What is the gold shield on Saquon Barkley’s jersey? Philadelphia Eagles superstar honored in new season

The NFL shield is a staple on the jersey of all 32 teams, and in 2025, a select group of players will be sporting a very special version.

Uniforms have long featured the league’s logo in some form, and a variation can be traced back to 1969, when all teams wore a patch on their left sleeves or shoulders to celebrate the 50th anniversary.

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But it wasn’t until the start of the 1991 season that the NFL logo became standard again, when it was added to the base of the jersey collar.

The logo was also added to other parts of a player’s uniform, including the upper-left pant leg, and the back of the helmet.

Now, more than three decades on, it’s almost impossible to picture a jersey without NFL branding.

But in 2025, the shield will look very different for five players.

What does the gold NFL shield mean on Saquon Barkley’s jersey and who else is wearing it?

For the first time, the NFL will honor individual award winners with a gold shield patch.

That means the current MVP, and the winners of four other AP awards — Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year — will all wear special shields.

The gold patch is inspired by the NFL Honors logo, and the players wearing it are:

• Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen — 2024 Most Valuable Player
• Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley — 2024 Offensive Player of the Year
• Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II — Defensive Player of the Year
• Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels — Offensive Rookie of the Year
• Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse — Defensive Rookie of the Year

The gold shield patch will be on those five jerseys for the entire 2025 season, including during the playoffs.

When will each player debut their new patch?

Barkley will be the first player to wear the gold shield when the Super Bowl champion Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night (4 September) in the 2025 season opener at Lincoln Financial Field.

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Daniels will debut his patch on Sunday against the New York Giants, before Surtain II takes to the field for the Broncos against the Tennessee Titans, and Verse plays for the Rams against the Houston Texans.

MVP Allen will then wear his gold shield during Sunday night’s game for the Bills against the Baltimore Ravens.

He will go toe-to-toe with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who finished second in MVP voting, despite being named AP First Team All-Pro last season.

Who are the favorites for NFL Honors in 2025?

While the new season is yet to kick off, betting favorites have already been named for each AP award.

Jackson is tipped to win MVP, ahead of Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow.

Barkley is favorite to win the Offensive Player of the Year award again, while Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Jahmyr Gibbs are also in the running.

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Micah Parsons has been tipped for the Defensive Player of the Year award after joining the Green Bay Packers, while Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty is favorite to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year, ahead of Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward.

New York Giants lineback Abdul Carter is expected to scoop the Defensive Rookie of the Year prize.

How does the NFL honor other players?

Gold shields are just the latest addition to NFL jerseys, and other players already wear special patches.

The league honors team captains with a ‘C’ patch, while Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winners — like Dak Prescott and Russell Wilson — wear a special logo on their jerseys for the rest of their careers.

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