A Deep Dive on the Buccaneers’ Creamsicle Uniforms

One of the NFL’s most famous uniforms is returning as a throwback this fall. Here are 10 things you might not know about it.

Doug Williams quarterbacking the creamsicle-clad Bucs in 1979.

A few weeks ago I took an in-depth look at the Denver Broncos’ 1997 uniforms, which remain the most radical uni redesign in NFL history. One of the readers who posted a comment on that article was Kevin Cearfoss, who asked if I could do a similar deep-dive treatment for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ “creamsicle” uniforms. I liked that idea, especially since the creamsicles are finally returning to the field this season as a throwback, so here we are.

The creamsicles, which debuted in 1976, have undergone an odd reputational renaissance over the years. Once derided as one of the worst NFL uniform sets ever (no doubt in part because they were worn by one of the worst NFL teams ever), they’re now treated with respect and even affection. For some fans, this change of heart is mostly about the nostalgic embrace of perceived kitsch — the “so bad, it’s good” factor. But I also think many fans have made a genuine aesthetic reassessment regarding the creamsicles. I mean, if you look at some of the other uniforms currently being worn around the NFL, the orange-era Bucs look pretty good by comparison.

With that in mind, here are 10 things you might not know about the creamsicle uniforms (one of which I didn’t know myself until I started working on this article), along with a few additional notes, all of which you can use to amaze and/or annoy your friends when watching the creamsicles’ triumphant return to the field this fall.

1. The Bucs’ colors were originally supposed to include green.

After the team name “Buccaneers” was chosen in 1975, the plan was for the Bucs to wear orange and green. As you can see above, The St. Petersburg Times even came up with a placeholder mascot and logo, both of which featured green. But green was eventually given the heave-ho due to concerns that an orange/green combo would look too much like Florida A&M or the Miami Dolphins.