San Francisco 49ers debuting 'For the Faithful' uniforms Saturday vs. Seahawks

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San Francisco 49ers debuting 'For the Faithful' uniforms Saturday vs. Seahawks

Nate Davis, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Sat, Jan 3, 2026 ·

4 min read

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It's appropriate that the NFL 's "Rivalries" uniform rollout for the 2025 season concludes with one of the league's fiercest set of foes meeting in a high-stakes Week 18 matchup in prime time.

The San Francisco 49ers will be the eighth team to utilize their new alternates Saturday night when they don the " For the Faithful " threads against the Seattle Seahawks when the squads clash at Levi's Stadium with the NFC West title and conference's No. 1 playoff seed on the line . It will mark the first time the Niners have worn black jerseys in eight years, though the new ones should pop in a way the simpler black-and-red ones they occasionally used between 2015 and 2017 didn't.

The 49ers are asking their fans − alternately known as the "Faithful" − to wear black.

What's new about the 49ers' 'Rivalries' uniforms?

For the first time, the Niners will be in monochrome black as they also wear black helmets − which they've never had since joining the NFL in 1950. The dome is matte black, adorned with a pair of red stripes down the centerline, the familiar interlocking "SF" logo and gold-coated facemasks intended to sparkle under Levi's Stadium's lights. "Faithful" is scripted on the headgear's back bumper.

The red jersey numbers are outlined in gold and presented in a saloon-like font derived by the franchise's classic wordmark. A cursive "Faithful" is etched above the numbers on the chest, enabling the franchise to express its "steadfast appreciation for the unwavering dedication of 49ers fans across the globe." "Faithful to the Bay," the club motto, is stitched inside the collar. Per Nike, the look is "inspired by the Gold Rush era that once defined San Francisco ."

Said All-Pro tight end George Kittle , who helped design the " For the Faithful " uniforms: "We wanted something fun, something different that we don't really ever do. I haven't worn all black since my rookie season. But we never had black helmets so I'm the most excited about this bad boy. Holy cow we are going to look cool. I feel violent when we wear all black, like we're just standing on business. All ten toes."

What are NFL 'Rivalries' uniforms by Nike?

Think of them as the football version of the sports apparel company's NBA "City Edition" uniforms or Major League Baseball's "City Connect" jerseys. Signaled during the NFL draft and unveiled in August , Nike has strived to create something that further strengthens NFL teams' bonds to their unique civic environments. And, as "rivalries" would suggest, all of them will be worn in intra-divisional matchups.

"The 2025 Rivalries uniforms will celebrate storied local traditions and unite fan communities with designs unique to select cities and teams," Nike announced during the rollout.

RANKING NFL'S 'RIVALRIES' UNIFORMS: Best to worst

"The designs are rooted extensively in the legacies and inspirations true to each team, serving as authentic, competitive expressions of community pride while giving athletes and fans an opportunity to connect like never before."

Week 6: Washington Commanders wide receiver Chris Moore (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium. The Commanders wore their all-black alternate uniforms for the game.
(Peter Casey, Imagn Images)

Week 6: Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) carries the ball for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Falcons played the game while sporting throwback uniforms that harken back to the team's inaugural season of 1966.
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)

Week 6: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen operates at the line of scrimmage before a play against the Atlanta Falcons during a "Monday Night Football" game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Bills wore throwback uniforms reminiscent of the team's look from 1962-1973 during the game.
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)

Week 6: Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young looks for a receiver against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers wore this uniform combination for the first time in the 30-27 win.
(Cory Knowlton, Imagn Images)

Week 5: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel makes a catch against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. The Bills wore their new "Rivalries" uniform for the "Sunday Night Football" game, which the Patriots won, 23-20 .

(Gregory Fisher, Imagn Images)

Week 5: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray makes a throw during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals wore their all-black uniforms, but were defeated 22-21.
(Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images)

Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield awaits the snap against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Both teams wore throwback uniforms in the Buccaneers' 38-35 win. The Buccaneers and Seahawks entered the NFL together as expansion teams in 1976.

