Why the Fire Red Colorway Still Hits
In 1990, Nike launched the Air Jordan 5, an almost instantly iconic silhouette designed by the legendary Tinker Hatfield. One of four OG Air Jordan 5 colorways, "Fire Red" ranks among the few Air Jordan 5 editions worn on court by Michael Jordan in his playing days. That alone elevates this colorway in Air Jordan history.
The Air Jordan "Fire Red" 2025 release pays fitting tribute to the OG release with "Nike Air" branding on the heel and Mike's #23 embroidered on the lateral side of the shoe. These details echo the original colorway, along with other OG Air Jordan 5 design features like the lace lock.
There are two OG Air Jordan 5 "Fire Red" colorways, both featuring white, red and black Chicago Bulls' styling — one distinguished by a silver tongue, the other with a black tongue. The silver tongue version last dropped back in 2020. Now it's the black tongue's time to shine.
'Fire Red' Specs
This men's Air Jordan 5 Retro "Fire Red" release features all the classic Jordan 5 design elements. The classic "shark tooth" detail on the midsole of the Air Jordan 5 is famously inspired by patterns painted on WWII-era fighter jets. It's one of the best-known design features of any Air Jordan sneakers, bringing some pure Jordan attitude to the shoe. In the black tongue version of the OG "Fire Red" colorway, the shark tooth is rendered in black against a fire-red midsole.
A clean white leather upper contrasts with a cushioned red interior for comfort and style. TPU mesh lines cutouts on the side of the sneakers and the lower part of the tongue. The 5's translucent outsole covers a Jumpman logo at the forefoot and surrounds an opaque red section of the sole at the midfoot that carries an indented "Nike" word mark.
Finally, the sneakers come with the AJ 5's ever-present lace lock. The look is topped off by the colorway's signature black tongue with soaring red Jumpman logo and upside-down "Air Jordan" label on the reverse side.
