Spandex

[gkdannecker@yahoo.com]

I'm watching an auction and the Nfl jersey has spandex side panels and is circa 1989. Did they have spandex side panels attaching the front to the back panels of a jersey before 1990? Thanks, George

[JDubbs73]

George, I can't speak to all teams but I do know the Redskins used spandex sides pre-1990. I own at least two, one c1985 and the other from 1987.

[G1X]

George,

Spandex side panels were used prior to 1989. They are very common on USFL jerseys (1983 to 1985), and some teams such as the Atlanta Falcons employed spandex side panels by the mid-1980s mainly with some of their linemen. Spandex side panels can even be found on a few 1960s durene football jerseys. (I had a Dallas Cowboys short-sleeve jersey from the late 1960s that had spandex sides.)

Generally speaking from my experiences in the hobby, spandex side panels began to become more prominent in the 1980s and escalated from there. These are just my observations, and other collectors might have other insights to offer.

Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net

[gkdannecker@yahoo.com]

Thanks Mark. Long time since we last emailed. I appreciate the information. I didn't know that. Do you know the history of the Champion tagging as well in the NFL. I was under the impression the AFC moved to Champion from Sandknit in 1990 and used a diagonal Champion and then the traditional tag. Was Champion used before 1990? Thanks George