49ers 2026 Uniform Schedule: The Beloved 1994 Throwbacks Return, and the Polarizing Black Rivalries Is Back

The 49ers released their 2026 uniform schedule, and it is a tale of two alternates: the look everybody loves and the look nobody asked for. San Francisco will break out its gorgeous 1994 throwbacks three separate times, and it will also bring back the all-black Rivalries uniform that has divided the fan base since the day it dropped. Here is every special look on the calendar and what we make of each.

The 1994 Throwbacks: The Best Thing They Own

The 1994 throwbacks are widely considered some of the best throwbacks in NFL history, and for good reason. They pull straight from the team that won Super Bowl XXIX, deep brick-red jerseys, the drop-shadow "49ers" wordmark treatment, and that unmistakable oversized striping, and every detail feels earned rather than manufactured. When San Francisco wears these, it is not a costume, it is a callback to the greatest era in franchise history.

The 49ers are giving them a real run in 2026: the red version comes out on the road at Dallas in Week 10 and again at home in a Week 17 primetime spot against the Eagles, and the white version gets a single Thursday-night appearance against the Chargers in Week 15. We grade the set an A-, and the only thing keeping it from a flat A is that the modern helmet does not quite match the vintage feel of the rest of the kit. Everything below the neck is perfect.

The Black Rivalries: The One That Divides the Faithful

The Rivalries uniform is the opposite story. It is an all-black set, black helmet with a gold facemask and two red stripes, black jersey and pants, red numbers outlined in gold, and a gold "Faithful" wordmark in a Saloon-style drop-shadow font. On its own terms it is a well-executed black alternate. The problem is that it belongs to a team that does not need one. San Francisco's scarlet-and-gold is one of the two or three best color schemes in all of sports, and swapping it for black throws away the thing that makes the 49ers instantly recognizable.

It comes back in 2026 for Week 14 at home against the Rams, and it grades a C+. Part of that is taste, black-out alternates are the most overdone trend in the league, and part of it is superstition, the fan base still remembers dropping a big game in these things. When your primaries are this good, an all-black jersey is not an upgrade, it is a distraction. Fine in a vacuum, unnecessary for this team.

Every 49ers 2026 Special-Uniform Game

The 49ers wear their standard scarlet and white for most of the season, including a five-game run of road whites. These are the dates when something different comes out of the locker room.

The Bottom Line

The 49ers' 2026 wardrobe is carried entirely by the 1994 throwbacks, three chances to see one of the best looks the sport has ever produced, including two in primetime. The black Rivalries returning for Week 14 against the Rams is the one sour note, a good black uniform on a team that has no business wearing black. Wear the throwbacks, frame the scarlet, and leave the blackout to the teams that actually need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the 49ers wear the 1994 throwbacks in 2026?

Three times. The red 1994 throwback comes out on the road at Dallas in Week 10 and at home against the Eagles in a Week 17 primetime game, and the white 1994 throwback gets one Thursday-night appearance against the Chargers in Week 15.

When do the 49ers wear the black Rivalries uniform in 2026?

The all-black Rivalries uniform is scheduled for one game: Week 14 at home against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium.

What does the 49ers' Rivalries uniform look like?

It is an all-black set: a black helmet with a gold facemask and two red stripes, a black jersey and pants, red numbers outlined in gold, and a gold "Faithful" wordmark in a Saloon-style drop-shadow font.

Why do fans dislike the 49ers' black uniform?

Two reasons. San Francisco's scarlet-and-gold is one of the most iconic color schemes in sports, so many fans feel an all-black look throws away the team's identity, and the uniform also carries some superstition after the team lost a key game while wearing it. We grade it a C+ for those reasons.