2023 in Review: The 12 Most Uni-Notable Storylines of the Past Year

Plus: Proposed uni-related New Year’s resolutions for 2024!

Hello! As we count down the final days of 2023, I’m taking a look back at a dozen of the uni-verse’s biggest trends and developments from the past year — some good, some bad, some just interesting, but all notable. (As you may recall, I did a similar piece last year.) And since it’s also the season for New Year’s resolutions, I have some proposed uni-related resolutions for some of the sports world’s biggest movers and shakers.

Ready? Here we go, counting down the top dozen, from least to most momentous:

12. A Different-Looking Season in Seattle

On Sept. 24, the Seahawks celebrated the 10th anniversary of their 2013 championship season, which culminated in their Super Bowl XLVIII victory. They wore white over navy for that Super Bowl, so they wore that same uni combo for the Sept. 24 home game. It was the first time they’d ever worn white at home, making them the final NFL team to check that box.

That game was also the start of a streak in which the Seahawks did not wear their familiar mono-navy combo for five consecutive home games, making this a very different-looking season (and a better-looking season, in this observer’s opinion) in Seattle.

11. The Debut of Debutante Patches

MLB and the NFL both introduced patches this year for players making their league debuts. The two patch programs have slightly different guidelines (the NFL patch is worn only for the first game in which the rookie suits up, regardless of whether he actually appears in the game, while the MLB one is worn until the player is announced into a game, however long that takes), and the two patches also have different afterlives (the MLB patches become “1 of 1” relics for the trading card market, while the NFL rookies get to keep their patch-clad jerseys). But the two programs have one thing in common: Neither one seemed to generate much interest or buzz with fans, and I doubt anyone would even notice if they were quietly discontinued next year. We’ll have to wait and see if that happens.

10. The NHL Chooses Fanatics as Its Next Outfitter

The NHL announced in the summer of 2022 that it would not be renewing its uniform contract with Adidas at the conclusion of 2023-24 season. At first it wasn’t clear who the league’s new official outfitter would be, but we found out earlier this year: It will be Fanatics. Fanatics has made NHL retail jerseys for many years, of course, but this will be the first time they’ve made game jerseys for the NHL (or for any major-level pro league). Their logo will replace the Adidas logo on the rear collar when the 2024-25 season begins next fall, and they’ll presumably introduce a new tailoring template as well.