INDUSTRY:
SPORTS MERCHANDISE
CLIENT:
NFL
YEAR:
2026
MEDIUM:
APPAREL GRAPHICS
about.
Building on the success of 2025's Football x Football collection, the Fanatics product team returned in 2026 with a more advanced take on the crossover concept, pushing further into construction and technique than the original project allowed. This time, I was given the honour of bringing to life three designs: Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and Tennessee Titans.
process.
Where 2025 leaned on basic, consistent techniques and emboss detailing, 2026 called for a genuine step up in craft, with jacquard construction across all three designs, drawing direct inspiration from iconic international football kits. The Lions design took cues from classic stripe jacquard work, paired with a metallic overlocked edge and embroidered badge reminiscent of Italy's 1994 shirt, right down to a unique rib detail that reworked the Italia 94 reference using deltas inspired by Detroit's Motor City heritage. The 49ers design pulled from the mid 2000s Nike Total 90 Portugal kit, translating its repeat jacquard pattern, red and gold palette, and piping detail into an NFL silhouette. Every decision, from yarn choice to seam placement, was about finding the right piece of football history to reinterpret rather than simply referencing a team's existing identity.
outcome.
Once again, the collection made its way to FanaticsFest, where the pieces were met with the same energy and reaction as the original drop. Seeing the designs land in person, and hearing directly from people who picked up on the Italia 94 and Total 90 references without being told, was proof that the deeper craft investment this year had paid off. It's a reminder that the Football x Football concept still has room to grow, and that leaning further into authentic construction detail, rather than surface level references, is the direction worth pushing in future collections.
in the news.
Season 2 builds on that momentum at a time when both sports have arguably never shared more cultural relevance worldwide.
Daniel Jones
SoccerBible
