Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?)

**Bill Schaefer** Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:45 am

Back in the 1980s a number of teams (or maybe it was just the Jets, but I don't think so) wore pants like the ones Richard Todd has on in the 1983 AFC Championship Game in Miami. They have openings to display the belt all the way around the waste. I think these need to be featured for the correct teams and for the correct years. After all, we included logo belt-buckle covers for the Jets and Broncos - why not these?

Who else wore them and when??? I want to say the Patriots and Colts but I'm not sure.

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 83329010

**Bill Schaefer** Mon Mar 18, 2013 11:19 am

It appears that they wore that style since that combos inception in 1978...

Sept 17, 1978...

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1978_010

Oct 21, 1979...

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1979_110

Nov 16, 1980
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/rob-lytle-brushes-off-jet-sets-sail-on-key-gainer-for-news-photo/161980695

Dec 27, 1981 - AFC Wildcard

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1981_110

1982 Season - reference the AFC Championship Game above

Dec 10, 1983

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1983_110

Dec 7, 1986

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1986_110

Dec 20, 1987

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1987_110

Dec 18, 1988

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1988_110

Oct 1 1989

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1989_110

(* - Note that Dickerson has the same type of pants on also. Next to check would be the Colts.)

Dec 2, 1990 - normal pants design

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1990_110

It is a fact that this model of pants was worn by the Jets from 1978-1989.

**Bill Schaefer** Mon Mar 18, 2013 11:38 am

1980 = normal white belts

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1980_110

Nov 15, 1981 = normal blue belts

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1981_112

Sept 12, 1982

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1982_010

Nov 13, 1983

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1983_111

Nov 25, 1984

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1984_110

Dec 9, 1985

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1985_110

Oct 5, 1986

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1986_111

Dec 20, 1987 - NOTE - Chargers wearing these pants also!

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1987_111

Nov 13, 1988

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1988_111

Nov 12, 1989

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1989_111

Even the 1995 BLUE PANTS had this feature with a white belt...

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1995_b10

OK, I'm getting tired of this. A not-so-quick glimpse through Getty reveals that this style of pants/belt was worn up through the 2003 season.
Jan 11, 2004

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 2003_010

However for the 2004 season, they changed to match white belts with their white pants...
Dec 12, 2004

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 2004_110

To sum up, the Colts wore this style of pants/belts from 1980-2003 and then switched to white belts for the 2004 season.

**Bill Schaefer** Mon Mar 18, 2013 11:40 am

Chargers need to be researched...
Dec 20, 1987

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1987_112

**Bill Schaefer** Mon Mar 18, 2013 11:41 am

Patriots need to be researched...
Dec 16, 1984

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1984_111

**bigbluelarry** Mon Mar 18, 2013 12:05 pm

As I mentioned in the email I sent this morning, it appears that most of the AFC East wore this style at some point from the late 70's through the mid-to-late 80's.

Buffalo @ Miami (orange belts) 12/19/81
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Kim_bokamper_1981_12_19

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Kim_bokamper_1981_12_19

Buffalo @ Miami (aqua belts) 10/12/86
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Dwight_stephenson_1986_10_12

New England @ Miami 1/12/86 AFC Championship Game
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Dan_marino_1986_01_12

Indianapolis @ Miami 9/14/86
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Barry_krauss_1986_09_14

Indianapolis @ Miami 9/15/85
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Mike_kozlowski_1985_09_15

New England @ Jets 9/21/87
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Tony_eason_1987_09_21

Jets @ Miami 12/15/79

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Steve_towle_1979_12_15

**Bill Schaefer** Mon Mar 18, 2013 12:23 pm

Thanks Larry.
I guess our next additions to the research checklist will need to be the...
Patriots (at least 84-87)
Let's lock down these years.

We know...
NY Jets - 1978-1989
Colts - 1982-2003 (reg. blue in 1981, reg. white 2004-2011)
Dolphins - 1973-82 orange peek-a-boos
- 1983-88 aqua peek-a-boos
- 1989-96 reg. orange
- 1997 regular aqua
Chargers - 1985-2011
- white belts on white pants when worn with powder jerseys

**bigbluelarry** Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:24 pm

Colts had this with both the white pants and the grey/silver.

