I’ve been rocking my on field stitched jersey since Mahomes was a rookie. We’ve been through it all together. 100 degrees training camps, 100 degrees pre season games, 30+ regular/ post season games, snow games, -30 game, 13 second game, throw up on it from myself and others, beer thrown on me, smoke from the countless briskets that have been smoked, BBQ sauce plastered across the front, hot dogs fumbled down it, 3 Super Bowl celebrations of having it basically ripped off me, tears of happiness have been shed on it many times, tears of sadness, broke my ankle jumping off my truck after the Bengals AFCCG, you name it and it’s probably happened while I’ve had it on. Hundreds of days at this point of it being worn. An absolute tank.

Now to my main question. Where the heck do I find that quality these days? Those vapor jerseys don’t seem to be the same quality as this. I also have a white stitched on field but it doesn’t feel the same as the red. I’m fine with continuing this jerseys legacy but I’m looking for a refresher and to get this one signed and put it in my autograph room.

The only ones on the site anymore are the "FUSE" ones that say they have heat sealed numbers and nameplates, should we expect to see the stitched jerseys back in stock when the season starts, or is Nike fully moving away from that jersey model?

I was looking to get a white Chase jersey to start the season so I can finally finish the three colors trifecta, but I can't justify spending $175 on a screen printed jersey, so is there anywhere stitched ones can still be found or purchased?

On nfl shop does anyone know what the stitched jerseys are called? The names are confusing and doesn't outright say. Would also love to know if the alternate throwbacks come stitched as well. Thanks!

Is the Nike Vapor the only option now? I see the F.U.S.E ones are heat printed (lame) i don't even see the reason some one would get the FUSE version.

I’ve been looking to get a vintage Terrell Suggs off of eBay & etc. , but I was a kid during 2005-2013 seasons. So I don’t remember if stores actually sold authentic stitched jerseys or only printed jerseys

Snagged a Ja’Marr White Nike Limited model jersey when Fanatics was doing their big sale a few weeks ago. I’d always go for the “Limited” model because, for like $30-$40 more, you’d get a significantly nicer jersey than the lower end “Game” model jerseys. Now the “Limited” models are $15 more than they used to be and only have heatsealed(?) numbers and letters. The only model of jersey you can get with stitched letters and numbers is $300+.

Edit: This video is a good explainer of the differences

I plan on getting some Lions jerseys, but the newer ones do not have stitched numbers or names. They are heat-printed, even with the newer releases, such as the F.U.S.E. jersey. I much prefer the stitched jerseys. Do you guys have any clue where to get some?

I have seen a lot of posts talking about jerseys of late and wanted to share some basic info with other fans. I have been collecting jerseys for the past 20 years and have owned at least 500 jerseys in my time doing this. I currently have around 40. I have learned quite a bit about the ins-and-outs. I hope you find this useful.

First up, lets talk vocabulary.

• Chassis of a jersey refers to the material and cut of a jersey, sans the numbers.

• Fanatics is an online monopoly in the retail jersey world. They have been producing all officially-licensed retail jerseys with a Nike or Fanatics branding for the NFL since 2020. Fanatics owned sites include Fanatics, Fansedge, NFLShop, Lids, Sports memorabilia, JC Penny, and others. They are inevitable.

• Legitimate is used synonymously with licensed with respect to determining authenticity of a jersey.

• Heat Press is using heat to apply vinyl numbers to a material.

• Heat Seal is using heat to melt and fuse the edges of plastic materials to create a seal.

• Sublimation refers to the process of 'ink printing' onto a jersey. This is achieved by printing onto a transfer sheet and then transferring the ink printing to a jersey via heat. For NFL fan jerseys, this is exclusively a thin polyester material.

• Tackle Twill is traditionally a polyester blend with a diagonal rib weave pattern. It is commonly used for jersey numbers.

Lets talk about the types of jerseys that can be had. Generally speaking, there are 8 "tiers" of jerseys that span 3 categories. These tiers can be loosely classified as Discount Store, Sublimated, Vinyl Print/Heat Pressed, T-Shirt Stitched, Retail Authentic, Autograph, Player Issued/Used, and Counterfeit. The 3 categories are Retail, For Player Use, and Counterfeit.

Discount Store Jerseys: Retail

These are jerseys that are typically sold in stores such as Wal-Mart, target, or other big-box stores. They often have the same base template for all 32 teams and are primarily nylon mesh with heat sealed numbers. Their price tag is typically $25-50 and are typically marketed to kids. Here is an example of a Discount Store Jersey.

My Opinion: Good for kids who are growing fast but ultimately these look, feel, and are extremely cheaply made. The print will quickly crack. Grade: D

Sublimated: Retail

Known as a Nike Legend jersey, these jerseys are a thin polyester Dry-Fit type material. All colors are sublimated onto the jersey. Their price tag is currently $100. Here is an example of a Nike Legend jersey with sublimated coloring and numbers.

