For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved uniforms. The Packers’ green and gold sets were my first and greatest love, but I’ve always enjoyed seeing what every team rolls out each week. Good and bad, they’re all beautiful to me in their own way.

A jersey is the closest thing a fan can get to donning the uniform of the team they love, and I’ve been fortunate enough to own quite a few during my time as a Packers fan. Robert Brooks was my first, Brett Favre takes up the most space in my closet, and players like Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Clay Matthews fill out the rest.

If it was up to me, everybody would get the chance to own a jersey of their favorite player, but I recognize that it’s a significant investment. A decent jersey will run you around $100, and you can easily pay much more than that. A Mitchell & Ness throwback can cost upwards of $300 or more!

So that’s why I’ve put together this jersey buying guide. If you’re going to be shelling out for a jersey, you might as well get the best possible piece of memorabilia for your money. How can you do that? Let me show you.

How to buy the best Packers jersey (for you)

When you’re buying a jersey, there are three rules you should follow

Avoid current players (with a few exceptions)
Avoid fake jerseys
Use all your resources to find the best fit for you

Here’s the reasoning behind my rules

1 - Avoid current players (with a few exceptions)

I got into Packers jerseys in a big way in high school. As a junior, I started collecting in earnest and got to the point where I was brokering sales for a few of my friends. I was “the jersey guy” in my friend group, and there was no player I loved more than Brett Favre.

Circa 2005 or so, it seemed like Favre was going to be with the Packers forever, even with Aaron Rodgers on the roster. As a result, I went after every Favre jersey I could find in hopes of building out a complete roster. I got a green Packers jersey, a white Packers jersey, the blue and gold throwbacks the Packers wore for the NFL’s 75th anniversary, a black and gold Southern Mississippi jersey, a brilliant red Hancock North Central High School jersey, and even a black Atlanta Falcons jersey. Favre was my favorite player, and he was never leaving, so I figured I might as well have them all.

And after the 2007 season, it looked like that was a wise choice. Favre called it quits, tearfully retired, and I basked in the fact that my Favre jersey canon was now closed. I had everything I could want (other than obscure, expensive stuff like a Pro Bowl jersey).

But of course, you know what happened next. Favre unretired, and I had to decide if I wanted to shell out for a New York Jets jersey (a firm no). Then, in a truly unthinkable situation, I had to do the same with the Minnesota Vikings a year later (again, a firm no).

All this made me feel a bit silly, but it taught me an important lesson. Circumstances can change, and tying yourself to a player whose career has not yet finished can lead to some uncomfortable circumstances. Unless you’re willing for your jersey to one day be out of date (potentially with disastrous consequences), it’s better to avoid guys that are currently on the roster.

There are exceptions, however. I find it’s easier to stomach the idea of a guy playing elsewhere if he came to the Packers from another team. I wouldn’t have turned up my nose at a Jimmy Graham jersey, for example, and I’m probably going to add Marcedes Lewis to my collection at some point.

I think you can also carve out exceptions for guys whose careers have an obviously short shelf life. This, in particular, applies to running backs. Most guys at that position won’t be playing into their late 20s or 30s anyway, so if you love Aaron Jones or Eddie Lacy or Ryan Grant, it’s probably fine to go ahead and splurge on a jersey if you understand the arc their career is likely to take.

2 - Avoid fake jerseys

This is a potentially thorny one, but I’m committed to helping you find the best jersey possible, so I can’t in good conscience recommend that you buy a fake Packers jersey.

Look, I get it. Jerseys are expensive, and any time an expensive item becomes popular (like, say, because it’s tied to a very famous sports team), counterfeit versions are going to come to market.

And counterfeit jerseys are everywhere. I once saw a shot of a Packers player doing a Lambeau Leap, and the only authentic jersey in the frame was the one on the guy who had just scored a touchdown. They’re inescapable, but if you know what to look for you can easily spot (and avoid) the fakes.

Here are a few quick pointers for avoiding counterfeit jerseys.

First, if you’re getting an outrageous deal on an NFL jersey, it’s probably fake. The price points on NFL jerseys are not as bad as they once were, but an official Nike product is going to be in the $75-$100 range. If you find something that’s well below that and it’s not on clearance sale, it’s probably fake.

Second, there are a few telltale signs on the jerseys themselves. Let’s use this Cullen Jenkins jersey as an example.