Baltimore @ New England 9/4/83
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Mike_pagel_1983_09_04

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Mike_pagel_1983_09_04

**bigbluelarry** Mon Mar 18, 2013 3:45 pm

One side note here is the Dolphins belt colors do not match up with what is currently in the database.

Miami @ Cincinnati 11/20/77 orange belts
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Bob_griese_1977_11_20

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Bob_griese_1977_11_20

Miami @ San Diego 10/15/78 orange
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Steve_towle_1978_10_15

Miami @ Washington 12/3/78 orange
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Delvin_williams_1978_12_03

Miami @ Atlanta 9/21/80 orange
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Woody_bennett_1980_09_21

Buffalo @ Miami 12/19/81 orange
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Kim_bokamper_1981_12_19

Jets @ Miami 12/18/82 orange
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) David_woodley_1982_12_18

Miami @ New England 11/13/83 aqua
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Tony_nathan_1983_11_13

Seattle @ Miami 12/31/83 Wild Card Playoff aqua
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Mark_duper_1983_12_31

Seattle @ Miami 12/29/84 Divisional Playoff aqua
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Dan_marino_1984_12_29

Pittsburgh @ Miami 1/6/85 AFC Championship aqua
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Mark_clayton_1985_01_06

Cleveland @ Miami 1/4/86 Divisional Playoff aqua
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Reggie_roby_1986_01_04

10/19/86 LA Raiders @ Miami aqua
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Marcus_allen_1986_10_19

Houston @ Miami 11/2/86 aqua
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Don_shula_1986_11_02

Miami @ Cincinnati 11/8/87 aqua
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Eddie_brown_1987_11_08

Green Bay @ Miami aqua
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Bob_brudzinski_1988_09_18

Miami @ Tampa Bay 10/30/88 aqua
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) John_bosa_1989_11_05

Buffalo @ Miami 9/10/89 looks like normal pants w/orange belts
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Jeff_cross_1989_09_10

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Reggie_roby_1989_09_10

Indianapolis @ Miami 11/5/89 belts orange on white pants too
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) John_bosa_1989_11_05

Pittsburgh @ Miami 11/26/89
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Tim_worley_1989_11_26

**bigbluelarry** Mon Mar 18, 2013 6:05 pm

The Chargers started with these in 1985, the first year with white pants:

Buffalo @ San Diego 12/1/85
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Don_coryell_1985_12_01

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Don_coryell_1985_12_01

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Billy_ray_smith_1985_12_01

Dallas @ San Diego 11/16/86
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Sam_claphan_1986_11_16

Cleveland @ San Diego 11/1/87
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Dan_fouts_1987_11_01

San Diego @ Miami 10/16/88
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Mark_malone_1988_10_16

San Diego @ Washington 12/10/89
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Billy_joe_tolliver_1989_12_10

I haven't found much beyond this point...it's impossible to tell with the navy blue pants!

Houston Oilers @ San Diego 9/19/93
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Sean_jones_1993_09_19

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Sean_jones_1993_09_19

**bigbluelarry** Mon Mar 18, 2013 6:59 pm

Baltimore / Indianapolis
Baltimore @ New England 9/6/81 pants normal, but belts are blue (database shows white)
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Curtis_dickey_1981_09_06

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Curtis_dickey_1981_09_06

Baltimore @ New England 9/4/83
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Mike_pagel_1983_09_04

Buffalo @ Baltimore 10/16/83
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Chris_hinton_1983_10_16

Indianapolis @ Miami 9/15/85
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Kim_bokamper_1985_09_15

Indianapolis @ Atlanta 12/7/86
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Gary_hogeboom_1986_12_07

Indianapolis @ Miami 11/15/87
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Eric_dickerson_1987_11_15

Indianapolis @ New England 11/22/87
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Gary_hogeboom_1986_12_07

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Jon_hand_1987_11_22

Indianapolis @ New England 10/2/88 grey/silver trim gone, belt loops still open
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Eric_dickerson_1988_10_02

Indianapolis @ Jets 10/1/89
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Eric_dickerson_1989_09_01

Indianapolis @ Miami 11/5/89 {Dolphins belts orange again!}
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Jarvis_williams_1989_11_05

Indianapolis @ LA Raiders 9/15/91
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Eric_dickerson_1991_09_25

Indianapolis @ Buffalo 9/17/95
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Colts_bluepants1995

**Bill Schaefer** Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:50 pm

So as far as I can tell for the Dolphins...
1977-1982 - orange 'peek-a-boo' belts
1983-1988 - aqua 'peek-a-boo' belts

(found 1988 photo here from Nov 27, 1988)

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1988_112

In 1989, the 1st year of the aqua pants, the Dolphins went to a regular orange belt for all combos.

