Steelers Could Wear Alternate, Throwback Uniforms More Often in 2025

Alan Saunders |

Updated: Apr 4, 2025

Pittsburgh Steelers DT Cam Heyward — Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward in a game against the New York Jets on Oct. 21, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

PALM BEACH, Fla. — You could be seeing more of the Pittsburgh Steelers throwback and alternate Color Rush jerseys in the 2025 season.

At the 2025 NFL owners meetings this week, the league loosened its restriction on how often teams can wear alternate uniforms. Clubs can now wear their non-standard uniforms four times over the course of a 17-game season, up from the previous three.

The league did so thanks to the overwhelming popularity of several throwback uniforms, including the Steelers’ block number sets, the Philadelphia Eagles in Kelly green, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in creamsicle, and the Denver Broncos in royal blue, among others.

“We wanted to make sure that we’re flexible and we hear from clubs, a lot of it is what fans want, what players want, what coaches want,” NFL vice president Renie Anderson told CBS. “And so we wanted to provide some flexibility and we’re going to continue to monitor it.”

The Steelers have had two alternate uniforms over the last few seasons. One is a block-numbered uniform similar to the one the team wore from 1969 to 1996. They’ve worn those uniforms five times since reintroducing them in 2018, most recently last fall against the New York Jets, when they added gray facemasks to specifically honor the 50th anniversary of the 1974 Super Bowl team.

The Steelers are a perfect 5-0 while wearing those throwbacks.

Their other alternate uniform in recent years has been their Color Rush uniforms, which feature gold numbers and black pants with a gold stripe. The Steelers have been wearing those alternate uniforms since 2016, and are 8-3 all-time while wearing them.

The Steelers have worn their block numbered throwbacks and Color Rush alternates once each in the last three seasons — one shy of the maximum established by the league.

In 2020 and 2021, they just wore the Color Rush uniforms one time. In 2019, they wore those twice and the throwbacks once, the only time they’ve met the maximum.

It’s not clear if the Steelers will bring the same two alternates back for the 2025 season, or if they’ll make a change to one or both of their alternate looks.