Eagles bring back kelly green unis
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles bring back kelly green unis
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
In honor of the 1960 championship team, the Eagles will wear replicas of that team's kelly green uniforms in the home opener against the Packers, the franchise the Eagles beat, 17-13, 50 years ago.
The unveiling was held today at Franklin Field, site of that title game.
[One tidbit: The Eagles actually looked into holding the game at Franklin Field. They formed an advisory committee and came up with a plan of what it would take to be able to play the opener at the venerable stadium. There were a bunch of logistical obstacles -- parking among them -- but one of the major problems was the fact that there are no restrooms on the upper level of the stadium. But I digress ...]
Current Eagles DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek and Stewart Bradley wore the kelly greens today at the unveiling. They were joined by their decades-ago counterparts -- receiver Tommy McDonald, tight end Pete Retzlaff and linebacker/center Chuck Bednarik. Several other players from that team were also in attendance.
Owner Jeffrey Lurie announced the plans which will include a halftime ceremony and other assorted celebrations during the opening weekend. Lurie was asked if honoring the 1960 team was just a painful reminder that his team hasn't won a title in 50 years and during his nearly two-decade long tenure.
"It's all self-inflicted," Lurie said.
The Eagles haven't wore kelly green jerseys since the organization changed the primary team color to midnight green in 1996, two years after Lurie purchased the franchise.
Here's a link to Celek's Facebook page, where he has a picture of him in the new uniform.
It looks like the Eagles have another alternate jersey that fans can buy.
I wish they'd bring them back permanently.— mikerainey82- AWESOME!!!! I love those jerseys and have been waiting patiently for them to go with the throw backs...I was just hopeing to see McNabb in one....oh well.— traugdog420
- The kelly green. The helmets. The socks. Franklin Field. Concrete Charlie, Tommy MacDonald, and Pete Retzlaff. Has it really been almost 50 years?— Dave14
- i made those in madden— PHAN2
i like the kelly green for special occasions but not as our regular jerseys. looks too much like the jets.- The Birds need to dump the midnight green for good. Only kelly green is the team's real color. The jerseys those boys are wearing shouldn't be throwbacks!— everydayguy
- just a ploy to sell jerseys.— stonefly
Comment removed.- It would have been amazing to play it at Franklin Field. Even more amazing that 50 years has passed since 60,000 people and myself were at the game, the last time they won. I would have sat on the benches in the upper deck bleachers and peed in those trenches they have in the men's room just to see the game there.— Ballgame
- There is one reason, and one reason only, that they are doing this. They will make tons of money.— scars73
- should be the permanent jersey...midnight green looks blue in the light. Never liked Lurie messing with tradition. They were kelly green long before the Jets took on the color.— retzlaff
- I disagree. It's nice to see the guys in the old uni's but the new uni's are so much better. I'd be up for replacing the black jerseys with these though.— ynot716
- best thing they ever did in a while. bring em back permenantly. They mustve twisted Jeff Lurie's arm for this one, apparently his lady despises these jerseys. we depise management, its all equal.— sidanand
- Ka-ching....always more important than wins.— jimmymack
- I picked up a Vintage Randall #12 jersey last week at a thrift store!— brandelphia
- stonefuly: Midnight green was just a ploy to sell jerseys. Because of the popularity of Raiders gear, everyone decided they must incorporate either black or another dark color into their uniforms. Kelly green always felt right to me. But who cares? And why am I posting this?— p-diddy
- 50 years and counting since last NFL Championship in this city. One word...pathetic. Every other franchise in this city has at least 2 championships in that time. Eagles suck and always will as long as Reid is there...— tralala
- These days the Jets actually wear a hunter green / forest green.— everydayguy
- Comment removed.
Love the Kelly Green Jerseys. Cant wait to see the Eagles Players in them week 1 of the season.— briandawkins20- The kelly greens are the best..— albertpa
- Comment removed.
- Those Kelly green jerseys are the Eagles. Lurie had no right to come to Philly from afar and change what had always been the Eagles colors. He disrespected every Philadelphia fan and former players.— Carlos2
midnight green jerseys are better. Birds had the worst unis in the league til they went dark.- I think the major obstacle was they wouldn't have as much money at the Frank. But nice try with the upper level restroom though.— Phils_World_Champs
- Playing that game at Franklin Field would score major PR points with the fans. But there's no money in PR, huh Mr. Lurie?— jimmyeagles
The Mean Kelly Green Machine- look forward to the KK kelly green jersey,,we should stay with the kelly green and dump the phony midnight green they are not the real colors of this team,,we ran the phony/fraud QB out of town,now the lets get rid of the phony midnight green and go back to kelly green,a breath of fresh air..wolf.— wolf 4
- Green is green. Lurie was honest in '94 when he took over the team and gave jersey sales as the reason for the rebranding. No one - including in Philly - was buying the kelly green, they were near the bottom of the league. Bring back the old uniforms for a game or two - suddenly fans have a choice again. Everybody wins.— dragoon6
- They're just a bunch of losers. The Saints were 4 - 12 when the Eagles went to the championship game and they have a super bowl and we don't. Dogs. And the Kelly green is hideous. Like another said...just a money ploy. All you fools go out and get one! Hurry!— justacarpenter