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1989_112

Getty photos shows they continued to wear orange belts for all regular combos in 1990-96, as well. (NOT the 1994 throwback - aqua)

In 1997 they wore aqua belts with both white & aqua pants.

**Bill Schaefer** Mon Mar 18, 2013 8:23 pm

Starting in 1985 the Chargers have continuously worn the 'peek-a-boo' belts up until 2011.
Even when they adopted the navy pants, they still had the same design going on as seen in this photo from the 1994 AFC Championship Game.

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1994_010

Even in 2006 when they began wearing the powder blues as an alternate, the peek-a-boo belt design is evident while wearing a white belt/

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 2006_110

When they altered their uniforms in 2007, the peek-a-boos were still there.

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 2007_110

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 2007_111

Even in 2011, the last year pre-Nike, all three combo featured the peek-a-boos.

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 2011_110

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 2011_111

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 2011_112

**Bill Schaefer** Tue Mar 19, 2013 2:21 pm

Looks as though they also wore the style in 1973 (Dec 30)

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1973_110

in 1974 (DEC 21 - AFC Divisional Playoff)

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1974_110

and 1975 (DEC 14)

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1975_111

and in 1976 (Nov 28)

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1976_110

THEY DID NOT however WEAR THEM DURING THE 1972 PERFECT SEASON!

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1972_010

**bigbluelarry** Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:44 pm

I'll get the Patriots started...it goes back prior to 1984, not sure how far yet...

St.Louis Cards @ New England 11/29/81
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Shelby_jordan_1981_11_29

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Shelby_jordan_1981_11_29

San Francisco @ New England 10/2/83
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Andre_tippett_1983_10_02

Cincinnati @ New England 10/14/84
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Kenneth_sims_1984_10_14

New England @ Philadelphia 12/9/84
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Tony_eason_1984_12_09

New England @ LA Raiders 1/5/86 Divisional Playoff
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Marcus_allen_1986_01_05

New England @ Miami 1/12/86 AFC Championship
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Don_blackmon_1986_01_12

St.Louis vs New England 8/2/86 Hall of Fame Game @ Canton
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Ed_reynolds_1986_08_02

New England @ Denver 1/4/87 Divisional Playoff
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Craig_james_1987_01_04

New England @ Jets 9/21/87
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Tony_eason_1987_09_21

Indianapolis @ New England 10/2/88
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Eric_dickerson_1988_10_02

Jets @ New England 11/5/89
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Jim_sweeney_1989_11_05

Seattle @ New England 9/20/92
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Andre_tippett_1992_09_28

**bigbluelarry** Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:42 pm

Plugging a few holes in the timeline...

New England @ Oakland 12/18/76 Divisional Playoff
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Sam_cunningham_1976_12_18

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Sam_cunningham_1976_12_18

Jets @ New England 10/30/77
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Sam_cunningham_1977_10_30

New England @ St.Louis Cards 9/10/78
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Leon_gray_1978_09_10

Cleveland @ New England 9/1/80
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) John_hannah_1980_12_01

New England @ Miami 1/8/83 Wild Card Playoff
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Mosi_tatupu_1983_01_08

BONUS - add Cincinnati to the list!
Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh 10/17/77 black belts
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Ken_anderson_1977_10_01

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati 12/10/77 orange belts
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Ken_anderson_1977_12_10

Houston @ Cincinnati 10/29/78 orange belts
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Dan_pastorini_1978_10_29

**Bill Schaefer** Wed Mar 20, 2013 7:30 am

Just a guess but I bet NE's STOPPED at 1992 since they went to the new uniforms in 1993.

**Bill Schaefer** Wed Mar 20, 2013 7:33 am

That Cincinnati situation needs more digging.
I find it odd that they would wear both white AND black belts in 1977.
I bet one of the photos is mis-labeled.

**bigbluelarry** Wed Mar 20, 2013 7:40 am

Bill Schaefer wrote:That Cincinnati situation needs more digging.
I find it odd that they would wear both white AND black belts in 1977.
I bet one of the photos is mis-labeled.

