USFL uniforms: Ranking the best, worst jerseys for 2022 football relaunch, from Gamblers to Maulers

Bill Bender

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USFL uniforms: Ranking the best, worst jerseys for 2022 football relaunch, from Gamblers to Maulers image

The United States Football League unveiled uniforms for its eight franchises on Thursday. 

The USFL is back and will restart April 16. It's an homage to the league that competed with the NFL from 1982-86, and the nostalgia factor will be high given the eight franchises in the league. 

The South Division features the Birmingham Stallions, Houston Gamblers, New Orleans Breakers and Tampa Bay Bandits. The North Division features the Michigan Panthers, New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Stars and Pittsburgh Maulers. 

Now that all eight teams unveiled their  Sporting News graded those new looks. Which ones are close to the vintage looks? Which ones do we like the most? Here are our picks: 

MORE: What to know about the USFL's return in 2022

1. Houston Gamblers 

The Gamblers didn't have to change much, and the simplicity is beautiful. The black, gray and "gambler red" uniforms are an instant throwback to the Jim Kelly heyday, and Houston teams typically nail a football uniform anyway. The home uniform is perfect. The away uniform would be better with black pants. 

2. Michigan Panthers

The Panthers stuck with the plum and champagne uniforms that they wore while winning the first USFL championship in 1983. The Panthers have arguably the best helmet in the league. We would like to see light blue jerseys, but the problem is that would look a little too much like the Carolina Panthers in the NFL. The original look remains unique and fits the franchise well.

3. New Orleans Breakers

The Breakers also played in Boston and Portland in the original USFL, and they come with two shades of blue. The uniforms definitely have a Tulane spinoff feel to them, and the all-white uniform should be a hit. Perhaps the Breakers could add some light blue pants to this otherwise solid look.

4. Philadelphia Stars

The Stars were the most-successful franchise in the original USFL, and the new look is good. It's a brighter shade of old gold, and the two-toned stars on the helmet and shouler pop. The stripe pattern on the helmet and pants works, too. It's a solid uniform.

5. New Jersey Generals

The vintage Generals uniforms conjure up memories of Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie, but the new versions are a slight upgrade. The five-star logo on the helmet is bold, and that logo looks it even better on the shoulder pads. We like the concept here. 

6. Tampa Bay Bandits 

The late Burt Reynolds, a general partner of the original franchise, would approve of these uniforms. They stay close to the original look with the silver, black, white and red combination. The metallic silver helmet is cool, the Bandits logo on the sleeve fits. Does it look too much like UNLV? Maybe a little, but we like the Bandits’ clean look here. 

7. Birmingham Stallions 

These uniforms are a fresh take on the originals, which were among the more-generic uniforms in the original USFL. That is because of the white horse logo that pops more. The red, gold and white combination might feel like the 49ers are Boston College, but to us it looks like the ESU Wolves from "The Program." Where is Lattimer? 

8. Pittsburgh Maulers 

When we think Maulers, we think of Mike Rozier rocking that plain deep purple look. This is a departure from that. It feels more like an AAF or XFL look with the orange trim on the shoulders. The logo remains a classic, but you might feel like you are watching a rerun of "Blue Mountain State." When we think Maulers, we think of Mike Rozier rocking that plain deep purple look.

Bill Bender

Bill Bender Photo

Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.