How the Carolina Panthers Pick Their Uniform Combinations

We’re not quite to the point where we can declare the Carolina Panthers the “Oregon of the NFL” because of all their possible uniform combinations, but it’s close. Over the past several seasons, the team has been breaking out never-before-worn outfits, and there are still several looks they still haven’t worn. If they really tried, they could go an entire 17-game season without once repeating a combo.

But how does the team go about selecting what it will wear on any given weekend? Turns out, it’s pretty much the same as every other NFL team, but it’s definitely not whimsical or haphazard. In fact, there is quite a bit of planning that goes into selecting what to wear and against whom. In some cases, specific future game outfits are planned out over a year in advance.

This weekend, Carolina Panthers Marketing Director Kalen Karahalios appeared in a very uni-centric video to explain how the Panthers go about it. Most of the information is probably well known to Uni Watch readers, but it’s still very interesting nonetheless. And it goes to show that teams have at least a few who Get It™ and are doing God’s work (c’mon, wouldn’t you LOVE to be on an NFL staff who gets to help decide the weekly uniforms???).

We’ll start with the video, and then a transcript of the uni-relevant parts, for your enjoyment.

Very cool!

Here are some of the key takeaways:

The Carolina Panthers went with an all-black look for this weekend’s game with the Chiefs. Coincidence? Not a chance!

“A few things went into it,” said Panthers Marketing Director Kalen Karahalios. “Huge opponent, right? (It’s a) very exciting game here. We wanted to show up in what makes the players feel the best.

Selecting the right look is a process, and in the NFL, it begins months before the start of the season. The front office and equipment manager are involved, too, and Karahalios is in the middle of all of it for the Panthers.

Interesting the team selected the mono-black uniform specifically for the Chiefs! And if you watched yesterday’s game, the team played very well in those unis — actually tying the game late in the fourth quarter, only to have more Mahomes magic result in a last minute victory for KC.

“It is pretty complicated,” she explained. “We have to stay within the league’s guidelines. They set some rules for us.”

The first one benefits the home team. They get to pick first. If say, the Panthers decide on a white jersey, their opponent must go with a color. From there, the teams then wait on league approval.

“I think the league wants to keep us all uniform,” Karahalios said. “(This way) to keep structure around it so that teams can’t go rogue and wear the same thing the whole season.”

That last line confused me. I’m thinking she means going an entire season in one specific uniform. (This would obviously require wearing the white jersey, along with the same helmet, pants and socks, home and road. Several teams have actually done this.)

It sounds simple but there are some additional limitations jersey planners have to work around. For example, each team is designated two main colors, Carolina’s are white and black. They can wear those jerseys anytime. However, it’s a different story when it comes to their alternate blues.

“We can wear it unlimited in the preseason, but in the season you can only wear it three times, so that makes things challenging for us when we are determining what we can wear and when we can wear it.”

After jerseys have been picked, the rest of the look is typically decided closer to the game. We’re talking about the color of the helmet, or pants, or socks. There are a lot of combinations, so many in fact the Panthers haven’t even hit them all in their 30 years of existence.

“White jersey, silver pants, (and) white accessories with the silver helmet, we have never worn,” Karahalios said. “It is shocking to me that we haven’t.”

We obviously know well the “alternate” rule (max three times per season). I love that she is well aware of all the possible combos, and even knows the ones the teams hasn’t (yet) worn!

But what isn’t shocking to Karahalios is the fans’ true passion for fashion. In fact over the years, it’s taken on a life of its own on social media.

“It shows how much people love this team and how much they want to see us and care about how we show up on Sunday”

This weekend the Panthers have the look. Now it’s just a matter of getting the win.

It may surprise you that there are many folks who eagerly await the TwitterX “uni reveal” for both college and pros — they’re Uni Watchers even if they don’t know it. Of course, I’m sure a number of you already do this.

Very interesting. Again, most of the information Karahalios doled out isn’t “news” to us here at UW. But I’m glad that she took the time to explain the process.

Now…who wants to see that silver/white/silver/white combo?