Certain colors are ubiquitous in athletic jerseys. It doesn’t matter which sport we’re talking about: certain colors and shades are deeply popular among designers, creating a sense of familiarity for a rarefied array of colors.
And then there’s powder blue.
In the bygone days of football, the Los Angeles Chargers once took to the field in powder blue jerseys, a distinctive look that resonated with many of the team’s fans and sartorially-minded observers. According to an ESPN report, Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward hasn’t been shy about his love for the Chargers’ vintage look.
This season was tailor-made for Hayward’s aesthetic, then: the Chargers decided to adopt powder blue as the primary color of their jerseys after a long absence. He’s not the only one to be thrilled by this: his teammate Keenan Allen is also fond of vintage jerseys, and has a collection of over 100 from various periods in the league’s history.
As ESPN’s article suggests, returning to uniforms that hearken back to the ones that the team wore until 1974 might also help the Chargers make inroads now that they’re based in Los Angeles. Their new stadium won’t open until next season, meaning that they’re currently sharing Dignity Health Sports Park with the LA Galaxy — the rare instance of a football team playing in a soccer stadium rather than the reverse.
And there’s been plenty of positivity surrounding the jerseys’ return. Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts said, “It’s nice to see them back.” And sportswriter Paul Lukas told ESPN that “there really is no other team that owns that color the way the Chargers have always owned it.”
That tradition will return to the field with this Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins — potentially introducing a new generation of fans to one of the game’s all-time classic looks.
Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
