Army and Nike unveil Army-Navy Game uniform honoring 250 years of service and sacrifice

On Dec. 13, 2025, the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen will square off in Baltimore at M&T Bank Stadium for the 126th Army-Navy Game, presented by USAA. The Army side will be clad in Nike uniforms loaded with symbolic features to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the service branch and honor the soldiers who have defended our nation throughout history.

(U.S. Army)

Amid the rising tensions of the American Revolution, the United States Army was born on June 14, 1775. Established as the Continental Army through a resolution passed by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, the Continental Army was formed under the command of Gen. George Washington. Initially composed of colonial militia and minutemen, often dismissed by the British as an unprofessional force, the Continental Army gradually developed the discipline, training, and cohesion needed to stand toe-to-toe with one of the world’s strongest militaries.

The military tradition established on that warm day in Philadelphia carried forward through generations of American soldiers who served over the last 250 years. A pillar of that legacy is the United States Military Academy at West Point. Founded on March 16, 1802, by President Thomas Jefferson, the academy has long educated and inspired members of the Corps of Cadets to become commissioned leaders of character dedicated to Army Values and lifelong service. Its storied “Long Gray Line” includes figures such as Ulysses S. Grant, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, Robert E. Lee, H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Buzz Aldrin, and Frank Borman.

A central part of West Point culture is the annual Army-Navy Game, a football rivalry that began in 1890 and spans 125 meetings. Navy leads the all-time series 63-55-7, claiming the most recent meeting with a 31-13 victory on Dec. 14, 2024. While not the most high-profile rivalry in college football, the game carries an aura unlike any other. It is an opportunity to honor the midshipmen and cadets who have taken an oath to defend the nation, and to showcase the teams’ uniforms that pay tribute to the history of each service branch.

Since 2016, Army Football, the United States Military Academy’s Department of History and War Studies, and Nike have collaborated on a special Army-Navy uniform series. Previous editions have honored significant Army units including the 82nd Airborne Division (2016), 10th Mountain Division (2017), 1st Infantry Division (2018), 1st Cavalry Division (2019), 25th Infantry Division (2020), Special Forces Command (2021), 1st Armored Division (2022), 3rd Infantry Division (2023), and 101st Airborne Division (2024). This year’s concept, “250 Years of Service & Sacrifice,” pays tribute to the Army as an institution.

The 2025 uniform incorporates numerous symbolic design features. The Army Seal appears on every helmet, signifying that the players represent not just West Point but the entire Army. Its placement underscores the weight, history, and responsibility of 250 years of soldier and family service.

The “1775” backplate on the helmet marks the founding year of the Army and anchors the uniform in the service’s 250-year legacy.

army 1775 uniform army-navy game — (U.S. Army)

A depiction of the Great Chain printed on the front of the jersey represents the massive iron chain once stretched across the Hudson River during the Revolutionary War to prevent British warships from sailing upriver and splitting the colonies. It symbolizes protection, ingenuity, and the Army’s role in defending the nation from its earliest days.

The purple streaks and outlines woven throughout the uniform symbolize the sacrifices of soldiers and Gold Star Families, with the color tracing its heritage back to the first Military Badge for Merit issued by George Washington during the American Revolution, and later the Purple Heart, a medal awarded to those wounded in service of their country.

The text on the uniform mirrors the handwriting and style of the Constitution, underscoring that the Army exists not to serve a monarch but to protect a set of ideas. The players who take the field on Dec. 13th, as well as those who came before them, have taken an oath to defend the Constitution.

The Old Guard Espontoon, a ceremonial weapon carried by the Army’s oldest active unit, is etched into the helmet of every Black Knights player. It links the warrior heritage across generations and symbolizes the Army’s enduring role as the “tip of the spear.”

army-navy game army 1775 helmet — (U.S. Army)

The Great Seal of the Army on the right shoulder highlights the service branch’s dual responsibility in both peace and war, symbolized by the eagle holding an olive branch and arrows. Its inclusion reinforces that soldiers, and the players who represent them, understand that they have a duty to perform under either condition.

The uniform’s marble print color is inspired by the marble headstones found in national cemeteries such as Arlington, symbolizing the legacy, sacrifice, and enduring strength of generations of American soldiers. The textured pattern turns the jersey and pants into a visual tribute, connecting today’s players to 250 years of Army service and remembrance.

Together, the uniform’s design elements create a powerful tribute to the Army’s 250 years of service and sacrifice. When the Black Knights line up opposite Navy, they will do so wearing symbols that honor the soldiers who came before them and the cadets who will soon join the ranks. The game remains a rivalry, but the meaning behind the uniforms underscores something much deeper: a commitment to duty, legacy, and the nation they serve.

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