Actually I think I noticed a definite pattern of black belts with white jerseys and orange belts with black jerseys. I'll look around some more as time allows.

**bigbluelarry** Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:08 am

Cincinnati @ Atlanta 10/26/75
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Ken_anderson_1975_10_26

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati 11/28/76
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Franco_harris_1976_11_28

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati 10/10/77
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Ken_anderson_1977_12_10

Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh 10/17/77
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Ken_anderson_1977_10_17

Miami @ Cincinnati 11/20/77
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Archie_griffin_1977_11_20

Cincinnati @ Minnesota 8/22/78 Pre Season
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Archie_griffin_1978_08_01

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Archie_griffin_1978_08_22

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati 9/17/78
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Jim_leclair_1978_09_17

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Randy_grossman_1978_09_24

Houston @ Cincinnati 10/29/78
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Dan_pastorini_1978_09_01

San Diego @ Cincinnati 11/1/79
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Archie_griffin_1979_11_01

Houston @ Cincinnati 9/28/80

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 2465586

**Bill Schaefer** Wed Mar 20, 2013 10:43 am

**Bill Schaefer** Wed Mar 20, 2013 12:07 pm

It appears that 1975 is the first appearance of the different style.

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 197510

In 1974 they weren't there...

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 197410

Of note, it seems they always used a blue belt, even when paired with the red pants in 1979-80

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1979_r10

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1980_r10

and from 1984-87 and 1990-92 (see in above posts)

Patriots summary...
New pants/belt style from 1975-1992 using blue belts only.

**bigbluelarry** Wed Mar 20, 2013 3:58 pm

Cripes! This goes back further than we thought...the Jets wore this style going back to at least Super bowl III.

Jets vs Baltimore Super Bowl III 1/12/69
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Bubba_smith_1969_01_12

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Bubba_smith_1969_01_12

Jets @ San Diego 9/28/69
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Paul_crane_1969_09_28

**bigbluelarry** Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:01 pm

Some more early Jets...

eNew England @ Jets 10/29/67--- Jets wearing normal pants w/white belts
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Joe_namath_1967_09_01

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Joe_namath_1967_09_01

Jets @ San Diego 12/24/67
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Speedy_duncan_1967_12_24

Oakland @ Jets 12/29/68 AFL Championship Game---Jets wearing "peel-a-boo" pants, bets are green
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Ben_davidson_1968_12_29

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Ben_davidson_1968_12_29

Jets @ San Diego 9/28/69
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Don_maynard_1969_09_28

Cincinnati @ Jets 11/23/69
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Bobby_hunt_1969_11_23

Oakland @ Jets 11/30/69
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Daryle_lamonica_1969_10_30

Oakland @ Jets 12/6/70
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Al_woodall_1970_12_06

Jets @ Baltimore 12/19/70
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Bubba_smith_1970_12_19

Kansas City @ Jets 11/7/71 {Jets with a rare WAH for this era}
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Emerson_boozer_1971_11_07

Jets @ Miami 11/19/72
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Joe_namath_1972_11_19

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Back_alley_john_1974_11_19

St.Louis @ Jets 11/23/75
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Terry_metcalf_1975_11_23

Jets @ New England 12/7/75
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Joe_namath_1975_12_07

**Bill Schaefer** Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:01 am

<SIGH>

OK, so it looks like we need to add 1968-78 Preseason to the list.
I had originally started at the 1978 regular season when the Jets unveiled there new uniforms.

I guess this makes the Jets the originators of the style, right?

Another thing, Larry...
Your 1967 photos show white belts.
How far back was it that they began the white belts?
Surely not the 1st 2 years as the Titans, but after that...?

**bigbluelarry** Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:25 am

Bill Schaefer wrote:
I guess this makes the Jets the originators of the style, right?

Yep, looks that way.

**bigbluelarry** Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:23 pm

Jets belt colors from 1964 - couldn't find anything from 1963:

Denver @ Jets 9/12/64 they look to be white...
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Corbis-U1440265

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Corbis-U1440265

Kansas City @ Jets 9/18/65 both teams are white...
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Corbis-U1487875

Houston @ Jets 11/21/65
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Corbis-BE059593

Houston @ Jets 9/18/66 Namath with the impressive vertical!!!
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Corbis-BE059584

John C Thu Mar 21, 2013 5:12 pm

Exposed belts were very popular with the AFL/AFC teams going back to the 1960s. It also wasn't unusual for some players to have exposed belts while others did not in a given year. I don't have an account for Getty images, plus they do have issues with dates - I wouldn't trust the dates of a lot of their stuff; I once turned up a January 1970 dated photo of Bill Walton as a San Diego Clipper on Getty - something that is 100% impossible.

