Nike became the official uniform supplier for the NFL in 2012.
The agreement replaced Reebok, which had supplied NFL uniforms exclusively for a decade. Nike’s first NFL uniforms were unveiled on April 3, 2012, for all 32 teams, ahead of the 2012 season.
Nike focused less on radically changing team identities and more on performance details. The uniforms used lighter materials, altered cuts, improved ventilation, and a more body-contoured fit. The Seattle Seahawks received the most noticeable visual redesign, while many other teams retained familiar colors and basic layouts.
A common mix-up is confusing the announcement year with the season in which the uniforms appeared: both milestones fall in 2012. Nike had already made professional team uniforms in soccer, including the Portland Timbers’ 1979 kit, but the NFL deal marked its arrival as the league-wide uniform provider. New Era handled on-field caps under the broader licensing arrangement.