Paul Hornung’s Rookie Jersey May Rewrite Packers History—And It’s Up for Auction!

Since its inception in 1919, the Green Bay Packers have been defined by their iconic team colors, a mix of navy blue, gold, white, and green. But recent discoveries regarding a legendary player’s rookie jersey could challenge everything we know about the Packers’ color history. That’s right, the jersey worn by Hall of Famer Paul Hornung during his 1957 rookie season may actually feature black and gold—upending the historical narrative that the team always donned navy blue and gold.

This surprising revelation comes thanks to a rare and groundbreaking find: a Paul Hornung rookie jersey up for auction at Heritage Auctions’ Winter Platinum Night Sports Auction. A photo-matched analysis of the jersey has confirmed its use in a November 1957 game against the New York Giants, revealing a startling detail—Hornung’s jersey was not navy blue, but black. The discovery was made after a closer inspection of the worn number on the back of the jersey, which showed that beneath the faded material, the true color of the fabric was jet black.

Tony Giese, Heritage’s consignment director and a longtime Packers collector, explained that while there have long been rumors surrounding the color of Packers uniforms from the mid-1950s, it wasn’t until the damaged number was uncovered that the true color of the jersey could be definitively identified. “It was kind of an urban legend,” Giese said. “Did they wear black, or did they wear midnight navy? We just couldn’t tell from the photos at the time. This jersey is the smoking gun that proves it was black.”

The Packers, known for wearing darker blue shades in the 1940s and 50s, have never been associated with black uniforms—until now. The Hornung jersey from 1957 is made from black durene, a fabric style used by teams from 1954 to 1957, and this photo-matching process has provided definitive proof that the team once wore black and gold, a color scheme more often associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In fact, the condition of the jersey, specifically the loss of the number, turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Without the missing number, it would have been difficult to prove the jersey’s color with certainty. “If that number hadn’t been gone, we might never have known,” Giese explained.

As the auction progresses, the Hornung rookie jersey has already set a record for a Packers game-worn piece, with bids reaching $91,500—proof of its historical significance. For those who wonder if it was only the Hornung jersey that might have contained this elusive black fabric, Giese pointed out that other jerseys from the era, such as a 1957 Jim Ringo jersey, couldn’t be verified as black and gold due to the intact numbers. But Hornung’s jersey, due to its exposure and its photo-match to several games, including a notable contest in which he rushed for 112 yards against the Giants, offers unprecedented clarity into Packers uniform history.

The Hornung jersey has also sparked renewed excitement in the memorabilia world, especially given the potential for it to reach six figures. “It’s a rookie jersey of one of the most notable guys ever,” said Giese. “If it were just a regular player’s jersey, it might fetch $5,000, but because it’s Hornung, it’s a huge deal. Plus, it’s a fresh find that could shift the historical conversation about the Packers.”

Whether the jersey is ultimately sold for six figures or not, this auction is rewriting Packers history in real time. The discovery of the black and gold uniform could inspire collectors and historians alike to reconsider everything they thought they knew about the team’s rich and storied past. If Hornung’s jersey truly marks the moment when the Packers once wore black, the team’s colorful legacy will forever be altered. And as for the jersey itself? Well, it might just be the most significant piece of Packers memorabilia in decades.