[Derek]

more on that...

SAN DIEGO – The Chargers will announce today that for the first time in 18 years, their uniform and logo have undergone complete makeovers.
Chief among the changes is a redesigned gold bolt outlined in powder blue, white helmets and a newly contoured overall look.



The powder blue framing the bolts on the helmets and the jersey is the only addition of that popular color, which many fans have opined should be the team's primary color. The Chargers will continue to wear their powder blue uniforms twice each season.
“The powder blue hasn't gone away,” said Jim Steeg, the Chargers' chief operating officer. “It's now part of the color scheme. It was not before. It's now part of us.”

The new design is somewhat futuristic and somewhat nostalgic, with the primary goal of creating an identity for the current Chargers.

“It's modern, but at the same time, it's classy,” said quarterback Philip Rivers, one of a half-dozen players who has seen and tried on the new uniforms. “... It's kept the tradition of the colors and the bolts. But it's done in a way that gives uniqueness to this team. It shows respect to the Chargers of the past. At the same time it says this is the Chargers of 2007. Hopefully we're holding up the (Lombardi) Trophy wearing these uniforms.”

A shroud of secrecy for several months limited knowledge of the change to just three people in the Chargers organization and until recently encompassed only a small circle of executives and key players. The 20-month process of changing the iconic bolt will culminate in a fashion show scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday at the U.S. Grant hotel.

Rumors about the pending change began during Super Bowl week, and heated up when a graphic of the new logo and a picture of LaDainian Tomlinson from the chest up wearing the new uniform was accidentally posted for approximately three minutes on the Chargers' Web site Thursday night. That was long enough for someone to see it and eventually post it on a SignOnSanDiego fan forum.

That sent the Chargers scrambling late last night and this morning, prompting the team to decide to say later today that a change is coming. However, they will stick with their initial plan of a Wednesday unveiling.

Even now, minor changes are being made in the design.

The uniforms have been significantly altered both aesthetically and physically.

“This uniform is going to be a first of its kind,” Steeg said.

Made of a fabric that is form-fitting yet elastic, it has fewer grab points for opponents, so the Chargers anticipate being held less often. It also will be less restrictive for players because of its elasticity. The jersey also is lighter and has air vents.

The main colors remain the same – with navy being worn for home games, white on the road and powder blue for two “throwback” games. The bolt now wraps around the shoulder rather than being on top of the shoulder, and the numbers have moved from the biceps to the top of the shoulder. The collar is no longer a V-neck but is more rounded. Around the collar on the home jersey is a white fringe. On the away jersey, the fringe is blue. Below the collar, the word CHARGERS has been added.

The helmet is similar to the one the Chargers have worn for years with the “throwback” powder blues. The bolt is simply the new design and the player's number will be in black on the back of the helmet above the neck.

The stripe on the pants stripe is wider, contoured, coming around from the rear. And the bolt has just two points instead of the current eight.

The team's helmet and uniforms featured a gold bolt in the franchise's first 28 seasons.

The team's fourth major uniform redesign – but first since 1988 – also includes a major update of its all-cap “CHARGERS” logo. The new design is less blocky, sleeker and includes a single blue and gold stripe running only through the letters versus all the way through as it has for almost two decades.

Since the Chargers changed their bolt from gold to white and their helmets and home jerseys from royal blue to navy blue in 1988, 13 NFL teams have completely redone their uniforms. That does not include the Tennessee Titans, who changed their name and uniform a year after relocating from Houston, nor expansion franchises Carolina or Houston.

The Chargers did shorten the lightning bolt on their jersey pants in 1992, and every team besides the Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders have made at least one alteration to its uniform in that time, including expansion franchises Jacksonville and Cleveland.

Most have made numerous changes – to jersey numbers, pants stripes, helmets and/or adding, subtracting or altering a logo.

This will change all Chargers' merchandise as well – from eight-piece barbecue sets to card tables to key chains with the Chargers' logo. The new Chargers' uniforms also will be featured in this year's version of video games.

The team will spend approximately $750,000 to change logos and insignia on the front of its building, the carpet in the locker room, business cards, letterhead, stadium signage and elsewhere.

Replica jerseys with the new design will not be in stores until the end of April, but some new merchandise will be available next week.