Nike Game vs Legend NFL Jersey Review (How Mine Fit)


In this article we discuss Nike Game vs Legend. If you are interested in buying NFL jerseys, you have 5 options. Quickly, here’s what you need to know about those options (affiliate links take you to NFLShop.com):

  • Nike Legend – The Nike Legend is unique compared to other NFL jerseys. It fits almost like a standard t-shirt, and is more affordable than other jerseys. I was a bit shocked how much I liked the fit. True to size. Lightweight, and easy to wear. Click here to view the Nike Legend jerseys at NFLShop.com. NFLShop.com is the official online shop of the NFL.
  • Nike Game – The Nike Game jerseys are popular fan jerseys due to price point. They have the true look of a jersey, but are replicas, which means they are a bit more affordable than premium jerseys. Relaxed fit, but true to size. These jerseys are a good option if you are looking for a Nike jersey on a tight budget. Click here to view the Nike Game jerseys at NFLShop.com.
  • Nike Limited – The Nike Limited Vapor jerseys are my favorite jersey. Vapor style has clean front with seams converging in back. Sits flat against body. This jersey has stitched numbers and graphics. Awesome jersey, with a great fit and some premium finishes. More affordable than the Elite authentic jerseys. True to size. Click here to view the Nike Limited jerseys at NFLShop.com
  • Nike Elite – These are the authentic NFL jerseys, and the closest you can get as a fan to wearing what the players wear on the field. The fit will be slimmer than other jerseys, mimicking the athletic fit of the players’ jerseys. The Elite jerseys have all the premium finishes, including stitched graphics and authentic paneling. Click here to view the Nike Elite jerseys at NFLShop.com.
  • NFL Pro Line Jersey – The NFL Pro Line Jersey is not made by Nike. It is a more affordable replica jersey, which might be a nice option if you are on a tight budget. This jersey has a baggy, loose fit, and you may need to size it down. Click here to view Pro Line jerseys at NFLShop.com.

I actually own and review 6 different types of NFL jerseys. This is the jersey type from NFLShop.com that I recommend as best fan jersey – in my opinion it has the best combination of fit, comfort, style, and price (affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com).

nike-legend-vs-game

I own both the Nike Game jersey and the Nike Legend jersey. In this article I will discuss what I’ve learned about Nike Game vs Legend from the jerseys I own, and how they differ on fit, design, and price.

The Nike Game and Nike Legend do have different price points, which might impact your decision.

Even though neither of these jerseys (Nike Game or Nike Legend) is my top choice for best fan jersey, they both have strong qualities that might make them right for you. I was particularly shocked at how much I liked the Nike Legend jersey.

The Nike Legend jersey is more of a jersey/shirt hybrid, sorta like a shirsey. I hesitate to call it a shirsey because most shirseys are made of cotton and the Nike Legend is made of polyester, which gives it the feel of a jersey. Nevertheless, the Nike Legend fits much like a polyester t-shirt (but I really liked the way it fit – more on that below).

nike-legend-front-back-layer

The Nike Game is an actual jersey (in comparison to the Legend which is more of a shirsey). Because it is a jersey, it fits much different than the Nike Legend (much looser fit). The Nike Game jersey is perfect for those looking to layer in a cold-weather environment because it naturally fits loose and has extra space to add layers underneath.

nike-game-front-back-layer

Nike Game vs Legend Sizing and Fit

The Nike Game and the Nike Legend jerseys fit differently. Here is a look at my medium Nike Legend jersey sitting on top of my medium Nike Game jersey. As you can see, there is quite a significant difference in size:

nike-game-legend-jerseys

The Nike Game jersey fits larger than standard t-shirts, but whether or not you need to size down will be dependent on how you like a jersey to fit. I like to say the Nike Game jersey fits true-to-size but has a loose, relaxed fit.

I did not need to size down when I bought my Nike Game jersey, but it did fit loose through my chest and stomach in comparison to how standard t-shirts fit me. If you are layering for cold weather games, perhaps this will be a good thing. To read more, visit our article Nike Game Jersey Sizing.

The Nike Legend fits true-to-size and will fit very similar to how standard t-shirts fit you. This, of course, is due to the fact that the Nike Legend is a sort of jersey/shirt hybrid.

Expect the Nike Legend to have shorter and slimmer sleeves than the Nike Game and to run slimmer through the chest and stomach. The Nike Legend also runs shorter in length than the Nike Game.

Here are some comparison photos of me wearing my medium Nike Legend and my medium Nike Game. I am 6’3″ tall and weigh 200 pounds.

nike-legend-vs-game
nike-game-vs-legend-back-layered
nike-game-vs-legend-back

Overall, there really is quite a bit of difference in how these jerseys fit. In fact, fit alone may end your decision-making process because it really comes down to a slimmer fit versus a relaxed fit – which one do you prefer? If you like a slimmer cut, choose the Nike Legend, but if you like a relaxed fit, choose the Nike Game.

