Pat Patriot Makes His Return This Sunday and I Cannot Wait

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/CymfULqhWJ

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 5, 2022

​Thanks to pseudo-safety rules from a league that allowed Tua Tagovailoa to play in a game four days after a concussion, the No Fun League banned secondary helmets for a decade, effectively killing some of the best throwback uniforms in the process. 

In 2021 a rule change that went into effect this season resurrected the secondary helmet (as long as they meet specific requirements I covered when the story broke last year). 

Some teams with no history, like the Houston Texans, opted for a new alternate helmet, while teams like the Eagles, Cowboys and Falcons are bringing back the classics. 

Go Birds. pic.twitter.com/PsrqW5mkz5

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 29, 2022

Well, this Sunday, the New England Patriots are rocking their red throwbacks for the first time since Week 7 of the 2012 season (a game I just so happened to attend). 

I went to the last red jersey game w/ my dad. Gronk had 2 TDs & McCourty returned a kickoff for a TD (also fumbled on one □) in an OT walk-off-sack win. 29-26. Tebow had 4 carries for the Jets! 2012 was a year huge for over the top IG filters. Bought a red jersey for the game. https://t.co/BRKlmnvdzL pic.twitter.com/fERFIkzAGO

— Doz #HireDozo (@DozonLife) October 4, 2022

This time they're going above and beyond with the details.

Reds are here. pic.twitter.com/J7JltI6Dh6

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 5, 2022

​Even in 2009, for the 50th anniversary of the AFL, and in 2010-2012 when the Patriots wore red at home, they kept their current logo on end zones and midfield logo. They haven't painted the field yet, but there are throwback banners up, and the turf at Gillette is clean-shaven. We're getting the ol' three-point stance Pat Patriot at midfield!

How great does @GilletteStadium look? #Patriots #Throwback @wbz pic.twitter.com/KWVZyKZBRp

— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) October 5, 2022

I'm fucking amped. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and boy did I miss these unis. Sure, we're 1-3, and Mac is banged up, but the perfect way to get back into the win column against a very beatable Lions team (they lead the league in points allowed) is a little extra swag boost from one of the greatest unis in NFL history. I'm firmly on the record that I hate the Patriots' current uniforms. They reek of bad post-break-up haircut, except a bad haircut will naturally fix itself over time. These current Wal-Mart uniforms are worse than Mac Jones' dance moves.

A □□□□ of Griddy.@MacJones_10 | #ForeverNE@budlight | #BudLightCelly pic.twitter.com/clflAWhowt

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 25, 2022

Next stop: bringing the 90s look back into the mix! 

Image Source

Enough time has passed. The Pats could easily rock these with their current helmets; it'd look fantastic (I'll take anything to get the Brady-break-ups off the field). That's a conversation for another day. I'm just pumped the Pats are finally allowed to wear their red unis again, and I love how they're going all out celebrating the look. They're scheduled to wear them again week 13 vs. the Bills on Thursday Night Football.