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From staff reports

The Atlanta Falcons announced Wednesday they will usher in the 2020 season with new uniforms as part of a comprehensive redesign for the first time in 17 years.

The entire new array of uniform options includes elements of the Falcons’ past while updating the brand to match the modern progression of Atlanta.

The new official Falcons home look will feature black jerseys and black pants with the away look going white on white. The uniform closet will now offer up to eight different color combinations, including the current throwback version paying homage to the 1966 team and a new “Rise Up” alternate uniform. The collection includes four jerseys (black home, white away, gradient alternate and the ’66 throwbacks), four pants (black, white, red and throwbacks) and one helmet (satin black).

“There’s just a feeling to it,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “I can’t explain it when you look in your locker and that color and head to toe in black is going to be good, too. I don’t know what it is, but I know there’s a feeling that comes with it for the guys, too, when we see that in our lockers.”

The team said it used nearly two decades of fan research collected from focus groups, online and through different social media platforms, as well as input by current and former Falcons players. The overwhelming plea from the research was consistent — own red, but bring on the black, reflect the modern progression of the city and keep it simple and stay true to our roots.

“I think these new uniforms will give us, give the city a new energy and I think people are going to really be excited about it,” Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett said. “We know this is a tough time for everyone right now, but we hope this can bring some excitement and light to our city and our fans. Around the whole world everybody knows what ATL stands for, so we’re proud to represent that, today and every day.”

Conversations started inside the organization in 2016 with the official process kicking off in January 2018. The Falcons embedded their internal design team together with the NFL and Nike to determine how best to bring the uniform and identity to life, and the result is clean, simple and intentional.

“We took a fan-first approach in gathering feedback and design input and have modernized the look of our team and our brand,” said Falcons president Rich McKay. “Black has been a part of our organization since we took the field in 1966 so we’ve stayed true to our roots and have given our fans and players what they’ve been asking for over many years.”

Black jerseys have been a part of Falcons history since they first took the field in 1966, during the original Dirty Bird era in the late 1990s, from 2003-08 and more recently as alternates or throwbacks, amplified by personalities like Deion Sanders, Jerry Glanville and Michael Vick to Matt Ryan and Julio Jones.

The color red is designed for a shared sense of community in Atlanta as most of the major sports teams and many iconic homegrown brands share the color. Several signature elements across the new uniforms are highlighted in red including the familiar Falcons bird logo, the new ATL mark across the chest and the new stripe or “stoop”, down the side of the uniform. Red is also featured as a primary jersey color in the new gradient “Rise Up” alternate uniform.

Silver and gray have also been a part of the Falcons color palate for decades but will now play a more prominent role, incorporated into the helmet decal and the new silver facemask.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to see this look come together,” Falcons head coach Dan Quinn said. “Not only will the players be happy, but I think our fans will be happy. I know the head coach is. During this tough time for so many, we hope this new look gives our fans something to look forward to.”

The Falcons helmet has evolved from a traditional glossy look to a more modern all-black satin finish. The Falcon bird logo is nearly 30 percent larger than before with a chrome outline to compliment the new face mask.

The familiar, identifiable Atlanta Falcons wordmark has been tightened and sharpened for ease of use, while the new numbers boast a more modern typeface, a drop shadow and sharp terminals to match the angles of the current wordmark and primary Falcon bird logo.

The Atlanta Falcons primary logo was updated in 2003 and remains the same in 2020. It was derived from the original team logo dating back to the club’s debut in 1966.

“Just letting them know exactly what we’re playing for, the city we’re playing for,” Falcons linebacker Deion Jones said. “There are a lot of people in this city that ride for the Falcons, and we want to let them know that we’re riding for them, also. I like that.”

The new Nike Falcons fan jerseys will go on sale April 14 on shop.AtlantaFalcons.com as well as in both the Atlanta Falcons team shop at Atlantic Station and the team store at Mercedes-Benz Stadium upon re-opening (date to be determined). As the traditional supply chain is currently impacted by the pandemic, jersey shipments may be slightly delayed.

Special Photos: Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons