Tennessee Football released its fourth Nike iteration of the Smokey Grey uniforms on Thursday morning, coinciding with the Fourth of July on Friday.
The Vols’ new set, Volunteer Spirit, is inspired by the United States Armed Forces and is a tribute to the Tennessee Military Department, the 134th Air Refueling Wing in East Tennessee, and the Tennessee National Guard.
“Tennessee’s in-house creative agency, 151 Creative, worked in conjunction with the UT equipment staff and Nike to create the new uniforms,” UT published in a press release on Thursday morning. “One of the unique pieces of the project was the conception of a ‘Volunteer Spirit’ Tennessee Tri-Star logo as an homage to the 134th Air Refueling Wing. The creative team brought all of the elements to life during a content shoot in May thanks to the service members at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base.”
There are several elements – some in plain sight, others a bit more hidden – of the creative and military-inspired process of the uniforms, from the number font to the two-tone grey design.
Here’s what Tennessee published about each of the new, unique design elements that went into the look:
“Two-Tone Grey: A striking two-tone set, like steel forged from military artillery. Strong, resilient and ready for battle on the gridiron.
The Davy Stripe: A modern take on Davy Crockett’s famous, fringed uniform. Inspired by a Tennessee hero who stood tall on the frontier and made his final stand at the Alamo.
Stencil Numbers: Inspired by the military standard, this font ensures numbers stay sharp & legible through any challenge.
Star Vols: This popular logo returns for the first time since the turn of the century and the program’s decade of dominance. It appears both as a military-inspired patch and on the front helmet bumper.
The Mountains: A staple throughout the Smokey Grey series, the Smokey Mountain helmet pattern returns to the Volunteer Spirit uniform. In this instance, the East Tennessee landscape serves as a visual reminder of the notable veteran and military presence in this region of the state.”
More From RTI: Tennessee Football In-State Four-Star Defensive Back Target Announces Commitment Plan
Following the initial release of the pictures on Thursday morning, Tennessee Athletics followed up with a 14-minute behind-the-scenes video from the Army Aviation Support Facility (I-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion) and the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base for the content shoot. Tennessee’s team collaborated with multiple military members throughout the shoot, including having one member from all six branches of the United States Military for a few shots and videos.
Some of the talented individuals who put this shot together include Associate Athletics Director of Marketing & Fan Experience Jimmy Delaney, Assistant Director of Football Creative Video Noah Halford, Director of Branding and Design Evan Ford, Assistant Athletics Director of VFL Films Forrest Gmitro, Chief Creative Officer Tyler McEntire, Director of Football Social Media & Creative Strategy John Gargiulo, Lt. Col. Travers Hurst (TN Air National Guard), Cpt. Brandon Rodriguez (TN Army National Guard), 1st Lt. Brandon Proctor (U.S. Marine Corps), Matthew Burkhart (U.S. Space Force), MSGT Makayla Cordell (Tennessee Air National Guard), SSG Robert Keith (Tennessee Army National Guard), PO1 Brazil Coley III (U.S. Coast Guard), HM1 Hannah Williams (U.S. Naval Reserve), and Tennessee defensive back Edrees Farooq.
Check out the full 14-minute video below:
Here are a few of the finished videos that Tennessee put on social media from the shoot:
Volunteers answer the call.
A Smokey Grey tribute to Tennessee’s Volunteer Spirit — a reputation of service and sacrifice within the U.S. armed forces. pic.twitter.com/8hKadU0n59
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) July 3, 2025
A culture, a history, an identity.
The Volunteer Spirit uniform celebrates the state that has long stood at the heart of America’s military tradition. pic.twitter.com/u4ZU0DJvN1
— Tennessee Athletics (@Vol_Sports) July 3, 2025
