The Miami Dolphins debuted their new “Rivalries” alternate uniforms on “Monday Night Football” against the New York Jets.
The jerseys are a very dark navy blue, even appearing possibly black, but the color is officially deemed to be “pitch blue” to resemble deep, dark waters.
The Dolphins’ traditional aqua is featured on the numbers and sleeves. Last names on the back of the jerseys, along with “Miami” over the numbers on the front, are in orange.
Helmets the Dolphins are wearing similarly have the darker predominant color, while the logo on the helmet features aqua, along with the stripe down the middle, which has orange lining.
Hard Rock Stadium had the altered coloring on the Dolphins’ logo at midfield and in the end zones painted onto the field ahead of Monday’s game.
Miami practiced in the dark helmets last Tuesday early in preparation to face the Jets. Safety Ashtyn Davis described a youthful enthusiasm to practice in the new helmets that day.
“I’m like a little kid, for sure,” said Davis, who is going against his former team in New York. “This is my first year down here so everything was new. I was excited when I got the white helmets and already we’ve got a new one.”
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has expressed his approval of the alternate uniforms.
“I think it’s dope,” he said Thursday. “I don’t think anything of it too much, but I think it’s dope.”
The Dolphins, after initially unveiling the design of the uniforms in late August, released social media images and videos throughout the past week promoting the unique garb.
The alternate uniforms are part of Nike’s “Rivalries” campaign, which is celebrating division rivalries in the AFC East and NFC West across the 2025 season.
The Jets are scheduled to wear their alternate uniforms in the Dec. 7 game of the series between the two teams at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
New banner
Two home games, two banners flying over Hard Rock Stadium calling for change for the Dolphins’ franchise.
After Dolphins fans organized for a banner, calling for the firing of coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier, to fly over the stadium ahead of the Sept. 14 home opener against the New England Patriots, there was a new one while fans tailgated Monday before the action on the field began.
Monday’s banner read: “Help wanted. New coach. New GM. New QB.”
The latest one also came after Tagovailoa, along with McDaniel and Grier. The first one simply read: “Fire Grier. Fire McDaniel.”
New banner ahead of Dolphins’ second home game of season. https://t.co/OF2aGdASbZ
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) September 29, 2025
Marshall to IR
The Dolphins had to clear a roster spot in order to sign kicker Riley Patterson to the active roster ahead of Monday night’s game.
They did so by placing rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. on injured reserve.
Marshall injured his hamstring in the previous week’s loss to the Buffalo Bills and was ruled out Saturday for the game against the Jets.
On IR, he must miss a minimum of four games before he can be activated. The Dolphins are also only permitted to designate a maximum of eight players from IR or the non-football injury/illness list to return this season. They are already bound to use such designations on kicker Jason Sanders and offensive linemen Andrew Meyer, Austin Jackson and James Daniels.
The Dolphins had three practice squad elevations to use on Patterson and expended them on the first three weeks of the season as he filled in for Sanders, requiring the team to sign him to a roster spot.
Miami did not use any elevations from the practice squad ahead of Monday night.
That did still did not bode well for cornerback Ethan Bonner, who entered questionable with his ailing hamstring.
With Marshall on IR plus Bonner and fellow cornerback Storm Duck (ankle) out, the Dolphins were down to four healthy cornerbacks to start Monday: Jack Jones, Rasul Douglas, Cornell Armstrong and JuJu Brents.
Miami could turn to various packages that incorporate extra safeties as a nickel or dime defender. Rookie safety Dante Trader Jr. has done it, along with combinations that get Ifeatu Melifonwu on the field with fellow safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ashtyn Davis.
Healthy Dolphins inactives Monday were wide receiver Tahj Washington, defensive tackle Zeek Biggers and quarterback Quinn Ewers, who is available as an emergency third quarterback.
— As the Dolphins’ current starting right guard position was up for grabs going into Monday night, Cole Strange lined up with the first team during pregame warmups. In the Dolphins’ last game, Kion Smith started in place of injured starter James Daniels, and Daniel Brunskill replaced him. Strange signed with Miami after their opener.
David Furones / Sun Sentinel
The Miami Dolphins’ alternate “Rivalries” uniform for the Monday night game against the New York Jets on Sept. 29, 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium, on display at the team store. (David Furones / Sun Sentinel)
Originally Published: September 29, 2025 at 2:08 PM EDT