One of Michael Jordan’s OG Air Jordan 5s Is Coming Back for the First Time With All Its Original Details
While the Air Jordan 1’s 40th anniversary has rightly taking precedence, 2025 is also the 35th anniversary of the Air Jordan 5. The “Black Metallic Reimagined” colorway kicked off the celebrations in February, and this summer will bring back another colorway for the first time with all of its original detailing.
The Air Jordan 1 “Fire Red Black Tongue” is releasing with “Nike Air” branding on the tongue for the first time since its initial run in stores in 1990. There’s another “Fire Red” colorway from the same season that has since been reissued with “Nike Air” branding rather than the Jumpman, but that edition stands apart with its 3M silver reflective tongue among a few other small differences in color application. But those small details, of course, are precisely what Jordan fanatics nerd out over.
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Of all the Air Jordan 5’s original colorways, the “Fire Red Black Tongue” is the only one to feature Michael Jordan’s no. 23 embroidery. It last released in 2013, but without the “Nike Air” branding at the heel that fans hate to see swapped out. The rest of the shoe’s characteristics stay true to those of the one from 1990, albeit with an icy blue translucent outsole to help prevent yellowing.
The first images of the shoe’s return were posted by the Instagram user @xcsneaker, who is well known for posting early looks at anticipated releases.
This year will also see the return of the original “Grape” Air Jordan 5, which wasn’t worn on the court by Jordan and is most famous for featuring on the feet of Will Smith in “The Fresh Price of Bel-Air” instead. Just like the “Fire Red Black Tongue” this year will mark the first time it hosts the “Nike Air” branding in 35 years.
High profile collaborations on the model are on the way as well from Awake NY and A Ma Maniére.
The Air Jordan 5 “Fire Red Black Tongue” will release September 13 through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $210.
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