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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/sexyprimes511172329 on 2024-06-04 02:31:31+00:00.

I have seen a lot of posts talking about jerseys of late and wanted to share some basic info with other fans. I have been collecting jerseys for the past 20 years and have owned at least 500 jerseys in my time doing this. I currently have around 40. I have learned quite a bit about the ins-and-outs. I hope you find this useful.

First up, lets talk vocabulary.

  • Chassis of a jersey refers to the material and cut of a jersey, sans the numbers.
  • Fanatics is an online monopoly in the retail jersey world. They have been producing all officially-licensed retail jerseys with a Nike or Fanatics branding for the NFL since 2020. Fanatics owned sites include Fanatics, Fansedge, NFLShop, Lids, Sports memorabilia, JC Penny, and others. They are inevitable.
  • Legitimate is used synonymously with licensed with respect to determining authenticity of a jersey.
  • Heat Press is using heat to apply vinyl numbers to a material.
  • Heat Seal is using heat to melt and fuse the edges of plastic materials to create a seal.
  • Sublimation refers to the process of ‘ink printing’ onto a jersey. This is achieved by printing onto a transfer sheet and then transferring the ink printing to a jersey via heat. For NFL fan jerseys, this is exclusively a thin polyester material.
  • Tackle Twill is traditionally a polyester blend with a diagonal rib weave pattern. It is commonly used for jersey numbers.

Lets talk about the types of jerseys that can be had. Generally speaking, there are 8 “tiers” of jerseys that span 3 categories. These tiers can be loosely classified as Discount Store, Sublimated, Vinyl Print/Heat Pressed, T-Shirt Stitched, Retail Authentic, Autograph, Player Issued/Used, and Counterfeit. The 3 categories are Retail, For Player Use, and Counterfeit.

Discount Store Jerseys: Retail

These are jerseys that are typically sold in stores such as Wal-Mart, target, or other big-box stores. They often have the same base template for all 32 teams and are primarily nylon mesh with heat sealed numbers. Their price tag is typically $25-50 and are typically marketed to kids. Here is an example of a Discount Store Jersey.

My Opinion: Good for kids who are growing fast but ultimately these look, feel, and are extremely cheaply made. The print will quickly crack. Grade: D

Sublimated: Retail

Known as a Nike Legend jersey, these jerseys are a thin polyester Dry-Fit type material. All colors are sublimated onto the jersey. Their price tag is currently $100. Here is an example of a Nike Legend jersey with sublimated coloring and numbers.

My opinion: These jerseys are very light and comfortable but will snag incredibly easily, A cat, Velcro, sharp counter, or seatbelt rubbing will cause irreparable snags and light to heavy wear spots. Stains do not come out of these. They are worthwhile if you only intend for a few uses or can be had for far below retail. Grade: D+

Vinyl Print/Heat Press: Retail

These jerseys are referred to by Fanatics as “Nike Game.” They are 100% Polyester Tricot shirts with a chassis resembling a T-Shirt. They have vinyl decals and stripes with heat pressed numbers. These are the most commonly purchased jerseys and can be found at any sports store or pro shop. Their price tag is currently $130 ($180 for customized). Here is an example of a Nike Game jersey with heat pressed numbers.

My Opinion: They are harder to snag than the sublimated jerseys but do not resist stains well. Their vinyl numbers and decals are prone to cracking with washes (always wash cold with no fabric softener and hang dry!). They will last for a few years of Sunday wearing before the break down. They are not realistically repairable. Grade: C

T-Shirt Stitched: Retail

Known as “Nike Limited,” these jerseys used the same chassis and the vinyl print jerseys above for the first few years of their existence (2012-2015/16). Their decals and stripes are printed while the numbers are made of a material similar to a thick plastic bag. Nike Limited chassis have ranged from Speed Machine to Vapor to Fuse but largely have remained the same in material with the bulk of changes being aesthetic. These jerseys are typically only released for select players and restocked near the beginning of the season. Their price tag is currently $175. Here is an example of a Nike Limited FUSE jersey with stitched on, plastic-bag like numbers.

My opinion: these are the best “bang for your buck” retail jerseys in terms of aesthetic and durability. The numbers will last longer than the vinyl numbers of the heat pressed jerseys but do have a tendency to bubble in heat and can look very old if the numbers obtain hard creases. These creases are nearly impossible to remove from the twill. Without spending 2 Benjamíns, these look much better than the previous. I do miss the days when they were $130 and far more worth it at the time. Grade: B

Retail Authentic: Retail

Known as “Nike Elite,” these are marketed as “the closest thing to what the players wear that you can get in stores.” They feature cuffed sleeves and a slimmer fit. They are made of Nylon and Spandex and stretch, unlike others. Patches and decals are embroidered on and stripes may be fabric or printed. Elites have had a few different chassis, beginning in 2012 with an Elite 51, then to the Speed machine in 2016 and 2017, Vapor in 2017 and 2018, and FUSE in 2023. The twill used on these jerseys is different from the limited, being thinner and more pliable. The sizes of Elites is measured, not in SML, but with chest measurements instead (Listed as 40, 44, 48, and so on). Their neck tag will be embroidered on. Their price tag is currently $350 ($335 for older models, $385 for personalized elites). Here is an example of a Nike Elite FUSE jersey.

My opinion: They are the best retail jersey you can buy but the Fanatics price is not worth it. The number quality of these is poor for the cost. I personally recommend buying blank templates of these on various resale sites or used elites and stripping the numbers off. Blank elites may run anywhere from $50 to $300. These jerseys can then be sent to tailors for number customizations. This typically runs $120 to $200 depending on the team, need to strip, and other factors. I personally recommend the Seattle Seahawks team tailor, STT Sports Lettering Co, as they use team authentic twill on all jerseys they customize. Here is an example of a Nike Vapor Elite that STT customized for me. Grade: C (Fanatics), B+ (tailored)

Autograph: Retail

These jerseys are often referred to as “customs” and are typically unlicensed. They are made primaily for autograph signings and not to wear. Many may come with odd chassis to be easier to frame. Quality and materials vary widely. Here is an example of an Autograph “custom” jersey.

My opinion: I am not a fan though some do look good in frames. To each their own. Grade: (it depends)

Player Issued/Game Used: For Player Use

These are jerseys created specifically for in-game use and are not directly available for fans to buy. These jerseys use much more durable polyester blend than any retail jersey. They use much thicker and pliable twill than a retail jersey. These jerseys are designed to be beat up. Each jersey issued to a player is cut to their liking. The sleeves, waistline, and neckline may be altered, among many other additions. These jerseys can be purchased via occasional team sales, through team or NFL related auction houses, and on various resale websites. Their prices vary largely on player, team, and whether or not they were used in game. The cheapest can typically be purchased for around $100 for an issued, non-game used while the most expensive can be had for tens of to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Here is an example of a game used FUSE jersey.

My opinion: These are 2nd to none but their price is not attainable for many. Lesser known players can be purchased for less than most retails and wearing these always gets a few comments. Grade: (it depends)

Counterfeit

These jerseys are based upon a Nike Elite. Many fans will incorrectly compare them to vinyl print jer…

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