So - here are the years I recall that someone with an account can look up for verification:

AFC East:

Buffalo Bills - look for just two years, but they are significant years: 1973 and 1974 - covers Simpson's 2003 yard season, the first year of the "charging buffalo" headstock logo, and the years where the Utah stripes on the white jersey were red with blue outlines (instead of blue with red outlines). Blue belts on the white pants, red belts on the blue pants. I don't believe these were worn in 1972, and they definitely were gone with the 1975 redesign.

Miami Dolphins - I think you have it down; 1973 through 1987. They dropped the exposed belt when they got the aqua pants. Now it's hard to figure out the aqua belt versus orange belt, but it was mostly aqua with the white jersey and orange with the aqua jersey, but there could be a season or two where they only wore the aqua belt.

New England Patriots - I think the exposed belt goes back to the start of the screened-on stripe jerseys so try finding photos from 1973 and 1974. We know they have them by 1975, and they were worn all the way to the end of Pat Patriot in 1992.

New York Jets - If I'm remembering the Super Bowl III film correctly not all of the Jets were wearing exposed belts in that game. They were likely the first; I think Namath started it because that was how Alabamas pants were (and they would attach the hip pads to the pants with the belt instead of putting them in the girdle. The only years where they didn't have exposed belts would be the added black years (1990-1997); they currently use exposed belts.

AFC North:

The Balitmore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers have never had exposed belts.

Cincinnati Bengals - ~~I think the exposed belts start in 1973 for them; I know I've seen photos from 1974~~. Mostly black belts, but orange belts worn some games - I think they were more random as I've seen the orange with both black and white jerseys. Note that some players in 1980 have pants with wider stripes that don't have the exposed belts. Exposed belts eliminated in 1981 with the original tiger striped jerseys. EDIT: I had issues with the photos in the other thread yesterday; of course they start in 1970. Embarassed

AFC South:

The Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers have never used exposed belts.

Indianapolis Colts - I think you have this one detailed pretty well - start the exposed belts in 1982 (the silver home pants and white pants with blue/silver/blue stripes). It looks like you have the proper belt usage for that era. The maintained blue exposed belts when they dropped the silver in 1988, and they briefly wore those blue pants with white belts in 1995. Exposed belts dropped (and back to white belts) in 2004.

AFC West:

The Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs/Dallas Texans, and Oakland/LA/Oakland Raiders have never had exposed belts.

San Diego Chargers - They currently have exposed belts; navy with the navy striped white pants and the navy pants, powder blue with the power blue striped white pants. However, they do go back beyond 1985; the last year of the yellow pants in 1984 have exposed belts (these have the solid blue side panel with the white bolt inside it). They might go back a season or two earlier than that - start the search in 1979 when they went back to having bolts on the pants.

I can't recall any NFC team with exposed belts for any length of time - I think that some but not all Falcons had them for a few years in the mid-80s; it might correspond to the start of the black facemasks. Also some of these guys had red/white/black/white/red striped belts that matched the stripes on the white jerseys. Also did the Saints have exposed belts for the first season of the white pants? Thats all I can remember from the NFC; they mostly stayed away from that exposed belt style.

**bigbluelarry** Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:01 am

John C wrote:
Buffalo Bills - look for just two years, but they are significant years: 1973 and 1974 - covers Simpson's 2003 yard season, the first year of the "charging buffalo" headstock logo, and the years where the Utah stripes on the white jersey were red with blue outlines (instead of blue with red outlines). Blue belts on the white pants, red belts on the blue pants. I don't believe these were worn in 1972, and they definitely were gone with the 1975 redesign.

checked out '73 - '74 for Buffalo:
Buffalo @ New England 9/16/73 blue pants with exposed red belt
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) O_j_simpson_1973_09_16

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) O_j_simpson_1973_09_16

Buffalo @ San Diego 9/23/73 blue pants, blue belt (can't tell if it's exposed or not)
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) O_j_simpson_1973_09_23

Buffalo @ Miami 10/21/73 white pants, belts not exposed
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Bill_stanfill_1973_10_21

Miami @ Buffalo 9/22/74 white pants with exposed blue belt
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Larry_csonka_1974_09_22

Buffalo @ LA Rams 12/15/74 blue pants with exposed red belt
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) O_j_simpson_1974_12_15

Buffalo @ New England 11/3/74 blue pants with exposed red belt
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Mack_herron_1974_11_17

I'm pretty busy today, I don't know if I'll have time to dig more. We need more pics of the '73 Bills in white pants.

