How the Hawkeye Uniform Has Changed Over the Years

With new MCU movies and a Hawkeye show on Disney+, the character has seen increased popularity. However, while Clint Barton’s costumes in those projects largely reflect the hero’s comic appearances, not every suit is a perfect fit for the archer. Kate Bishop, the new Hawkeye mentored by Barton in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has her own distinct look and costume. Kate’s suit is lean, and while it started out as something pieced together from the leftovers of other superheroes’ suits, she eventually upgraded to a purple outfit that looks very much like an Iowa uniform.

When Hayden Fry became the head coach of Iowa in 1978, he knew the program needed to shed its “banana peel” reputation and project a more formidable image. So, he borrowed inspiration from the Pittsburgh Steelers — one of the dominant NFL teams in those days — and had his team wear gold jerseys, black pants and a white helmet with a yellow facemask. The result was an instantly iconic look that made the Hawkeyes appear like men of metal — and struck fear in the hearts of college football opponents.

The gold jerseys stayed for five years, until the Hawkeyes switched to a more traditional blue and white scheme in 1986. While the current Iowa team’s uniforms aren’t as flashy as those of yesteryear, they still have a distinctive look and are easily recognizable.

Aside from the colors, the most important aspect of a hawkeye uniform is the shape. That’s why the Hawkeyes are so proud of their unique, angular logo. The team’s mascot is the hawk, and the shape of the uniform was designed to resemble the wings of a hawk’s beak.

The shape of the hawkeyes’ jerseys has also been changed over the years to reflect different designs and trends. In the 1960s, the jerseys were more of a tunic style. In the ’90s, the jerseys were shorter and had more of a fitted silhouette. And in recent years, the Hawkeyes have used a more modern fit and added an additional stripe on their sleeves to further differentiate themselves from other Big Ten teams.

This season, the team will once again make a statement with their uniforms. On Oct. 12 when the team faces Iowa State, they’ll don a special alternate uniform that pays homage to their 1921-22 “Ironmen” teams, which won back-to-back Big Ten championships. This version of the uniform is a nod to those originals, but it has a twist: The Hawkeyes will be wearing gold jerseys, black pants and white socks — not the standard blacks that they usually wear. The Hawkeyes will even wear golden helmets, which resemble the ones of Notre Dame and don’t match the current look of the other three Big Ten schools. The uniforms have received mixed reviews, but they’re certainly a memorable change.