NFL Team Colors: All 32 Teams Hex Codes, Pantone Matches and Color Psychology (2026 Season)
· Coloracci
The NFL is one of the most disciplined color systems in professional sport. Thirty-two franchises — the Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, Jets, Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Texans, Colts, Jaguars, Titans, Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, Commanders, Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, Saints, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Rams, 49ers and Seahawks — each guard a palette that has to survive stadium lighting, broadcast compression, merchandise print and a century of fan memory. As the 2026 NFL season kicks off in September, this guide breaks the whole league down division by division: official primary and secondary hex codes, approximate Pantone matches you can look up in our Pantone color finder, and the psychology behind every choice.
If you enjoy this format, we've done the same for NBA team colors, F1 team colors and tennis Grand Slam court colors.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills — Royal Blue #00338D / Red #C60C30
Royal blue is the color of civic reliability, and Buffalo leans on it hard: it reads as loyalty, endurance and blue-collar constancy. The red charging stripe injects urgency and aggression without ever taking over the uniform. The high-contrast pairing is also one of the most legible in the league on a snowy field.
Miami Dolphins — Aqua #008E97 / Orange #FC4C02
Aqua is almost unique in American pro sport — a cool, tropical hue that signals openness, speed and coastal identity rather than intimidation. The orange accent supplies warmth and optimism, creating a near-complementary tension that feels energetic instead of hostile. It is the most "sunlight" palette in the NFL.
New England Patriots — Nautical Blue #002244 / Red #C60C30
Deep navy communicates authority, control and institutional seriousness — fitting for a franchise built on process. The red keeps the patriotic reference alive and adds a jolt of competitive heat. Silver #B0B7BC trim adds a modern, metallic finish.
New York Jets — Gotham Green #125740 / White #FFFFFF
A dark, saturated green reads as growth, ambition and renewal, and it sets the Jets apart in a league dominated by blue. Green also carries an underdog freshness that suits their brand reboots. White provides the clean contrast the green needs to stay readable on broadcast.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens — Purple #241773 / Black #000000
Purple is the rarest hue in the NFL and historically the color of royalty, mystery and imagination — a perfect match for a team named after a poem. Black deepens the palette into intimidation. Gold #9E7C0C accents add prestige and championship weight.
Cincinnati Bengals — Orange #FB4F14 / Black #000000
This is the loudest color pairing in the league, and deliberately so. Orange is the highest-arousal warm hue, signaling energy and risk-taking, while black adds predatory menace. Together they mimic the tiger stripes literally printed on the helmets.
Cleveland Browns — Brown #311D00 / Orange #FF3C00
Brown is grounded, working-class and stubbornly unglamorous — arguably the most honest brand color in sport. Orange lifts it out of drabness and delivers visibility on the field. The palette signals grit and continuity rather than flash.
Pittsburgh Steelers — Gold #FFB612 / Black #101820
Black and gold is the classic industrial pairing, borrowed from Pittsburgh's city flag and steel heritage. Gold conveys achievement and value; black conveys strength and permanence. Few palettes in sport carry this much regional meaning per pixel.
AFC South
Houston Texans — Deep Steel Blue #03202F / Battle Red #A71930
The near-black blue projects stability and modern corporate confidence. Battle red is a deeper, less candy-like red that reads as resolve rather than excitement. It is a restrained, contemporary palette designed for the digital era.
Indianapolis Colts — Speed Blue #002C5F / White #FFFFFF
One of the most minimal identities in pro sport: a single blue and white. Deep blue signals trust, discipline and classic professionalism, and the extreme simplicity makes the horseshoe mark do all the work. Minimalism here reads as heritage confidence.
Jacksonville Jaguars — Black #101820 / Gold #D7A22A
Black establishes predatory authority, while gold provides luxury and contrast. Teal #006778 remains the distinguishing tertiary color, giving the brand a coastal, tropical signature no other team owns. The three-color system is unusually flexible for merchandise.
Tennessee Titans — Navy #0C2340 / Titans Blue #4B92DB
A dark navy base paired with a bright, almost sky-toned blue creates depth and lift within one hue family. This monochromatic-plus-accent approach reads as calm competence. Red #C8102E accents supply the necessary energy spike.
AFC West
Denver Broncos — Broncos Orange #FB4F14 / Navy #002244
Orange is high-visibility and altitude-bright, giving Denver one of the most instantly identifiable home looks in football. Navy anchors it so the palette doesn't tip into novelty. The combination balances aggression with authority.
Kansas City Chiefs — Red #E31837 / Gold #FFB81C
A pure, high-saturation red is the most physiologically arousing color in sport — it raises perceived aggression and dominance. Gold elevates it toward championship prestige rather than pure heat. It is a palette that photographs beautifully in a packed, red-out stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders — Silver #A5ACAF / Black #000000
The most iconic monochrome identity in American sport. Black communicates power, rebellion and refusal, while silver adds a cold, metallic edge of precision. Removing hue entirely makes the brand feel timeless and slightly outlaw.
Los Angeles Chargers — Powder Blue #0080C6 / Sunshine Gold #FFC20E
Powder blue is optimistic, Californian and unusually friendly for a contact sport — it reads as clarity and openness. The gold bolt supplies electric energy and warmth. This is one of the few NFL palettes that feels genuinely joyful.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys — Navy #003594 / Metallic Silver #869397
Navy is the color of establishment power, and Dallas uses it to project institutional scale rather than aggression. Silver adds a corporate, aerospace-era polish that matches the "America's Team" positioning. The famously off-white home jersey keeps the whole system understated.
New York Giants — Giants Blue #0B2265 / Red #A71930
A deep, slightly violet-leaning blue signals tradition, seriousness and East Coast heritage. The red accent provides urgency and patriotic reference. It is a conservative palette by design — continuity is the point.
