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An Early Look at the Air Jordan 3 “Fire Red”

Air Jordan 3

An Early Look at the Air Jordan 3 “Fire Red”

Check out, and shop, the anticipated Jordan 3 colorway before it drops later this month.

Matt DeSciora

The game don’ changed. Shoe brands are finally listening to us, the loyalists who consider sneaker collecting not a hobby, but a way of life, and are bringing back the kicks we’ve begged for along with our fellow “sneakerheads” on message boards, social media, and everywhere else under the sun. In a few weeks, the Air Jordan 3 “Fire Red” will make its long-awaited return, but not with a Jumpman on the heel, rather with its original “Nike Air” detailing in tow. For those of us who obsess over sneakers far, far too much, this could only be equated to the holidays coming early this year.

Originally released in 1988, the Jordan 3 “Fire Red” was one of the first colorways of the model worn by Michael Jordan in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, and the last to receive the proper retro treatment by Jordan Brand. The Jordan 3’s “White Cement,” “Black Cement,” and “True Blue” have all been reintroduced to the market with their OG-style “Nike Air” branding and other retro details, but, curiously, not the “Fire Red.” The colorway’s previous releases, which were in 2007 and 2013, while solid and worthy of owning, featured a Jumpman on the heel. Not the OG branding everyone who wanted to be “Like Mike” saw him hoop in.

But that’s all about to change with the new Air Jordan 3 “Fire Red.” Jordan Brand has gone back to the archives to restore the shoe in its original glory, and the brand didn’t miss the mark. Just like the OG, the new “Fire Red” features a white leather construction with grey leather accenting on the eyelets, elephant print on the toe cap and heel, and fiery Fire Red detailing on the collar, top eyelet holes, mudguard, and on the “Nike Air” and Jumpman branding on the heel and tongue, respectively.

Just like the Air Jordan 4 “Fire Red” and Air Jordan 5 “Fire Red - Silver Tongue” that were revived from the catacombs of the vault by Jordan Brand in 2020, the new Jordan 3 “Fire Red” is a way for a new generation of collectors to engage with the blazing red color story. For us old heads, it’s a two-for-one special: we finally get a second chance at another shoe we’ve always wanted, and we get to rejoice in the fact that maybe, just maybe, someone from Jordan Brand was actually reading all those late night posts on NikeTalk back in the day.

Shop the Air Jordan 3 “Fire Red” now at Stadium Goods