Regarding the belt colors, I believe it's red belts with blue pants and blue belts with white pants. The pic of OJ and Deacon Jones with OJ wearing a blue with blue is an anomaly. All the other pics of the Bills in blue pants had them with red belts.

**bigbluelarry** Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:43 am

Buffalo @ San Diego 9/23/73 Simpson blue belt, teammate red belt

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 6711538

I'm not finding many pics of Buffalo in white pants for '73...can anyone take a guess here?

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 3511881

Again, Joe Ferguson wearing the normal style, but it could just be him...

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 5166106

Buffalo @ Atlanta 12/2/73

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 5637900

**bigbluelarry** Fri Mar 22, 2013 1:28 pm

SUCCESS!

For 1973 the Bills pants are normal and the belts are blue.

Jets @ Buffalo 9/30/73
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/the-buffalo-bills-defense-takes-down-running-back-john-news-photo/80332599

Cincinnati @ Buffalo 11/11/73
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/running-back-o-j-simpson-of-the-buffalo-bills-carries-the-news-photo/149554331

Agnetha Fri Mar 22, 2013 1:42 pm

Another thing these photos reveal is that the Dolphins' orange pants stripes were a more yellowish-orange than the stripes on their jerseys and socks, which were a more reddish-orange, from at least 1977 to 1982. The oranges seemed to be matched in the early '70s and matched again after '82.

**bigbluelarry** Fri Mar 22, 2013 3:57 pm

Patriots for '73 - '74 look to be normal pants:

New England vs San Francisco Hall of Fame Game @ Canton 7/28/73
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Jim_plunkett_1973_07_28

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Jim_plunkett_1973_07_28

New England @ Miami 9/30/73
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Josh_ashton_1973_09_30

Buffalo @ New England 11/3/74
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Jim_plunkett_1974_11_01

John C Fri Mar 22, 2013 4:23 pm

Excellent work - I need to get some accounts at these photo archive sites. I wasn't sure about the Patriots; I think that shows proof that they didn't go to the exposed belts until 1975.

Buffalo - it almost looks like the blue pants were exposed belts but the white ones were not in 1973, then the white ones change for 1974.

Also, one thing that makes this research difficult is players seemed to have more individual modifications back then. For example, Joe Washington pretty much modded his pants to have an exposed belt when he was with the Colts in 1978-1980 - but no other Colt had an exposed belt back then. He might have even done it with the Chargers, but he didn't do it with the Redskins.

**bigbluelarry** Fri Mar 22, 2013 6:53 pm

John C wrote:Excellent work - I need to get some accounts at these photo archive sites.

Hi John - the sites are free. Spokeo, Getty, US Presswire (now USA Today Sports), AP Images, Corbis all let you browse until your heart is content!

One other thing I noticed about the Jets --- the green stripes on the pants from the 60's through '71 were thinner with more white between them. Starting in '72 the green-white-green striping was about equal.

**Bill Schaefer** Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:32 pm

As a follow up, I found this photo from 12/1/1963 showing NYJ in white belts.

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 1963_110

This confirms that NYJ went to white belts in 1963 until switching to the alternate style for 1968.

Summary:
1963-67 - normal white belts
1968-89 - alternate style with green belts

**Bill Schaefer** Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:43 pm

Regarding this latest find for Buffalo...

We are only talking about 2 years in total, right???

1973 - normal blue belt on white pants
- alternate style red belt on blue pants

1974 - alternate style blue belt on white pants
- alternate style red belt on blue pants

1975 - back to normal style pants/belts?

**Bill Schaefer** Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:24 pm

I want to make sure I have the up-to-date research correct so check me...

