Falcons' throwback logo does not include viral stripe pattern
A vertical stripe pattern that the Falcons used in a social media post announcing the use of the team's throwback logo is not a part of the team's uniform -- an important distinct…
The Atlanta Falcons' viral vertical stripe pattern will appear down the center of the team's throwback helmets — not as part of the franchise's retro logo itself, ESPN reports.
The stripes set off a firestorm this week after the Falcons posted a rendering of their throwback logo on social media on Wednesday. Some posters compared the graphic — which showed the classic black-and-white bird logo set over red, black and gold vertical stripes — to imagery found in Nazi Germany. The post remains up, but the team has since changed its X and Instagram profile photos to an image of just the red retro helmet with the black throwback logo, with no vertical stripes.
The stripes are a reference to the team's 1966 uniform, which consisted of a red helmet, the black Falcons logo, and black, white and gold striping on the pants. The franchise has worn the retro logo for games every year since 2009, except for several seasons when the NFL barred teams from using an alternative helmet color.
Atlanta will wear the throwback logo on Sunday when it hosts the San Francisco 49ers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Falcons declined to comment on the situation, and an NFL spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to ESPN. Falcons owner Arthur Blank is Jewish and has donated millions to Holocaust remembrance organizations.
Source: ESPN — Top Headlines — TrendWire reports stories in its own words; facts should be confirmed against the original source.