Philadelphia Eagles — Midnight Green #004C54 / Silver #A5ACAF
Midnight green is one of the most distinctive colors in the league: a dark blue-green that reads as intensity, depth and unpredictability. It is aggressive without being red, which makes it feel modern. Silver and black accents give it metallic weight.
Washington Commanders — Burgundy #5A1414 / Gold #FFB612
Burgundy is a darkened, wine-toned red — dignified and historic rather than hot-tempered. Gold delivers ceremonial prestige and strong contrast against the deep base. Together they feel closer to a capital-city crest than a sports logo.
NFC North
Chicago Bears — Navy #0B162A / Orange #C83803
An almost-black navy communicates toughness, weather and old-school defense. The burnt orange is warmer and earthier than Denver's or Cincinnati's, which keeps the palette vintage rather than loud. It is arguably the most "November football" color pair in the league.
Detroit Lions — Honolulu Blue #0076B6 / Silver #B0B7BC
A bright mid-tone blue reads as energy, movement and approachability — lighter than most NFC identities. Silver adds industrial reference to Detroit's manufacturing history. Black accents give the modern uniforms extra contrast.
Green Bay Packers — Dark Green #203731 / Gold #FFB612
Deep forest green signals endurance, tradition and rootedness in place — appropriate for the league's oldest continuous identity. Gold adds warmth and championship symbolism. The palette has barely changed in seventy years, which is exactly the message.
Minnesota Vikings — Purple #4F2683 / Gold #FFC62F
Purple carries royalty, ambition and a touch of theatricality, giving Minnesota one of the most emotionally distinctive looks in football. Gold supplies Norse-treasure warmth and high contrast. The pairing is loud, but the deep purple keeps it dignified.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons — Red #A71930 / Black #000000
A slightly cooled, deeper red reads as controlled aggression rather than raw heat. Black delivers predatory authority and sharpens the falcon mark. Silver accents add speed and modernity.
Carolina Panthers — Panther Blue #0085CA / Black #101820
Process-bright blue against black is a genuinely unusual combination — cool, electric and slightly futuristic. Blue softens the intimidation of black into confidence. Silver trim completes a palette built for high-contrast broadcast.
New Orleans Saints — Old Gold #D3BC8D / Black #101820
The muted, antique gold is unique in the NFL: less flashy than Pittsburgh's, more ceremonial and closer to Mardi Gras heritage. Black grounds it and delivers drama. The palette reads as celebration and ritual rather than warfare.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Buccaneer Red #D50A0A / Orange #FF7900
A pure, high-energy red drives the identity, signaling attack and confidence. The orange accent is a deliberate nod to the franchise's creamsicle past and adds warmth. Pewter #B1BABF provides the metallic, weathered-armor tone.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals — Cardinal Red #97233F / Black #000000
This deeper, slightly crimson red feels serious and heritage-driven rather than bright and loud. Black adds weight and edge. Yellow #FFB612 accents give the bird mark its lift.
Los Angeles Rams — Rams Royal #003594 / Sol Gold #FFA300
Royal blue and a warm, saturated gold produce one of the most sunlit palettes in the league. Blue supplies trust and structure; gold supplies optimism and West Coast warmth. The near-complementary contrast is excellent for merchandise.
San Francisco 49ers — Red #AA0000 / Gold #B3995D
A deep brick red evokes Gold Rush history and durability rather than modern brightness. The muted, metallic gold is understated and heritage-driven. Together they feel like the most "classic Americana" palette in football.
Seattle Seahawks — College Navy #002244 / Action Green #69BE28
Navy provides Pacific Northwest depth and seriousness, while action green is one of the most disruptive accents in all of sport — a high-visibility volt tone that dominates any broadcast frame. Wolf grey #A5ACAF bridges the two. The palette is engineered for stadium noise and visual intimidation.
Most Common NFL Colors
Blue is the league's dominant hue: roughly 17 of the 32 franchises use a blue as a primary or major secondary color, spanning everything from Seattle's near-black navy to the Chargers' powder blue. Red is second, appearing in about 12 palettes, followed by gold or yellow in around 11 — usually as an accent that signals prestige rather than a primary. Black functions as a structural color in more than a dozen identities, while silver and grey appear in roughly nine. Genuinely rare choices are what create brand distinctiveness: purple (Ravens, Vikings), brown (Browns), aqua (Dolphins), midnight green (Eagles) and old gold (Saints) are each owned by one or two teams, which is precisely why they are memorable.
FAQ
Which NFL team colors are the most common? Blue is by far the most common NFL color, appearing in roughly 17 of 32 team palettes, followed by red (about 12 teams) and gold or yellow (about 11 teams). Black is widely used as a structural or accent color, while purple, brown and aqua are the rarest.
Which NFL team has changed its colors most? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made the most dramatic color changes, moving from the original creamsicle orange and white of 1976 to red and pewter in 1997, with periodic throwback returns to the orange scheme. The Washington franchise and the New England Patriots have also gone through significant palette and identity revisions, though both retained their core hues.
What Pantone colors do NFL teams use? NFL clubs specify Pantone Coated (PMS) values in their brand guidelines so uniforms, print and signage match. Common examples include PMS 186 C for Kansas City's red, PMS 123 C for gold tones used by Green Bay and Pittsburgh, PMS 282 C for deep navy palettes such as New England and Seattle, and PMS 172 C for Denver and Cincinnati orange. You can look up the closest Pantone match to any of the hex codes above with our Pantone tool.
Build Your Own Team-Inspired Palette
Take any hex code from this guide, find its closest match in our Pantone color finder, then expand it into a full, mathematically balanced scheme with our Fibonacci color generator.