A 15-month process culminated with the release of the Jacksonville Jaguars new uniform Tuesday at EverBank Field.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan worked with Nike's Football Creator and Creative Director Todd Van Horne to create a uniform that reflected the Jacksonville community and the team that plays in it.
"The uniforms needed a new look. Something dynamic that will energize the fans and our players, and change our attitude on and off the field," said Khan.
"We wanted to do something symbolic with a sense of style," said Khan.
NFL rules allow teams to redesign their jerseys every five years, said Van Horne.
The new uniform is mainly black with teal and gold accents. It also features claw marks across the shoulders, around the neckline and within the stripe pattern on the pant placed in an aggressive forward facing position, said Van Horne.
"This Jaguar is always moving forward," said Van Horne.
The Jaguars made an effort to honor the military through the design of the uniform with a patch placed on the chest and covering the heart.
"I never experienced anything like this (the uniform honoring the military) anywhere I've lived in the last 26 years. It's incredible. The Jaguar organization, from its very inception, has been very, very gracious and very, very generous with the Navy in Jacksonville and it's just a continuation of that," said Capt. Doug Cochrane, commanding officer of Naval Station Mayport.
Khan presented Cochrane with a framed new jersey with the Jaguars' "Stand United" theme stitched across the shoulders.
Van Horne said the development of the new uniform took about 15 months and it includes function as well as fashion.
Some people questioned the choice of a black jersey and pants for a team that plays its home games in the Florida heat through August and September.
Van Horne addressed those doubts.
"What we learned from our Nike Sports Research Lab is that where you can have air flow from the body is one of the most critical things to keeping the body cool," said Van Horne.
Panels in the jersey at the stomach, small of the back and the side panels help to regulate air flow despite the snug fit.
Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny said he was impressed with the technology in the uniforms.
"The first thing that stands out is the fit. It's tight, but it forms to the body to give a full range of motion," said Posluszny.
While some of the players were able to try the uniforms Tuesday, the general public can pick up new fan jerseys Thursday at the Jaguars 2013 Draft Party at EverBank Field or online at nikestore.com, NFLShop.com and jaguars.com.
Nike became the official uniform supplier of the NFL in 2012 and provides all on-field, base layer, sideline and practice wear for all 32 teams.
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