The first giveaway is the sleeve stripes. A real jersey will always have screen-printed stripes; they’ll never be made out of the stretchy material you see here.

The next issue is with the jersey numbers. Officially licensed jerseys will either have screen-printed numbers or numerals made out of tackle twill, and tackle twill always lays flat to the jersey material. You won’t see the bubbling you see on these numbers, and they won’t be nearly as shiny either.

Next, look at the patch. Officially licensed jerseys very rarely come with commemorative patches (like this one from Super Bowl XLV). You do see some from time to time, so this isn’t a hard and fast rule, but it should give you pause.

Let’s look at a different example for a couple of other common issues. This Julius Peppers jersey gives us some to examine.

The coloring is our first giveaway here. It’s a little too light; the Packers uniforms are actually a fairly dark shade of green with (strangely enough) some blue mixed in. (It’s a Pantone color called PMS 5535 C if you’re interested in that kind of thing.) This jersey is actually a little too green to be authentic, as odd as that is to say.

We can turn to the numbers for another giveaway, this one via the number 5. Have you ever looked closely at the 5 the Packers use on their uniforms? You will after this. In their team number font, the Packers’ 5 has a little point at the end of the vertical stroke where the curve of the numeral begins. You can see it here on Clay Matthews and here on Za’Darius Smith. The 5 on this Peppers jersey, though, is completely flat. There’s no point, and thus we know it’s a fake.

Now, if having a fake jersey doesn’t bother you, that’s your prerogative. But both the jerseys I used as examples here were listed for around $50 on eBay. If you’re already putting down that much money, why not just spend a little bit more and get something authentic?

3 - Use all your resources to find the best fit for you

Finally, as you look for your next Packers jersey, don’t be afraid to look in some unexpected places to find some unique players and some good values. The official NFL Shop website and the Packers Pro Shop are great, but they have limits, and often they’ll be the most expensive.

I know I just talked about the prevalence of fake jerseys on eBay, and that’s certainly a concern. But eBay is also a great source for older jerseys, like some of the classics from the 1990s or even earlier.

I’ve also spotted some good bargains on sites like Poshmark, where users can sell their used clothing. That’s not typically the kind of thing that site is used for, but it’s as good an option as any.

Finally, if you have the means, don’t hesitate to check out more specialty retailers. If you’re in the market for a throwback, for instance, Mitchell & Ness is a great option (though pricey). The same goes for Ebbets Field Flannels, which attempts to replicate the original materials used for particular uniforms.

But that’s enough rules. Let’s get to the real question at hand.

What Packers jersey should I buy?

Below are a few suggestions of players that might suit your tastes, divided into five categories: Legends, Recently Retired, Current Players, Obscure Players, and Humorous Players.

Legends are self-explanatory. They’re icons in Packers history. Be prepared to pay accordingly.

Recently Retired players are those that have, well, recently retired. These are guys you’ve probably watched in the last decade or so, and they’ll be correspondingly pretty cheap because their jerseys were produced in large volumes. This is a good place to look for some contemporary bargains.

Current Players are currently (duh) on the team. I consider the guys listed here pretty low risk in terms of potential future issues regarding their post-Packers careers.

Obscure Players are those that played with the Packers only briefly or occupied an otherwise small niche in Packers history.

Humorous Players include guys whose jersey you might only want to buy as a joke. I don’t know if you’d like to spend money on a joke, but I’ve got some suggestions for you if that’s your thing.

Note: the links I use in this section are just examples. They may direct to expired eBay listings or other products that may no longer be available. Use the links to guide your search, not to buy directly.

Legends

Reggie White - The Minister of Defense has some of the best Packers jerseys available. You can go with the five-stripe or three-stripe variant of cheaper jerseys, or pony up for a higher-end version.

Ray Nitschke - There are some truly excellent Nitschke jerseys available out there, including both short-sleeved and long-sleeved versions.

Bart Starr - Ebbets Field Flannels came up with some really creative Starr jerseys recently, using the original Durene material teams utilized in the 1950s and 1960s. I love that they really captured the look of the long-sleeved uniforms teams used to wear. They’re quite expensive, but I think they’re worth the money if you’re into quasi- historical artifacts. The Packers Pro Shop also offers a slightly less expensive version. Do not buy the modern version of a Starr jersey or I will come to your house and take it from you.

