Why do away teams wear white in football

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Last updated: April 8, 2026

Quick Answer: In American football, away teams traditionally wear white jerseys because of historical television broadcasting limitations in the 1950s and 1960s. The NFL standardized this practice in 1957 when color television was rare, as white uniforms provided better contrast against dark home jerseys on black-and-white TVs. This tradition has persisted despite technological advances, with NFL teams typically wearing white for away games about 75% of the time, though some teams like the Dallas Cowboys famously prefer white at home.

Key Facts

The NFL standardized white away uniforms in 1957 to improve visibility on black-and-white television broadcasts
In the 1950s, only about 10% of American households had color television sets
The Dallas Cowboys have worn white jerseys at home games since 1964, bucking the traditional trend
NFL teams wear white for approximately 75% of their away games in modern seasons
The tradition originated when television networks like CBS and NBC needed clear visual distinction between teams

Overview

The tradition of away teams wearing white jerseys in American football dates back to the early television era of the 1950s. When professional football began gaining national television exposure through networks like CBS and NBC, broadcasters faced a significant challenge: most American households (approximately 90% in the mid-1950s) had black-and-white television sets. To ensure viewers could easily distinguish between teams during broadcasts, the NFL implemented a color-coding system where home teams wore their darker colored jerseys while visiting teams wore white. This practice was formally standardized by the NFL in 1957, though some teams had already been following similar conventions. The tradition has roots in earlier football history too - in college football's early days, teams would sometimes wear white when traveling to avoid laundry issues, but the television-driven standardization made it systematic in the professional game.

How It Works

The color designation system operates through NFL uniform rules and team agreements. Each NFL team has designated "home" and "away" uniform combinations that must be submitted to and approved by the league. Typically, the home team chooses which uniform they will wear first, and the visiting team must wear the contrasting color. Since most teams designate dark colors (like navy, black, or deep red) as their primary home jerseys, this naturally leads to visiting teams wearing white. The process involves equipment managers coordinating with opponents weeks before games. There are exceptions - some teams like the Dallas Cowboys famously prefer to wear white at home, which forces their opponents to wear dark jerseys when visiting Dallas. The system also accommodates special uniform games like "Color Rush" where both teams might wear non-traditional colors, but these require special league approval and occur only a few times per season.

Why It Matters

This tradition matters for several practical and historical reasons. From a broadcasting perspective, it ensures clear visual distinction between teams for television viewers, which remains important even with modern HD and 4K broadcasts. The color contrast helps viewers, especially those with color vision deficiencies, follow the action more easily. Commercially, it has created recognizable uniform traditions that become part of team identities - the Cowboys' silver-and-white home look is iconic precisely because it breaks from convention. Historically, it preserves a link to football's television revolution that helped make the NFL America's most popular sports league. The practice also affects equipment and logistics, as teams must plan and transport multiple uniform sets throughout the season based on these color designations.