The 122nd edition of the Army-Navy Football game is coming up on December 11, and the Midshipmen already have a leg up heading into East Rutherford, New Jersey. As a former Naval Aviator, I am incredibly biased, but Navy just released the most absolutely awesome uniforms in the history of this matchup.
[takes deep breath to compose myself]
Navy went with a Naval Aviation — namely the carrier-based F/A-18 Super Hornet — themed uniform, and they rule. The mostly navy kits feature the current active roundel (essentially a circular logo), which is made up of a white star with white and red stripes, on each shoulder and on one side of the helmet. The pants have a red stripe between two white stripes.
The back of the helmet has the gold wings earned by Naval Aviators (pilots), Naval Flight Officers (navigators), and Aircrew. On the left side of the helmet, you can find the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the latest in the F-14 Tomcat line of aircraft made popular by that little old 1986 classic Top Gun.
𝐅𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐲.
Taking to the skies on December 11.
🔗https://t.co/3b6lN0XsaJ#FlyNavy | #BeatArmy pic.twitter.com/4UFpmgZ4ZP
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) November 30, 2021
It’s all so clean and sharp, and the “Fly Navy” script on the gloves makes me melt a little inside whenever I see it. Top Gun: Maverick — a sequel to the Tom Cruise classic — is set to release in May after several pandemic-related delays, so these might have to just hold us over until then.
Both Army and Navy feature unit or squadron patches on their uniforms each year, and this season Navy is highlighting the Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet out of Oceana, Virginia with the triangular patch on the upper chest.
Not only are the uniforms outstanding, the release videos (and pictures) are phenomenal. Try and watch this and not want to run through a wall.
Steel in the water. Fire power in the sky.
The 2021 Army-Navy Uniform!
🔗: https://t.co/C5BtpEjXJr #FlyNavy | #BeatArmy pic.twitter.com/VPh3o4fVUl
— Navy Football (@NavyFB) November 30, 2021
Not to be dramatic, but these are the most gorgeous uniforms to step onto a college football field this season. Be right back, I’m going to put on my flight suit and listen to Danger Zone on repeat.
