NFL Jersey Buying & Fitting Guide

NFL Jersey Buying & Fitting Guide

The best way to support your Bears — or any other NFL team (we won’t judge you…too much) — is with an authentic NFL jersey. Nike is the official licensed manufacturer of NFL jerseys that players wear and that are found on the shelves at Clark Street Sports. However, there are several types of jerseys depending on how you want to represent your team pride and what your budget is. Our NFL jersey guide has everything you need to find the best Chicago Bears jersey for yourself or as a gift for a football lover in your life.

Nike NFL Game Jersey

The Game NFL jersey is the most common replica football jersey and is considered the “entry-level” jersey for casual fans. These lightweight jerseys are designed for tailgating and daily use. They’re made of comfortable fabrics with a tailored fit and no-tag neck label. However, the numbers and letters are screen-printed on. While this makes the jersey lighter, they are also less durable. The “Game” line also has small-medium-large-etc. standard apparel sizing instead of the numerical sizing that authentic jerseys use. NFL Game jerseys typically retail in the $100 to $120 range.

Nike NFL Limited Jersey

This is the next step up in football jersey quality. The Limited NFL jersey is made of polyester fabric and has twill embroidered numbers like those on a game-worn jersey. Nike also uses its Flywire nylon thread — which first debuted in the company’s shoes — to strengthen the collar and sleeve openings. Another added feature is strategic ventilation to keep armpits and other “heat zones” cool. They still have the standard apparel sizing of the Game jersey line. A Chicago Bears Limited adult jersey retails for around $150.

Nike NFL Elite Authentic Jersey

This is the closest jersey you can find to what your favorite Bears players wear on the field. They’re made of performance fabrics — mostly nylon with a little bit of spandex — and have an athletic cut for a snug fit around the shoulders and chest. The water-repelling fabric has “zoned” stretching while the twill numbers have additional flexibility so you can move, run or jump without the jersey losing its shape. These jerseys even repel water for watching a game in the rain. You can tell at a glance if your jersey is Elite Authentic because they use numerical sizing. These advanced features do come at a price as a high-level jersey usually costs at least $200.

Mitchell & Ness Throwback NFL Jerseys

Want to pay tribute to a Chicago legend? Consider a throwback NFL jersey that will also stand the test of time. Mitchell & Ness, one of America’s oldest sports apparel companies, is a licensed manufacturer of vintage NFL jerseys and throwbacks. These jerseys are based on past uniform designs with classic names, numbers and logos to commemorate the players who wore them. They are made of polyester mesh and have embroidered numbers and letters. Getting a Jim McMahon, Mike Ditka or Walter Payton throwback jersey is a great way to remember the all-time greats. Most of them cost about the same amount as a Nike NFL Limited jersey.

NFL Jersey Sizing

So what size should you wear? Let’s go right to the source with this NFL jersey sizing chart based on information directly from the NFL Shop (all measurements in inches)

Men’s Football Jerseys

	S	M	L	XL	2XL	3XL	4XL	5XL
Jersey Size	46	48	50	52	54	56	58	60
Chest	42	46	50	54	58	62	66	70
Front Length	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37
Back Length	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39

 

Women’s Football Jerseys

	S	M	L	XL
Jersey Size	3-5	7-9	11-13	15
Chest	32-34	34-36	38-40	40-42

 

Spotting Fake NFL Jerseys

With greatness comes imitators — and there are plenty of unlicensed NFL jerseys out there. Clark Street Sports believes in wearing genuine apparel for big-time fans who want to back up their favorite teams. To that end, we have some tips on how to spot a knock-off NFL jersey:

1. The Price. This is the easiest way to discover a fake. If a seller is offering a brand-new Nike Elite jersey for $100, for example, you should immediately be suspicious.

2. The Threads and Seams. NFL Game jerseys are far superior in quality and detail to most fakes. Loose threads are often a giveaway. Another telltale sign is if the jersey has a pair of seams on the bottom inside — authentic jerseys have a single seam.

3. The Tags. Genuine jerseys have the jock tag that is very stiff and is placed very low on the left side of the jersey. On knock-offs, this tag is often easily bendable or placed higher up.

4. The Numbers. The embroidered numbers on Limited or Elite jerseys usually are reflective. Fakes use a cheaper, duller material.

5. The Shield. While the numbers are embroidered on authentic NFL jerseys, the NFL shield is done with plastic-looking applique. Any jersey with an embroidered shield is likely a fake.

Wear the Best Chicago Football Jerseys

Get your new official Windy City football jersey from Clark Street Sports by visiting one of our store locations or calling us during business hours. We offer men’s, women’s and kid’s jerseys that are the genuine article. We’ve been where real fans shop for official gear since 2004. Let us know if you have any questions — we’re happy to help!