Another "Black/Varsity Red" Air Jordan 1 High '85 Expected October 2025

You read that right: Jordan Brand is expected to release another Air Jordan 1 High '85 in the iconic "Black/Varsity Red/White" color scheme before 2025 ends.

The unconfirmed report was initially shared by Sneaker News, which came across a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) for a never-before-seen '85 retro. The pair, however, boasts the aforementioned color description, which prompted the outlet to run a story that February's limited "Bred" Jordan 1 '85 was getting another launch throughout October.

Before running this article, House of Heat° asked a representative at Jordan Brand for a comment on the news. While we waited for a response, we saw industry insiders and savvy sneaker enthusiasts alike take to social media to offer their two cents on the report. In an attempt to do our journalistic duty, it's only now that we feel comfortable positing that another premium, $250 Air Jordan clad in a Chicago Bulls-friendly color scheme will return in the next year. But how will it look?

It's possible that the impending retro will be the same pair launched at only a select few retailers in February. This wouldn't be out-of-the-norm for highly-coveted, limited product, but what's peculiar is that both styles have different SKUs: the "Bred" pair released earlier in the year did so with the HV6674-067 code while the unconfirmed retro boasts a IQ6083-067 SKU.

In comparison, the wider launch for the Big Bubble Nike Air Max 95 "Neon" in the first-half of 2026 features the same SKU as pairs released earlier this month.

Another possibility, then, is that the unreleased Jordan 1 '85 features different color-blocking of the same palette.

The "Black/Varsity Red" duo has appeared in numerous ways throughout the Air Jordan signature sneaker line. Its original appearance on Michael Jordan's debut model has been retroed faithfully since 1985, but styles like 2020's "Alternate Bred" offering flip the script. Even "Black Toe" and "Chicago" looks don the same medley of colors on paper, but its application differs.

Both of these latter makeovers are expected to receive the High '85 treatment by 2030. The "Black Toe" color-blocking, however, recently appeared through the Reimagined initiative, making another retro so soon non-sensical. The "Chicago" finish last dropped in 2022 via the "Lost & Found" project. Soon after, it was rumored to be next in line for the meticulous reissue. A select number of pairs of this '85 retro were eventually gifted to folks from Jordan Brand's extended family, but sources from the company confirmed that the "Chicago" Jordan 1 '85 was simply a promotional sample. Although Team Jumpman could've chosen to stagger the retail launch of its iconic sneaker, it's unlikely the impending pair is a "Chicago" remake given its "Black"-heavy color-blocking instead of "White" (the latter has historically come first in the "Chicago" Jordans' color description).

Sneaker aficionados and historians on X have guessed that the new retro could be a special edition tied to Nike, Inc.'s Banned Day.

The fictional holiday takes place on Oct. 18 and commemorates the day the NBA issued out a fine to the Swoosh conglomerate over His Airness' rule-breaking, black-and-red basketball shoes. The history books tell us the pair in question was actually the Nike Air Ship—now the Jordan Air Ship—but the Oregon-based sportswear brand has retold the story to add to the Air Jordan 1's lore.

In 2011, Jordan Brand released a "Banned" retro exclusively via outlets. The pair launched during a time when Jordan Releases were a lot scarcer. To this day, the quality on the thematic drop is lauded as amongst the best on a "Bred" AJ1. The two Xs on the pair's spines also harken back to a different time in sneaker collecting.

Before rumors began to swirl and outlets raced to debunk or confirm reports, X user @DJFolk sent out a general warning following the limited launch of the "Bred" Jordan 1 High '85: "also dont overpay for bred 85's they are doing something else for them later in the year." His post from Feb. 24 suggests the new SKU pertains to another "Bred" retro.

It's possible the sneaker's color-blocking is identical, but complete with different materials or finishes. The decision would coincide well with both the footwear design and Jordan Brand's 40th anniversary celebration.

What isn't expected is that the next '85 offering is widely available. Fans of the shoe will likely need to head over to resale platforms like StockX to secure whatever it is that ultimately drops, but for loyalists, that's part of the game.

Stay tuned for firm details on the impending premium pair. Head over to Nike.com/Jordan to shop what's currently available while you wait for more information.

Away from the Jumpman family, the Nike Basketball roster continues to expand.