Colts
1981 - switched to a regular blue belt
1982-2003 - alternate style (peek-a-boo) blue belt for all pants
2004-2011 - switched to regular white belt

Dolphins
1973-1982 - orange peek-a-boo belt
1983-1988 - aqua peek-a-boo belt
1989-1996 - regular orange belt for white AND aqua pants

Jets
1963-1967 - white regular belts
1968-1989 - green 'peek-a-boo' belts
1998-2011 - green 'peek-a-boo' belts on white and green pants

Bengals
1970-1976 - black peek-a-boo belts
1977-1978 - black peek-a-boo belt worn with white jerseys & orange peek-a-boo belt worn with black jerseys
1979-1980 - orange peek-a-boo belts

Patriots
1975-1992 - blue peek-a-boo belts worn with both red and white pants

Chargers
1985-2011 - blue/navy peek-a-boo belts with both white and navy pants
** - white peek-a-boo belts worn with all powder throwback uniforms

Bills
1973 - regular blue belt on white pants; peek-a-boo red belt on blue pants
1974 - blue peek-a-boo belt on white pants; peek-a-boo red belt on blue pants

**bigbluelarry** Sat Mar 23, 2013 9:03 am

Bill Schaefer wrote:I want to make sure I have the up-to-date research correct so check me...

Colts
1981 - switched to a regular blue belt
1982-2003 - alternate style (peek-a-boo) blue belt for all pants
2004-2011 - switched to regular white belt

Dolphins
1973-1982 - orange peek-a-boo belt
1983-1988 - aqua peek-a-boo belt
1989-1996 - regular orange belt for white AND aqua pants

Jets
1963-1967 - white regular belts
1968-1989 - green 'peek-a-boo' belts
1998-2011 - green 'peek-a-boo' belts on white and green pants

Bengals
1970-1976 - black peek-a-boo belts
1977-1978 - black peek-a-boo belt worn with white jerseys & orange peek-a-boo belt worn with black jerseys
1979-1980 - orange peek-a-boo belts

Patriots
1975-1992 - blue peek-a-boo belts worn with both red and white pants

Chargers
1985-2011 - blue/navy peek-a-boo belts with both white and navy pants
** - white peek-a-boo belts worn with all powder throwback uniforms

Bills
1973 - regular blue belt on white pants; peek-a-boo red belt on blue pants
1974 - blue peek-a-boo belt on white pants; peek-a-boo red belt on blue pants

Sounds about right. Not bad for 5 days work, huh?

John C Sat Mar 23, 2013 12:43 pm

bigbluelarry wrote:
Bill Schaefer wrote:I want to make sure I have the up-to-date research correct so check me...

Colts
1981 - switched to a regular blue belt
1982-2003 - alternate style (peek-a-boo) blue belt for all pants
2004-2011 - switched to regular white belt

Dolphins
1973-1982 - orange peek-a-boo belt
1983-1988 - aqua peek-a-boo belt
1989-1996 - regular orange belt for white AND aqua pants

Jets
1963-1967 - white regular belts
1968-1989 - green 'peek-a-boo' belts
1998-2011 - green 'peek-a-boo' belts on white and green pants

Bengals
1970-1976 - black peek-a-boo belts
1977-1978 - black peek-a-boo belt worn with white jerseys & orange peek-a-boo belt worn with black jerseys
1979-1980 - orange peek-a-boo belts

Patriots
1975-1992 - blue peek-a-boo belts worn with both red and white pants

Chargers
1985-2011 - blue/navy peek-a-boo belts with both white and navy pants
** - white peek-a-boo belts worn with all powder throwback uniforms

Bills
1973 - regular blue belt on white pants; peek-a-boo red belt on blue pants
1974 - blue peek-a-boo belt on white pants; peek-a-boo red belt on blue pants

Sounds about right. Not bad for 5 days work, huh?

Definitely!!! I finally did sign up for the free accounts; when I did searches without an account I would wind up getting bounced out sometimes.

I think the only thing missing from the list is the Chargers 2007-2011 powder blue alt uniform (the modern alt, not the throwbacks) also had a white exposed belt.

