Not only is it the most talked-about game of the week 18 NFL schedule, but the matchup of the 49ers and Seahawks also has another slight significance: it debuts the 49ers’ first-ever NFL Nike player rivalry-designed jersey.
What’s the Hype About?
You may dismiss the notion that it means anything, but I beg to differ, as I believe it adds to the game, rivalry, and intensity of the #1-seed deciding game.
It will no doubt be the talk of the telecast, and a fun game to play is to take a shot of your drink of choice every time the phrase ‘rivalry-jersey’ is phrased, bet you’re shit faced drunk at the end of the night.
Where You Can or Can’t Find Apparel
Don’t believe me that the 49ers’ new “black-out” rivalry jerseys are a big hit? Just try to find one anywhere online or in a store. Even the 49ers team store at Levi’s Stadium has nothing but replica jerseys for sale for $169.99, and if you’re lucky, in-store or online anywhere else, you’ll end up paying $139.99. Yes, that’s $10 more than regular NFL replica jerseys, and that’s because it’s the “rivalry” version. You can try online retailers, but you’ll soon see that stock is more than sparse as it’s almost non-existent.
People are reselling jerseys on eBay for $250-$500 for the stitched versions of Nike’s new jersey hit. Don’t worry if you missed out on a jersey; you might be in luck in the future when looking for 49ers rivalry apparel.
What Is a Rivalry Jersey?
Rivalry jerseys released this year are similar to MLB and NBA’s “City Connect” jerseys, highlighting specific aspects of the playing town/community and featuring them on the jersey for a 4-year run. So yes, you’ll have time next season to score some of the 49ers’ newly released rivalry jerseys if you missed out this season. So there’s no need to worry about missing out on the initial release, and don’t be foolish enough to spend $250-$500 on a jersey that costs a fraction of that from actual retailers.
If you can wait, put the money aside and wait until next season’s run. Besides, they’re waiting until the end of the season to wear them, so you didn’t miss out on much.
Worth Every Penny
Credit: San Francisco 49ers-Twitter/XI must say the jersey hype is worth the weight in gold, no pun intended. I was lucky enough to secure every version of players released by Fanatics and the NFL, in both replica and stitched versions, and I love both, even though each has a different feel. There were also rival 49ers jerseys, released by the Levi’s Stadium team store and not available online, featuring players #71 Trent Williams and #15 Juan Jennings.
The 49ers team store also did not have the sewn version of the #11 Aiyuk jersey in stock, which was sold online by Fanatics and Nike retailers. If you don’t believe me about how the apparel meets the hype, just read the Reddit reviews of the new digs.
How Popular Are They?
Word around town is that the 49ers’ 2025 NFL rivalry jersey is the hottest-selling item in the league, and even the main store at Levi’s Stadium can’t keep it in stock, according to a store employee who requested anonymity.
The hype intensified when the 49ers media reported that players had helped with the uniform’s development and design, including minor details. The 49ers detailed how players such as George Kittle and long-time veterans like Fred Warner participate in uniform construction.
Will Any Other Rivalry Jersey Reach 49ers Hype?
Like it or not, the new black Nike NFL rivalry jerseys will be an alternate for the 49ers for 3 more years, we don’t yet know whether the NFL or the 49ers will allow teams to wear rivalry jerseys more than 1 week during the upcoming NFL season, but we’ll soon find out.
Each season thereafter, teams other than the initial reveal teams are selected to debut, so look out for additional teams unveiling their new rivalry apparel. It’s yet to be seen whether any new design/team rivalry jersey will reach the level of hype of the 49ers’ recent release.
Nike is very secretive about the designs they plan to release, and even jerseys released this season weren’t available for purchase until October.
NFL Nike Rivalry releases for 2026 look to highlight teams from the AFC South and NFC North, so stay tuned.
