Are the New England Patriots digging their popular throwback jersey out of the closet for the new season? If an Instagram photo of safety Jalen Mills is to be believed, the return of “Patriot” may be imminent.

Foxborough/Munich – The “dress code” of NFL teams is usually strictly regulated.

Last summer, the league’s top management announced a revolutionary change: the one-shell rule, which limits teams to one helmet colour per season, will be dropped at the end of the season.

As a result, many teams are likely to dust off their popular throwback jerseys and use them again in individual games. One club that will revive its retro livery as early as this year is the New England Patriots.

Snapshot from the booth: Jalen Mills shares “new” Patriots helmet

An all-white helmet featuring a founding-era USA freedom fighter – is this what the New England Patriots’ new helmet looks like?

Per Jalen Mills’ Instagram Story…

Pat Patriot sighting…#Patriots #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/saAONhp3I2

— Mike D'Abate (@mdabateNFL) April 21, 2022

Safety Jalen Mills recently shared a photo on his Instagram account of such a helmet, which echoes the franchise’s old “Patriot” logo. From 1960 to 1992, the white helmet was the Patriots’ official gear along with the red jersey, before the jerseys became bluer and the protective headgear more silver.

In 2012, the throwback outfit was last in use, and from 2013 onwards the NFL’s one-shell rule took effect, which prohibited the use of a helmet of a different colour.

Throwback jersey: Two more teams also promise return

New England themselves had confirmed the return of the red leotards for the upcoming season, the snapshot of Mills now reinforces this development once again.

Why can’t they wear these like once a year??

— Nate Evans (@justnate90) December 3, 2021

While the Patriots are looking to bring their popular throwback jerseys back to the field as early as this year, other teams are holding off.

Both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles have already confirmed the revival of their old jerseys, but the Buccaneers’ “Creamsicle” top and the Eagles’ “Kelly Green” jersey are not scheduled to return to the NFL until 2023.

The Eagles’ Kelly green and Bucs’ creamsicle uniforms are both coming back for select games in 2023. Two ELITE jerseys. pic.twitter.com/uQVn2R6W5Z

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 29, 2022

Many franchises have the option of going back to old jerseys, though whether they will do so is unknown at this time.

Throwback jerseys in the NFL: great popularity with fans and co.

Despite their disappearance from the NFL’s green turf, many retro leis enjoy great popularity.

The aforementioned jerseys are still best sellers today and can often be found in the stands during game days. The video game Madden also allows the use of all imaginable jersey combinations.

It is not yet known how regularly the jerseys may be used from this season onwards.