John C Sat Mar 23, 2013 2:25 pm

Okay, I've got another team to add with exposed belts - the Atlanta Falcons. The era would be 1980, 1981 and maybe 1982. Getty doesn't have any shots from 1982 in their database, but I found these credited to 1980

From October 28, 1980:

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 79586015-defensive-tackle-fred-dean-and-linebacker-gettyimages

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 79586015-defensive-tackle-fred-dean-and-linebacker-gettyimages

From September 13, 1981:

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 81277366-atlanta-falcons-running-back-william-andrews-gettyimages

By 1983 they are back to regular pants.

**bigbluelarry** Sat Mar 23, 2013 4:48 pm

Miami @ Atlanta 9/21/80 black belts w/white jersey
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Bob_baumhower_1980_09_21

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 5634474

Jets @ Atlanta 10/12/80 red belts w/red jersey
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Mark_gastineau_1980_10_12

Washington @ Atlanta 11/30/30 red belts w/red jersey
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Steve_bartkowski_1980_12_01

San Francisco @ Atlanta 9/29/81 red belts with both jerseys now

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 5649404

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 5649416

Giants @ Atlanta 10/25/81
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Don_smith_1981_10_25

Pittsburgh @ Atlanta 11/15/81
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Tom_beasley_1981_11_15

LA Raiders @ Atlanta 9/19/82
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Steve_bartkowski_1982_09_01

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Jim_plunkett_1982_09_19

Green Bay @ Atlanta 12/26/82
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Mike_mccoy_1982_12_26

**Bill Schaefer** Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:16 pm

OK.
So we're adding...

1980 - black belts with white jerseys and red belts with red jerseys

1981 & 1982 - red belts with both jerseys

**bigbluelarry** Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:27 pm

Bill Schaefer wrote:OK.
So we're adding...

1980 - black belts with white jerseys and red belts with red jerseys

1981 & 1982 - red belts with both jerseys

I think that closes Atlanta.

By the way, since you're redoing almost all of the Jets catalog, did you catch that one observation I made about their pants stripes? Go ahead and look them over and decide yourself, but I think from '63 - '71 the green stripes on the pants are thinner and have more white between them. Starting in '72 they look to be more equal (thicker green, less white).

**Bill Schaefer** Mon Mar 25, 2013 5:12 pm

OK, BBL, here's how I see it - compared to the equal sized G-W-G stripes we have now for 1963-78 (preseason)...

I put some more white in between the greens for 1963-71.

What I saw for 1972+ still, to me, looked like the white was still a bit wider than each of the green stripes but there was less white showing between the greens.

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Jets_s10

**bigbluelarry** Mon Mar 25, 2013 6:19 pm

Bill Schaefer wrote:OK, BBL, here's how I see it - compared to the equal sized G-W-G stripes we have now for 1963-78 (preseason)...

I put some more white in between the greens for 1963-71.

What I saw for 1972+ still, to me, looked like the white was still a bit wider than each of the green stripes but there was less white showing between the greens.

Magnificent - you nailed it!

**Bill Schaefer** Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:01 pm

It's what I do!

Please just tell me there are no more.

**bigbluelarry** Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:23 pm

Bill Schaefer wrote:

It's what I do!

Please just tell me there are no more.

Don't worry, I'm not going to look anymore...I'm already overdue with my next blog and I don't want to get in trouble with Rob. Embarassed

**bigbluelarry** Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:49 am

I am apologizing in advance here Bill! I found this out by accident on the Giants website while reading about their new alternate pants for 2013. They showed a picture of Brad Van Pelt in 1976 wearing blue pants with a white belt, and I felt obligated to do some digging...

So, the Giants wore white belts with blue pants in 1975 and 1976 (normal, not peek-a-boo).

Giants @ Washington 9/28/75
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Diron-talbert-craig-morton-01155159

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Diron-talbert-craig-morton-01155159

Giants @ Jets Preseason 1976
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/s-running-back-larry-csonka-of-the-new-york-giants-carries-news-photo/98288937

Giants @ LA Rams 9/26/76
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Jersey5

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Jersey5

Giants @ Washington 10/23/77 all blue
Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) Corbis-42-37696238

Giants @ St.Louis 10/31/77 all blue

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 5797552

Giants @ Atlanta 10/1/78 all blue

Unusual Pants (did that get your attention?) 5634254

**Bill Schaefer** Wed Mar 27, 2013 12:52 pm

Sigh.

Plain white belts is OK and quick no problem.

Is it just me or does that first photo look too 'blue' to not be...enhanced?

Also, do we know if they went with blue or white belts in the white pants these years?

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