Functionality of Form: Falcons unveil a faster, smarter uniform built for movement
Inside the Falcons' uniform overhaul — where stitching, stretch and player input shaped every decision.
Story by Tori McElhaney
Roughly two years ago, Joey Galioto walked into a conference room overlooking the Atlanta Falcons' practice fields at IBM Performance Fields in Flowery Branch.
It's not a place he visits often.
As the Falcons' head of equipment operations, Galioto's world is usually filled with helmet tools, sweat-soaked pads and ripped jerseys. All the elements that define the physical reality of football.
The world of Microsoft Teams calls and strategy documents is far less familiar.
On the agenda that day: the Falcons' next uniform redesign, set for 2026.
And Galioto wasn't there just to listen.
"I felt like we had a major responsibility in what we need from equipment staff, the functionality of our uniforms," Galioto said, "but also being a voice for the guys in this locker room."
Few understand that locker room better than Galioto. Even fewer know how a uniform manifests on a player when the lights are the brightest. That's why Galioto's unique perspective was essential to the redesign process from the very beginning.
"For him to be as involved in this process as he has been, nobody has a better feel for the players than him and his staff and what they want, what they prefer in a uniform," Matt Ryan said of Galioto. "I know he was really diligent in that process of getting feedback from the players."
That feedback covered a wide range of topics — from fit and feel to overall functionality.
Players wanted a look that felt classic and timeless, but also sleek and fast. Above all, they wanted comfort on game days. From the start, that became Galioto's top priority: ensuring that whatever decisions were made would leave players feeling good every time they put the uniform on.
"The functionality of the uniform is very important, to be able to move and do what they do best," Galioto said. "We wanted to make sure they feel comfortable from start to finish from when they put it on to the time they take it off."
Much of the feedback Galioto received stemmed from the difference between the Falcons' 2020 uniforms and the throwback set introduced in 2022. Players loved the throwbacks; not just for the nostalgia, but for how they performed. They were lighter. They stretched. They breathed.
They worked.
Galioto heard the same thing from his staff.
The stitching needed improvement. The sleeves of the red jerseys of the late-2010s tended to rip during games because they didn't have enough give. The 2020 uniforms were tight, difficult to stretch and even harder to get on and off over pads. For equipment staff, it often meant worn hands and extra effort just to get players ready.
The goal became clear: create uniforms that function like the newer throwbacks.
That feedback, which was gathered, filtered and pushed forward by Galioto and his team, became the blueprint.
Nike embraced that challenge.
"When they think about their products, it's not just the visual aesthetic of their products but it is also the performance side," Shannon Joyner, the chief marketing officer for the Atlanta Falcons said of Nike. "We (had) a lot of conversations about manufacturing strategy, depending on the sow and stitching of certain elements working together in terms of body fluidity and movement."
That's because, more than anything, player comfort is paramount.
"Nike always leads with innovation," Ryan Airhart, the director of NFL apparel product design at Nike, said. "We listen to the voice of the athlete. I think that absolutely shows up in the Vapor F.U.S.E Chassis."
The result is a uniform built for movement.
Jerseys are made from a recyclable, dry-fit nylon fabric, with perforation zones designed to keep players cool during peak exertion.
"It has a lot of stretch, but also creates a really locked down, tight fit which makes it hard to grab a hold of," Airhart said of the uniform fabric. "Performance-wise, definitely creates some advantages there."
When a select group of players tried on the new uniforms for the first time, they noticed both the difference, but also the familiarity.
"Exact same jersey with how it fits, how it stretches," Bijan Robinson said of the new uniforms compared to the throwback jerseys. "That's what I want to feel like on whatever day we're playing on."
A.J. Terrell: "(The new uniforms) fit the same (as the throwbacks). They are not as tight as our old ones. … "Everything feels like its meant to be."
The uniform wasn't the only piece under review. The helmet, too, went through its own evaluation process. Feedback there suggested fewer changes were needed.
"We felt good that we had a strong helmet," Joyner said, "but just felt the need to make a few tweaks moving forward."
Larry Luk, Falcons vice president of creative: "There is so much black helmet history for the Atlanta Falcons. … We wanted to wear black to honor that whole era of Falcons."
Like the uniforms, the helmet design prioritized function and presentation. From manufacturing considerations to how it appears in photos and video.
The team is moving away from a brushed nickel facemask to a more standard silver, ensuring consistency while making it easier for manufacturers to match the color.
The helmet will also feature a "low-gloss" finish, which is a subtle but important detail that makes a noticeable visual impact.
"That glass really reflects the halo board above, (creating this illusion) of everyone having a halo on their head," Luk explained. "We wanted to go with this low-gloss because the photos and videos featured our Falcon (logo) in all of its glory."