My opinion: These jerseys are very light and comfortable but will snag incredibly easily, A cat, Velcro, sharp counter, or seatbelt rubbing will cause irreparable snags and light to heavy wear spots. Stains do not come out of these. They are worthwhile if you only intend for a few uses or can be had for far below retail. Grade: D+

Vinyl Print/Heat Press: Retail

These jerseys are referred to by Fanatics as "Nike Game." They are 100% Polyester Tricot shirts with a chassis resembling a T-Shirt. They have vinyl decals and stripes with heat pressed numbers. These are the most commonly purchased jerseys and can be found at any sports store or pro shop. Their price tag is currently $130 ($180 for customized). Here is an example of a Nike Game jersey with heat pressed numbers.

My Opinion: They are harder to snag than the sublimated jerseys but do not resist stains well. Their vinyl numbers and decals are prone to cracking with washes (always wash cold with no fabric softener and hang dry!). They will last for a few years of Sunday wearing before the break down. They are not realistically repairable. Grade: C

T-Shirt Stitched: Retail

Known as "Nike Limited," these jerseys used the same chassis and the vinyl print jerseys above for the first few years of their existence (2012-2015/16). Their decals and stripes are printed while the numbers are made of a material similar to a thick plastic bag. Nike Limited chassis have ranged from Speed Machine to Vapor to Fuse but largely have remained the same in material with the bulk of changes being aesthetic. These jerseys are typically only released for select players and restocked near the beginning of the season. Their price tag is currently $175. Here is an example of a Nike Limited FUSE jersey with stitched on, plastic-bag like numbers.

Edit: as of 2024 all Nike Limited jersey are no longer stitched with twill. Instead, they are heat pressed onto the FUSE chassis. The only difference between a "Game" and a "Limited" is now the chassis.

My opinion: these are the best "bang for your buck" retail jerseys in terms of aesthetic and durability. The numbers will last longer than the vinyl numbers of the heat pressed jerseys but do have a tendency to bubble in heat and can look very old if the numbers obtain hard creases. These creases are nearly impossible to remove from the twill. Without spending 2 Benjamíns, these look much better than the previous. I do miss the days when they were $130 and far more worth it at the time. Grade: B

Retail Authentic: Retail

Known as "Nike Elite," these are marketed as "the closest thing to what the players wear that you can get in stores." They feature cuffed sleeves and a slimmer fit. They are made of Nylon and Spandex and stretch, unlike others. Patches and decals are embroidered on and stripes may be fabric or printed. Elites have had a few different chassis, beginning in 2012 with an Elite 51, then to the Speed machine in 2016 and 2017, Vapor in 2017 and 2018, and FUSE in 2023. The twill used on these jerseys is different from the limited, being thinner and more pliable. The sizes of Elites is measured, not in SML, but with chest measurements instead (Listed as 40, 44, 48, and so on). Their neck tag will be embroidered on. Their price tag is currently $350 ($335 for older models, $385 for personalized elites). Here is an example of a Nike Elite FUSE jersey.

My opinion: They are the best retail jersey you can buy but the Fanatics price is not worth it. The number quality of these is poor for the cost. I personally recommend buying blank templates of these on various resale sites or used elites and stripping the numbers off. Blank elites may run anywhere from $50 to $300. These jerseys can then be sent to tailors for number customizations. This typically runs $120 to $200 depending on the team, need to strip, and other factors. I personally recommend the Seattle Seahawks team tailor, STT Sports Lettering Co, as they use team authentic twill on all jerseys they customize. Here is an example of a Nike Vapor Elite that STT customized for me. Grade: C (Fanatics), B+ (tailored)

Autograph: Retail

These jerseys are often referred to as "customs" and are typically unlicensed. They are made primaily for autograph signings and not to wear. Many may come with odd chassis to be easier to frame. Quality and materials vary widely. Here is an example of an Autograph "custom" jersey.

My opinion: I am not a fan though some do look good in frames. To each their own. Grade: (it depends)

Player Issued/Game Used: For Player Use

These are jerseys created specifically for in-game use and are not directly available for fans to buy. These jerseys use much more durable polyester blend than any retail jersey. They use much thicker and pliable twill than a retail jersey. These jerseys are designed to be beat up. Each jersey issued to a player is cut to their liking. The sleeves, waistline, and neckline may be altered, among many other additions. These jerseys can be purchased via occasional team sales, through team or NFL related auction houses, and on various resale websites. Their prices vary largely on player, team, and whether or not they were used in game. The cheapest can typically be purchased for around $100 for an issued, non-game used while the most expensive can be had for tens of to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Here is an example of a game used FUSE jersey.

My opinion: These are 2nd to none but their price is not attainable for many. Lesser known players can be purchased for less than most retails and wearing these always gets a few comments. Grade: (it depends)

Counterfeit

These jerseys are based upon a Nike Elite. Many fans will incorrectly compare them to vinyl print jerseys. They often use inferior materials and their chassis can vary vastly in fit. The materials used are not consistent. Most can be had directly from wholesale sites for under $30. eBay resellers will often try to pass these off as legitimate to unsuspecting buyers at large markups. Here is an example of a counterfeit jersey.

