Big Blue is morphing into Big Red.
In conjunction with a wide range of celebratory plans for their 100th anniversary season, the Giants unveiled Thursday a “Century Red” alternate uniform that will be worn up to two times this season.
It marks the return of the fan-polarizing primarily red jersey that disappeared after 2007 — but with a significant twist.
The new throwback includes modernized nods to the 1933 jersey, 1938 helmet and 1925 pants and socks.
It is the culmination of a two-year design process.
The red top includes a thick blue middle with white numbers and an old-school font. The tan pants paired with red-and-blue-striped socks are reminiscent of the original look of the team, including when it first won an NFL championship in 1927. The winged helmet was used from 1937-47, under the winningest coach in franchise history (Steve Owen).
It has not been determined which game(s) the Giants will wear the “Century Red” uniform.
It might make sense Sunday, Dec. 29 (Week 17) at home against the Colts, who beat the Giants in the 1958 championship game — commonly known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”
Because NFL rules allow for two different alternate jerseys to be worn up to a total of three times in a season, the Giants still will be able to wear their popular 1980s blue legacy look (unveiled in 2022) in at least one game.
Red was a larger part of the Giants’ color scheme for their first three decades of existence.
It was important to owner John Mara that the Giants not just focus on the Super Bowl era when celebrating their history, which dates to his grandfather buying the team for $500 in 1925.
The Giants reintroduced a red jersey on a once-per-year basis in 2004. It lasted four seasons, after the Giants went 1-3 in red.
Like all uniforms worn this year, the centennial jersey will feature a commemorative “100 seasons” patch that was revealed this week and designed with eight core elements of Giants history.
The patch is shaped like the Polo Grounds, where the Giants played from 1925-55.
“I feel like [the uniform] is gritty and vintage,” linebacker Bobby Okereke said in a statement. “It’s a throwback to the 1920s, 1930s when they were out there just getting grimy. It’s a testament to all the guys who played before. They paved the way for us to play this great game.”