Nike & Minnesota Vikings unveil elite uniform design

Nike designers and the NFL worked closely with Viking athletes, coaches and administrators to truly understand what makes a Viking, researching the roots of traditional ancient Viking culture and examining the powerful characteristics of the Vikings football team of today.

The environment in Minnesota also served as a foundation for the Vikings new design – a harsh yet beautiful combination of land, water and weather. Vikings — men of adventure, strength and exploration — built their ships and tools with a refined craftsmanship and ornamentation.

Accordingly, the uniform design features strong simple lines that reflect the curves in the bow of a Viking ship. The same design lines are seen on ancient Viking horns, which now appear as a shiny accent on the new matte purple football helmets.

“There’s a harshness to the environment in Minnesota and it really creates a strength within those who live here,” said Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway. "The new uniforms are simple and powerful, and this design truly feels like us. I couldn’t be more proud to wear it this season.”

The Vikings color palette stays true to tradition while featuring a refreshed brighter gold accent that allows the purple to stand out. The unique new numbers and font are reminiscent of early Vikings uniform designs but now feature curved serifs that reflect the bow of a Viking ship. The Vikings wordmark is proudly positioned on the front of the jersey.

As a reminder to the athletes as they suit up for the season, the inside back jersey neckline features a simple ornamental design similar to those seen in traditional Norse culture.

“The Nike Elite 51 uniform gives us a highly innovative, performance-led canvas to really tell the Viking story,” said Todd Van Horne, Nike’s Global VP and Creative Director for Nike Football. “This new design is a modern representation of the Viking culture and makes a simple, yet powerful statement.”

THE NIKE ELITE 51 UNIFORM – AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF DRESS

Designed and engineered from the inside out, the NFL Nike Elite 51 uniform focuses on creating a system where the baselayer, padding, jersey and pant work in concert. Lightweight padding is also integrated directly into the crucial “hit zones” in the baselayer. New innovations include integrated Flywire technology in the neckline to reduce weight and provide lockdown fit over pads, increased sleeve articulation for better range of motion, and all-over four-way stretch fabrication to provide a streamlined shrink-wrap fit.

“I’ve worked closely with Nike designers for years to provide input on the way this uniform should be built,” said Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. "The way a uniform fits really does matter when you’re out there on the field. I think fans will love the new design – it’s the way a Viking is supposed to look.”

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