’t see Seahawks fans knocking on doors at the VMAC to fight for a throwback night dedicated to 2005 that makes me want to see it more than ever. I find those uniforms to be just as unpleasing to the eye as you do, but then again I’ve never really cared that much about what the Seahawks wear; the Seahawks went to more Super Bowls in their ‘revolting’ navy blue uniforms than they did in their very hip, very retro uniforms of the previous eras. Winning trumps wearing.

The other part of it to me is that a throwback night for 2005 would be interesting because it is so unexpected. The Buccaneers creamsicle uniforms have been called “the ugliest uniforms in NFL history” and yet they brought them back for a throwback night in 2023 for that very reason. You should be able to play just as well in “ugly” as you do in “pretty”, otherwise every team would change uniforms as often as they change quarterbacks.

The Seahawks also have their 2009 neon green alternates—seven years before the 2016 color rush neon uniforms—a combination that has been called the “ugliest” on more than one bottom-10 list.

So of all the controversial things I could write in this newsletter, suddenly “Well, I think Geno Smith is fine, but I’m not married to him” is not so bad anymore, is it? I think the Seahawks should bring back their ugliest uniforms for another night is probably far less accepted! I’ll put it back to you:

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