My opinion: I think counterfeit jerseys are always obvious. They look very cheap and often are incorrect. If you are on a budget or just want a jersey to wear without worry of stains, then maybe these are for you, though I would recommend a used legitimate jersey over a counterfeit. Grade: F

Now that you know what types of jersey are what, lets talk about how to spot the difference between a legitimate jersey and a counterfeit. I would recommend that you watch this video to learn about the differences between legitimate and counterfeit jerseys. I am happy to answer any other question in the comments!

So, what should you buy? That largely depends on your budget. In general, I believe in going used if I can. I am a collector of game used and issued jerseys and most of my retails were purchased secondhand and tailored. Please feel free to comment with any link and I will happily help you discern whether a jersey is legitimate or counterfeit, as well as what tier it falls into and what it is likely worth.

Thanks for reading!

Why is it that stitched jerseys of current players seems to be unavailable? Online I was only able to find Hurts (black only), Sanders and Smith (green only).

I even went to the pro shop at the Linc this past Sunday and it was the same story.

I'm sure many will agree with me, but those screen printed jerseys are cheap and for $130 seem like a rip off.

Ok so there have been many posts about fanatics removing the “stitched” jersey option over the last couple of years. I’ve specifically not bought a jersey in years because of it. I know you can get the game jerseys that cost 350+ or whatever but I don’t want that one since I don’t like the shoulders or the thicker material. So I’ve been waiting for them to reintroduce the stitched t-shirt fitted one.

I went to Levi’s this weekend for the preseason game and checked out the jerseys they had in the store. It seems that they have in fact brought back a version of the stitched tshirt fit. They had a Purdy jersey with the fancier collar and silver nfl logo but also with raised and fabric looking numbers. It isn’t the old stitched style but it does seem like it’s the new version of it. It was 200 bucks as opposed to 100-120 or whatever for the print on numbers.

They didn’t have a Warner jersey of this new raised number type. I tried going to nflshop and I don’t see this version at all. Including for custom jersey.

Does anyone have an information about this change or the new price point? I really want this one for our opening game and I want it for Warner but right now I can’t see a way to get it. Any help or info is appreciated thanks. I hate how confusing jersey purchasing has become.

Edit: So I looked at fanatics site directly and they have “Nike vapor fuse limited” that claims it has a new feature which is “heat applied name and number made of recycled twill” which I believe is what I saw at the stadium. The nfl shop doesn’t seem to have these updated yet but the fanatics site does.

Edit2: It turns out that the Nike vapor fuse limited is not new, they did it last year as well. It is just limited printing and only for certain players. I didn’t check out jerseys at the beginning of last year so I think the more expensive ones just sold out. This is what I was seeing in the store.

I've been looking at NFL shop and the Broncos store trying to buy a Simmons jersey, and the only ones I'm finding are screen printed names and numbers. Anybody know why they don't sell the stitched name / numbers anymore? Better yet, where can I go that does sell them? Please no knockoffs.

I want to buy a jersey but am a bit lost. When I was younger I used to buy them on eBay because I could get them cheap and they were stitched. There are a lot of options on which jersey to buy on fanatics. I want one that is stitched. Which one is the best to get for stitched name and numbers and logos?

I have a Barry Sanders Mitchell & Ness throwback where the name and numbers are stitched on and I LOVE it. I wanna get a current player (Gibbs or St. Brown) but only seem to find the like vinyl(?) numbers. Are there authentic stitched jerseys I can get or just the ones without them

Does anyone know where to get stitched jerseys of current players? I want a stitched Crosby jersey, but all the make now is the cheap heat pressed ones!

hey is there some fan's jersey which are affordable for fan and which are pretty resistant? I mean which are not heat sealed? With player's name and number whici is stiched?

As per the title, what's going on?

As a UK based fan who owns stitched finish Gronk, Brady and Edelman jerseys bought over the last decade, there seems to be a real issue getting similar type jerseys anymore.

Is this a UK/European issue? Searching the NFL and Patriots US stores it seems like they have a similar lack of options or availability... what gives?

The gameday jerseys just don't have the same finish and quality, so I'm not keen on shellingour nearly £100 for a print screen effect...

Are NFL jerseys no longer stitched anywhere? Looking to buy a new one but I want the stitched material because they seem to last longer and are better quality. Did they do away with these? I can't find any on the team store websites

I've waited patiently for a restock on stitched jerseys, but it seems like the Vapor F.U.S.E Limited (hear applied) are replacing them and the only stitched jerseys available going forward are the custom Elites. Can anyone else confirm? If so, this brings a tear to my eye. I prefer my jerseys stitched, but don't want to pay $400 for them.

Trying to get a custom Seahawks jersey in the action green on nfl shop and I just can’t tell what the quality is like. Are the numbers ironed on? They don’t have men’s medium, but they have large. Do they run small by chance?

And if you happen to want a player who doesn’t have a ton of jersey options on all the websites, are you just stuck with ordering a custom one and having the ironed on letters instead of the stitched ones? I just don’t want it to look cheap.