Packers will wear throwback uniforms Oct. 18 against Chargers

Uniform will come from 1937-1949 era

GREEN BAY, Wis. — They were on Nike.com and in the pro shop before he even stepped to the podium at Lambeau Field Tuesday morning, but president/CEO Mark Murphy made it official at the annual shareholders meeting: The Green Bay Packers will wear throwback uniforms from their 1937-’49 era for the team’s Oct. 18 game against the San Diego Chargers.

Director of public affairs Aaron Popkey wheeled out a mannequin wearing Aaron Rodgers’ No. 12 – and tan pants much like the Acme Packers pants the quarterback found to be so comfortable with the previous throwbacks – and Murphy unveiled the uniforms to stockholders.

“And as luck would have it, these are available in the Pro Shop,” Murphy said with a chuckle.

Images of the uniforms leaked on Monday night when Nike put several jerseys on their website.

The Packers had worn their 1929-’30 throwback uniforms the previous five seasons – and went 5-0 in the games in which they wore them, Murphy pointed out –  before retiring that look after last season. NFL rules allow teams to change their alternate third jersey – which is not required to be a throwback – every five years, so the Packers are now committed to this look through the 2019 season.

The Packers wore similar jerseys during the 1994 season for the league’s celebration of its 75th anniversary. 

In addition, Murphy told shareholders that the NFL will ask teams to wear color-on-color uniforms for Thursday night games, but in a press conference afterward, Murphy said it is voluntary this year and the Packers will not participate in it with green jerseys and green pants.

The Packers play two Thursday night games this season: On Thanksgiving night, No. 26, for the unveiling of Brett Favre’s No. 4 on Lambeau Field’s north end zone façade against the Chicago Bears; and Dec. 3 at Detroit. But the Thanksgiving game is on NBC, so it is not subject to the new concept, which is reserved for NFL Network/CBS games. 

The Detroit game is on NFL Network and CBS but the Packers won’t take part, Murphy said. The team will take part in 2016 whenever it plays on Thursday night on CBS and NFLN, Murphy said.

Murphy said the NFL is following college football’s lead on using color-on-color uniforms, saying that they have been “very popular” in the NCAA.