Don Hutson - I really like the version of Hutson’s jersey offered by the Packers Pro Shop. It’s not an ideal recreation, but it’s close enough and it’s pretty affordable, too. Like Starr, there are modern versions of Hutson’s jersey, which you should not buy. He never wore anything that looked remotely like that. My threat from the Starr jerseys stands for this one, too.

Recently Retired

Brett Favre - One of the all-time greats, Favre offers a bunch of different jersey options. Now that he’s well and truly retired, you don’t run the risk of falling into my conundrum, either.

Charles Woodson - Probably the best Packers’ defensive player of the 21st century, Woodson’s career in Green Bay was nothing short of amazing. There are some nice variant jerseys out there for Woodson, too, including a nice-looking Super Bowl XLV replica that features a custom-cut collar.

Jordy Nelson - I’ve always found the number 87 aesthetically pleasing, and Nelson is one of the best and nicest players in recent Packers history. You also have two throwback options available if Nelson is your jam.

Donald Driver - Driver’s jerseys are easy to find and he appeared in at least one noteworthy throwback, so you’ve got a fairly wide range of options here, too.

Clay Matthews - Matthews’ prime burned hot and relatively short, but he’s one of the most fun defensive players in recent Packers history. You could do a lot worse than a Clay Matthews jersey. I have one myself!

Current Players

Some people don’t like the Packers’ yellow-dot throwbacks, but I think they’re terrific.

Aaron Rodgers - Rodgers is worth considering for the sheer volume of jerseys available. You can choose from the standard Packers green or white options, but also from their 2011 throwbacks, their 2015 throwbacks, or their new 2021 throwbacks. That’s quite a selection!

Aaron Jones - Watch his recent game day feature and try to keep a dry eye. If that’s at all representative of the kind of guy Jones is, I’d have no problem adding his jersey to my collection. Maybe he’s a fit for you.

Marcedes Lewis - In addition to crushing much younger players on a weekly basis, Lewis has occupied a role as an elder statesman in Green Bay’s locker room since he arrived in 2018. He’ll never put up great stats, but if you like interesting players, Lewis is a good fit.

Kenny Clark - Clark is big and fun and dominant, and he seems likely to be in Green Bay for the long haul. This seems like another situation where you can buy with confidence.

Darnell Savage - Savage’s career has been up and down, but how often are you going to get a chance to buy a jersey with “Savage” on the back?

Obscure Players

Whitney Mercilus - Mercilus is going to move from current to obscure pretty quickly, so I’m putting him here on the idea that within a couple of years we’ll be saying “hey, remember when Whitney Mercilus played in Green Bay for a bit?” You won’t have that problem when you have a Mercilus jersey, though, and you’ll have the added benefit of having one of the great names in Packers history on your back.

Terry Glenn - Glenn played just a single season with the Packers, but he’s burned into my memory for his appearance in Madden 2003. It’s been almost 20 years since he suited up for the Packers, so you know it’ll only be fellow Packers of taste and culture that recognize this one.

Mark Brunell - Before he starred for the Jaguars, Brunell backed up Brett Favre in Green Bay. Brunell jerseys are pretty rare, but they exist! As a bonus, maybe snag yourself a Brunell card where he’s sporting number 12. It’s not a jersey, but that’s about as obscure as it gets.

Atari Bigby - Bigby was a miniature sledgehammer for the Packers for a few years leading up to and during their Super Bowl XLV run. If you’re not into the big names from that era, Bigby might be the perfect fit for you.

Ahman Green, Omaha Nighthawks - The Packers’ leading rusher is hardly an obscure jersey find (unless you track down one where he’s wearing number 34), so crank the obscurity up a few notches by grabbing a jersey from Green’s time with the Omaha Nighthawks from the ill-fated UFL.

Humorous Players

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix - Look, it’s a funny name.

JK Scott - Fun fact: Scott’s number 6 is in a three-way tie for the cheapest adult-sized jersey you can buy from the Packers Pro Shop right now.

Jake Kumerow - Commemorate your love for the object of Aaron Rodgers’ desire by nabbing a Jake Kumerow jersey.

Martellus Bennett - Bennett’s time in Green Bay culminated in one of the ugliest ends in recent Packers history. Why not memorialize that time with one of the ugliest Packers jerseys money can buy?

What Packers Jersey Should I Buy?