(Joe Nicholson, Imagn Images)

Week 5: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) is congratulated by teammate AJ Barner (88) after catching a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Lumen Field. The Seahawks wore throwback uniforms harkening back to the team's original look from 1976-2001.
(Steven Bisig, Imagn Images)

Week 5: Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) runs against the Washington Commanders during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers wore monochrome powder blue uniform pants and jerseys for the first time.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)

Week 5: New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) is tackled by the Dallas Cowboys' Trevon Diggs (7) and Juanyeh Thomas (2) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys wore their "Arctic White" uniforms for the 37-22 win.
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)

Week 5: New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields stands in the pocket against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets wore their all-black uniforms in the 37-22 loss.
(Robert Deutsch, Imagn Images)

Week 4: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) hands the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos wore their "Midnight Navy" uniforms for the 28-3 win .

(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)

Week 4: Miami Dolphins running back De'von Achane rushes the ball against the New York Jets during a 27-21 win on "Monday Night Football" at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins wore their new their Nike "Rivalries" uniforms – the team version dubbed "Dark Waters."

(Rich Storry, Imagn Images)

Week 4: The Arizona Cardinals defense tackles Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) during the first quarter of a "Thursday Night Football" game at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals became the first NFL team to wear the new Nike "Rivalries" uniform in a game. The Seahawks won the game, 23-20 .

(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)

Week 3: Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar (88) makes a catch during his team's "Monday Night Football" game against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens wore their all-black uniforms for the game dubbed, "Darkness Falls." Despite the fancy marketing moniker, the Ravens were defeated, 38-30.
(Mitch Stringer, Imagn Images)

Week 3: New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (5) stiff arms Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the second quarter at Lumen Field. The Saints wore their all-white uniform and helmet combo for the first time in the 44-13 loss.

(Joe Nicholson, Imagn Images)

Week 3: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers wore throwback jerseys - an homage to the team's 1950s look, as well as its 1994 Super Bowl-winning season - in the 16-15 win against the Cardinals.

(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)

Week 3: New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. New England brought out its iconic "Pat Patriot" throwback in the 21-14 defeat.
(Paul Rutherford, Imagn Images)

Week 3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) runs with the ball as New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner attempts to make the tackle during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers wore their famous "Creamsicle" throwback uniforms in the 29-27 win.
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)

Week 3: Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns debuted their "Alpha Dawg" alternate uniform for the 13-10 win.
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)

Week 3: Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) celebrates after making an interception in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium. The Jaguars wore their "Prowler Throwbacks" - an homage to the team's late-1990s heyday - for the 17-10 win.
(Morgan Tencza, Imagn Images)

Week 3: Carolina Panthers tight end JaTavion Saunders runs with the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers wore their special black helmets in the 30-0 win.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)

Week 2: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sporting "The Vikings Classic" throwback uniform inspired by the team's look during the 1960s and '70s, Minnesota was defeated, 22-6.

(Jeffrey Becker, Imagn Images)

Week 2: The Green Bay Packers' Micah Parsons (1) reacts during a "Thursday Night Football" game against the Washington Commanders at Lambeau Field. The Packers wore their "Winter Warning" uniforms for the 27-18 win.
(Jeff Hanisch, Imagn Images)

Week 1: New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals at Caesars Superdome. The Saints wore their reimagined "Gameday Gold" uniforms for their season opener, marking the first time the team wore gold jerseys since the 2002 season. The Cardinals defeated the Saints, 20-13.
(Stephen Lew, Imagn Images)

Which NFL teams have 'Rivalries' uniforms?

Eventually all of them. But for 2025, each team in the AFC East and NFC West is scheduled to wear its "Rivalries" unis one time this season. Two additional divisions will be added to the rotation in each of the next three seasons, and the "Rivalries" option then becomes part of a team's closet for the following three years.