Notre Dame Went Full Leprechaun: Grading the 2026 'Irish Wear Green' Football Jersey

via @NDFootball on X

The green is back, and this time it brought the leprechaun. Notre Dame and Under Armour revealed the 2026 "Irish Wear Green" football jersey, and it does what the best Notre Dame green looks always do: it takes one of the most beloved traditions in college football and gives it a fresh, modern detail without breaking what makes it special. Kelly green, gold-trimmed numbers, and the Fighting Irish leprechaun sitting on the hip. We love it.

The Design: Green, Gold, and a Leprechaun

The base is a rich kelly green, the exact shade that has made the "Green Jersey Game" a Notre Dame event for decades. The numbers are white with a metallic gold outline, and that gold trim is the detail that lifts the whole uniform. It ties the green back to Notre Dame's gold helmets and the Golden Dome without ever going overboard. Under Armour keeps everything else clean: a simple crew collar, the UA logo up top, and no clutter getting in the way of the color.

via @NDFootball on X

The Detail That Earns It

The leprechaun. Tucked on the hip is the classic Fighting Irish leprechaun, fists up and ready to go. It is a small touch, but it is exactly the kind of local, earned detail that makes a uniform mean something. Notre Dame has one of the most recognizable mascots in all of sports, and putting him on the green jersey gives this kit a personality that a plain color swap never would. Look closely at the numbers, too: that gold outline around the white catches the light and reads as premium, not gimmicky.

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The Tradition

Notre Dame does not wear green often, and that is the point. The green jersey is saved for the biggest moments, which is why it carries the weight it does. Every time the Irish break it out, it signals that this game matters. A replica this clean lets fans buy into that tradition without waiting for the one Saturday a year the green shows up on the field.

The Bottom Line

Notre Dame nailed it. The kelly green is perfect, the gold-trimmed numbers connect the jersey to everything that makes the Irish the Irish, and the leprechaun on the hip is the cherry on top. This is one of our favorite green looks Notre Dame has ever done, and one of the best college football jerseys of the year. It is an easy A.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Notre Dame's 2026 Irish Wear Green jersey?

It is Notre Dame football's 2026 green alternate, made by Under Armour and sold as the "Irish Wear Green Football Leprechaun" official replica jersey. The kit is kelly green with white, gold-trimmed numbers and the Fighting Irish leprechaun on the hip.

Why does Notre Dame wear green?

Green is Notre Dame's alternate to its traditional navy blue, tied to the school's Irish heritage and the "Wear Green" tradition. The Irish save the green jersey for marquee games, which is why each appearance feels like an event.

Does the 2026 jersey have the leprechaun on it?

Yes. The Fighting Irish leprechaun mascot appears on the hip of the jersey, one of the details that sets this green kit apart from a plain color swap.

What grade does Notre Dame's 2026 green jersey get?

We grade it an A. The kelly green base, the gold-trimmed numbers that nod to the Golden Dome, and the leprechaun on the hip make it one of the best green looks Notre Dame has ever released.