Nike spotlights the Elite 51 uniforms donned by the Giants and Cowboys in last night’s NFL opener.
Tonight the NY Giants and Dallas Cowboys will take the field for the NFL season opener wearing Nike’s next-generation NFL uniforms. The NFL Nike Elite 51 Uniform is the most innovative NFL uniform to ever hit the field, delivering superior lightweight performance in a fully integrated system of dress for athletes at the highest level. This uniquely engineered chassis and baselayer combination provides everything an athlete needs and nothing he doesn’t need. Rooted in body-led design, the uniform system is built for a body-contoured fit resulting in zero distractions in order to help amplify speed.
In addition to the new fabrication, teams chose varying levels of design changes reflecting their unique heritage. Both the Giants and the Cowboys have chosen to keep their traditional design aesthetic; however, the Giants stepped into both the new jersey and pant fabrication while the Cowboys have chosen to wear the new jersey threads and keep their former pant fabrication. They’ve also consolidated several colors of blue in the uniform to one distinct hue.
As a player, Nike’s co-founder Bill Bowerman wore the number 51, and after serving in the 10th Mountain Division in WWII he understood the importance of a uniform in battle. Lightweight mattered, as did movement and strength. As a coach, Bowerman knew that extra ounces added up and less weight meant increased mobility and speed.
What Bowerman started, Nike continues to perfect, crafting a fully integrated system of dress where the athlete’s baselayer works in concert with his entire uniform – true innovation from the inside out. Lightweight padding is integrated directly into the crucial “hit zones” in the baselayer. New innovations include integrating Flywire technology into the neckline to reduce weight and provide lockdown fit over pads, increasing sleeve articulation for better range of motion, and integrating new four-way stretch fabrication to provide a streamlined shrink-wrap fit. A design that enables speed without compromise.
THE NFL NIKE ELITE 51 – A Completely Integrated System of Dress
Key features include:
LIGHTER –The Nike jersey and pant, wet or dry are much lighter than previous versions
FLYWIRE TECHNOLOGY- Eliminates layers, reduces weight, and provides lockdown fit
ZONED MESH VENTILATION – Provides cooling zones for optimal thermoregulation
ZONED STRENGTH – High tenacity, stretch material, for light weight lockdown strength
CUT FOR MOBILITY – Four-way stretch, hydrophobic materials enable range of motion wet or dry
STRETCH TWILL NUMBERS – Four-way stretch even on numbering system
CUSTOMIZABLE BASELAYER PADDING – Nike Pro Combat Hyperstrong baselayer with integrated lightweight, Deflex padding offering customizable flexible protection
DEFLEX PADDING – Lightweight, flexible impact protection integrated into top “hit zone” areas
ALUMINUM D-RING BELT – Aircraft-grade aluminum D-ring belt reduces weight
The uniform also features the Nike Vapor Game Sock – a highly innovative sock designed specifically for football. The knee-high design combines compression, Nike Pro inspired cushioning, mesh venting and structure precisely where needed.
The Nike Vapor Jet 2.0 Gloves deliver a lightweight, breathable and articulated fit combined with innovative Magnigrip on the palms and between the fingers for a tacky grip suitable for all weather conditions. The team logo is featured prominently on the palm when athletes interlock both hands.
The Nike Vapor Talon Elite cleat is designed to maximize speed with premium performance attributes including adaptive traction, Hyperfuse construction and carbon fiber strength. Utilizing the best of Nike’s proven technologies, it provides lightweight traction and durability and a lockdown fit. Built for diverse ground conditions, the adaptive traction system utilizes on-demand forefoot talon cleats for multi-directional field movement.
Visit the NFL section of NikeInc.com for more details on Nike’s team uniforms.
