This Air Jordan Sneaker From the Early 2000s Will Return for the First Time Ever
An Air Jordan 9 that debuted more than 20 years ago is set to get its first-ever retro.
The Air Jordan 9 “Flint Grey” will release in spring 2026, marking the first time the 2002 colorway is returning to stores, according to a report from trusted sneaker leaker @zSneakerHeadz. Also referred to as “French Blue” by collectors, this non-original Air Jordan 9 treatment debuted in the same year as the “Cool Grey” colorway that just released again in March after a 13-year hiatus.
Its most apt comparison, however, would be the Air Jordan 13 “Flint,” which makes use of the namesake grey as well as white and blue. The AJ 13’s just make greater use of blue than the 9s, with the former releasing in 1998 as one of the model’s original colorways.
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Flint grey nubuck is applied to the Air Jordan 9’s nubuck mudguard as it sweeps up the heel and around the collar. The rest of the upper is made up of white leather, and the midsole is split between white and grey. Sparse “French Blue” accents comprise the eyelets, tongue tag, heel branding and midsole’s Jumpman.
Unlike the “Cool Grey” Air Jordan 9, Jordan didn’t play in this non-original colorway. But because “Flint Grey” had been a one-off, it still held a special place among completionist collectors.
Upon its introduction in 1993, the Air Jordan 9 was given just four original colorways: “True Red,” “Powder Blue,” Olive” and “Charcoal,” half of which couldn’t be worn by Michael Jordan on the court for failing to conform to uniform regulations. This wasn’t much of an issue, though, because the shoe dropped during Jordan’s first retirement and his stint playing baseball.
The model’s greatest significance comes from its outsole, as its design by Tinker Hatfield involved much more detailing than the territory had ever been subject to prior.
The Air Jordan 9 “Flint Grey” will release in spring 2026 though the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing has not yet been confirmed but shouldn’t be far off, if at all, from the $210 price of the “Cool Greys.”
