Another sign the Patriots throwback uniforms are returning soon?

One of the most consistent takes from the Patriots’ fan base in recent years has been the call to bring bed the throwback red uniforms and Pat Patriot logo. An equipment rule change in 2013 prevented the team from continuing to wear the uniforms, but that rule is being revoked beginning with the 2022 season.

Will the Patriots bring the look back the first chance they get? Back in December, the team Hall of Fame tweeted that the red throwbacks “will be back in 2022.” However, since then other teams planning to bring back throwback looks including the Buccaneers and Eagles announced they would wait until 2023 due to supply chain shortages.

There was no update on the Patriots’ uniform situation during that time, leaving the status of the red jerseys up in the air. That is, until Thursday, when Jalen Mills posted a picture of a white throwback Patriots helmet to his Instagram story.

The picture appears to be taken inside the Patriots’ facility, where Mills and others have been this week for the start of the team’s offseason training program. It also appears to be a new helmet, given the tag looped around the ear hole.

Outside of that one tweet in December, there’s still yet to be an official announcement on the status of the Pat Patriot uniforms for 2022. The good news is, fans may not have to wait much longer. Generally, NFL teams have made uniform announcements in early May, right around the NFL Draft. When the Patriots unveiled their new uniforms in 2020, they did so the week before the draft. This news could also coincide with the schedule release, which the NFL announced on Thursday will be May 12 this season. Either way, it seems like news could be coming sooner rather than later.

The Patriots first wore red as an alternate/throwback look in 2002 during a Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions. That ended up being a one-off, and Pat Patriot didn’t return until 2009. The throwbacks remained in the rotation until 2012, but haven’t been worn since due to an NFL rule limiting teams to one helmet color per season – the rule that will be coming off the books in 2022. Red was the team’s primary color from its first season in 1960 up until 1992.