Five NFL teams unveiled new or updated uniforms this spring, including the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans and Washington Commanders, which left us wondering how many other teams are in desperate need of a redesign.

With that, we’ve identified five teams that we’d like to see unveil a new uniform design for the 2027. The list won’t include teams that have undergone changes within the last few seasons, as they’re only permitted on a five-year cycle. 

Up next are the Miami Dolphins, who are yet another team with a throwback uniform in their closet that is  who currently look like a watered-down version of themselves. It’s almost as if EA Sports didn’t have the NFL license and needed to create a generic “Miami” franchise for its Madden video game series. 

We could pick apart the details, including a logo that is more fitting for a cruise line, the white facemask, the lack of stripes on the jersey and socks, the custom number font and the wordmark on the back of the pants. 

But it’s much easier to point at the Dolphins’ 1966 throwback uniforms and say, “This is what they *should* look like.” In fact, that’s a sentiment that’s shared every time they’ve worn either the home or road version during the last 11 seasons. 

Despite the pleas from fans, coaches and former players, including Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, the team has repeatedly said it has no plans to promote the uniforms to full-time status – and that’s a shame.

“I love our throwbacks,” chief executive officer Tom Garfinkel said in 2024. “I love when we wear them. I love celebrating our history. I think they’re very appropriate for celebrating our history, and it keeps them special that we wear them a couple of times a year.”

The Dolphins appeared in five Super Bowls and won two titles during the uniform’s original run, but they have just three playoff appearances (all Wild Card losses) in their current design, which was unveiled in 2013.

Of course, the uniforms have no direct influence on results. But the less the Dolphins produce in their current design and the better they play in their throwbacks – they’re 88-96 overall but 12-10 in the throwbacks since 2015 – the more nostalgia will start to creep in. 

If Miami does eventually return to throwback uniforms on a full-time basis, there are a few minor tweaks I’d like to see, though. That includes an aqua facemask and a thinner stroke around the TV numbers, though they accurately reflect their original design. 

I’d also add an orange alternate jersey and socks to the rotation, effectively combining their 2003-04 and 2009-10 orange alternate jerseys with the vintage design, as well as striped aqua pants to change things up on the road from time to time. 

There’s no need for orange pants (bringing to mind their ill-advised Color Rush set) or alternate helmets outside of their “Rivalries” uniform, which could be workshopped to include vintage stripes and their classic logo on the sides of the helmets.

The logo could also see a slight makeover, as well, as their original mark is not as scalable as modern applications require. With that, I’d simplify their 1997-2012 dolphin by removing navy and merge it with their current sunburst. 

There’s a clear trend in this series, as the Dolphins are the third team I’d like to unveil a throwback-inspired design, joining the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints. But there’s something to be said about adding a few modern touches to vintage designs to create a timeless look. 

Stay tuned as I’ll discuss changes I’d like to see from two more teams in the coming days, one of which is another throwback-inspired design while the other will subtract a key component from tcurrent design. Any guesses? 

Photos courtesy of @Dolphins on X/Twitter.