The sneaker worn by Michael Jordan for the Chicago Bulls’ first NBA championship win, the Air Jordan 6, is set to return next year in an original colorway, albeit with a minor variation.
The Chicago Bulls-colored Air Jordan 6 Black/Infrared sneaker will be reissued in February with a change to the shoe’s midsole. While the version of the colorway fans have known over the decades features a split Infrared coloring which hovers over the outsole’s front and back translucent rubber, the iteration arriving at retail in 2026 features a fully connected Infrared streak. It’s the sort of variance that may go overlooked by those who aren’t in the know, but for Air Jordan enthusiasts, the pair offers a rare opportunity to obtain a piece of the brand’s history.
The “Reverse Infrared” look, as it has been nicknamed, was believed to have originally been a salesman sample of the shoe used in the late 1990s to preview the pair’s first reissue to buyers and retailers. The version was so close to hitting the market that it was pictured in a catalog for defunct sportswear supplier Eastbay. But when it came time for the pair to be released in 2000, a last-minute change was applied which reverted the Infrared coloring back to the original 1991 look. A handful of the rare pairs ended up on sites like eBay, but the scrapped version of the sneaker was never formally released until now.
Beyond the midsole paint, the scrapped Reverse Infrared style features Infrared Nike Air embroidery on the heel instead of the black stitching traditionally seen on the pair. Elsewhere, the colorway retains its usual signature elements including its sports car-inspired heel tab, removable lace lock toggle and a stretchy tongue sleeve which can be used to hide the shoelaces.
Besides this Reverse Infrared pair, Jordan Brand is expected to release several other Air Jordan 6s next year for the sneaker’s 35th anniversary. Also slated to launch is a new “Cap and Gown” look, a new collaboration with Paris Saint-Germain and a $350 Bin 23 release.
The Air Jordan 6 Retro Reverse Infrared is currently expected to be released on Feb. 14 for a retail price of $215 although given the current tariff situation, the price could change between now and then. The pair has a full colorway of Black/Light Crimson and its style code is CT8529-001.