On Monday night the 49ers will kick off Monday Night Football in style. Literally, as they'll be wearing alternate uniforms for the first time in team's history.
This offseason, the 49ers unveiled alternate black uniforms and they'll be wearing them for the first time in Week 1 against the Vikings.
David Fucillo of Niners Nation first noticed an Instagram post featuring a shoe designer who works with Antoine Bethea posting about black cleats to match the team's uniforms.
After seeing that, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee confirmed from a team source the Niners would be coming out in prime time wearing the alternate uniforms.
Introducing the first alternate uniform in team history. #49ersRGB http://t.co/LqWbZcA2Mm pic.twitter.com/sSfLHO3DFN
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) May 1, 2015
League rules allow a team to wear alternate jerseys up to twice a season. The 49ers haven't changed jerseys since 2009 and have never busted out alternates.
It's a new look for a "new" team, one that was rebooted this offseason with the departure of Jim Harbaugh and the introduction of Jim Tomsula as head coach.
A slew of departures -- Chris Borland, Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Frank Gore to name a few -- have had people questioning how they would start the season.
Maybe black isn't the BEST color for eternal hope and whatnot, but it might give the team an extra adrenaline edge going into the matchup.