I personally was shocked at how much I liked the Nike Legend jersey. As I mentioned earlier, it is one of the more affordable options by Nike so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

We will discuss design later in the article, but even though it (the Nike Legend) lacked some of the custom finishes of the premium fan jerseys, and fit more like a t-shirt, it was very comfortable and fit better than a lot of fan jerseys do. The Nike Legend doesn’t have oversized sleeves like some fan jerseys, and it fits just like you’d expect a t-shirt to fit.


Nike Legend

This is where you can buy the Nike Legend jerseys at NFLShop.com to see if your favorite player is available (affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com). Again, expect a true-to-size fit.

Nike Game

This is where you can buy the Nike Game jerseys at NFLShop.com to see if your favorite player is available (affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com). Expect a relaxed fit, but I did not size down.


Nike Game vs Legend Jersey: Design

The design of the Nike Game vs the Nike Legend is quite different. As I’ve detailed several times throughout the article, the Nike Legend is more of a shirsey than a true jersey, and the Nike Game is designed more like a true jersey.

That alone makes these two jerseys quite different. Let’s explore some other design differences for those of you debating Nike Game vs Legend.

Graphics

The Nike Game has screen-printed numbers, letters, and logos. It does have a sewn-on name plate.

The Nike Legend is a bit different. It is also made with screen-printed numbers, letters, and logos (and doesn’t have a sewn-on name plate), but the screen-printing technique is a bit different.

The Nike Legend uses sublimation printing (which I am a fan of). Sublimation is a process of transferring dye to a garment using heat.

The benefit of this type of screen printing is you don’t end up with screen printed graphics that sit on top of the jersey like paint. The sublimation process allows the ink to become part of the fabric, which causes the graphic to last longer in comparison to older techniques of screen printing.

Here is a close-up look at the sublimation printing used on the Nike Legend jersey:

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nike-legend-jersey-letters
nike-legend-jersey-front

And here is a close-up look at the standard screen-printing used on the Nike Game jersey that I own:

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Material

Both the Nike Game and the Nike Legend jerseys consist of 100% polyester, but the Nike Legend jersey is made with Nike Dri-Fit technologies and the Nike Game is not. In my opinion, this makes the Nike Legend very comfortable to wear.

nike-legend-jersey-collar-2

Some fan jerseys (like the Nike Elite jerseys) are made with a stretch blend of material. The Nike Game does not have this stretch blend. It does have mesh side paneling for extra breathability:

nike-game-jersey-2

Collar

The collar of the Nike Legend and the Nike Game jerseys are actually quite similar. Neither has the built-in flywire for support that the Nike Elite jersey has, but despite that, both collars are well-made and I don’t foresee stretching being an issue unless you overdo it.

Both collars have a rubberish NFL shield at the front collar:

nike-legend-jersey-collar
nike-game-jersey-1

Nike Legend vs Nike Game Photos

Here are some additional photos of the medium Nike Legend and the medium Nike Game jerseys that I own. Again, I am 6’3″ tall and weigh 200 pounds.

nike-legend-jersey-back-3
nike-legend-jersey-back-2
nike-legend-jersey-layered
nike-legend-jersey-picture-1
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nike-game-jersey-layered-back
nike-game-jersey-layered-1

Nike Game vs Legend Pricing

I mentioned to start the article that these two jerseys were two of the more affordable options made by Nike. When I bought my jerseys, the Nike Legend was cheaper in price than the Nike Game, but that may not be the case as of now because prices can change.

  • To check the current price of the Nike Legend jersey on NFLShop.com, click on this link (affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com).
  • To check the current price of the Nike Game jersey on NFLShop.com, click on this link (affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com).

Also, if you want to check out our other football jersey review and comparison articles, you can visit our jersey resource page by clicking here.

If you like the slimmer fit of the Nike Legend, but wish it was more like a jersey than a shirsey, I would recommend checking out the Nike Limited Vapor jerseys at NFLShop.com by clicking on this link (affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com). The Limited Vapors are my top choice for best football fan jersey due to their combination of fit, comfort, quality, and price point.

nike-limited-jersey-layered

The Limited Vapor will give you a slimmer cut, but it is a true jersey. It actually has more premium finishes than the Nike Game jersey, like sewn-on numbers, letters, and patches. Here is a look at the Nike Limited Vapor Jersey I own. To read more, visit my Nike Limited Jersey Review.


Where to Buy?

Nike Legend

This is where you can buy the Nike Legend jerseys at NFLShop.com to see if your favorite player is available (affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com). Again, expect a true-to-size fit.

Nike Game

This is where you can buy the Nike Game jerseys at NFLShop.com to see if your favorite player is available (affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com). Expect a relaxed fit, but I did not size down.

Paul Johnson

Paul has been with us from our beginnings. He focuses on a wide range of sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB and golf.

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