Andrew Rizzo Jordan Brand is revisiting one of its most memorable packs ever with the return of 2012’s Air Jordan 9 “Kilroy Pack”… sort of. While many have been hoping for individual retros from the pack’s six colorways, the brand is taking a different route, opting instead for a low-top “What The Kilroy” mashup that’s bound to be one of 2026’s more polarizing releases.
The “Kilroy Pack” concept traces back to 1993. With Michael Jordan off pursuing baseball and no clear return to the NBA in sight at the time, Nike had to get creative in promoting the Air Jordan 9. When the ‘94 baseball lockout began, Nike invented Johnny Kilroy, a fictional NBA player teased to be MJ under disguise. The campaign produced a series of now-classic commercials (check some out below).
Nearly two decades later, Jordan Brand brought the idea back with the Air Jordan 9 “Kilroy” pack, introducing styles tied to multiple aliases: Fontay Montana, Bentley Ellis, Calvin Bailey, Slim Jenkins, Motorboat Jones, and of course Kilroy himself. This new “What The” iteration blends all of them together, with mismatched colors and materials from each persona spread across the left and right shoes. All six names appear on the tongue in the classic Air Jordan 9 font, while “Kilroy Kicks Butt” lands on the inner lining. The heels feature 23 and 4 numbering, referencing both MJ and his fictional counterpart.
Collectors would likely prefer clean retros of each original colorway, but let’s be real: six Air Jordan 9s hitting shelves at once isn’t exactly realistic in today’s market. The Air Jordan 9 Low “What The Kilroy” is currently expected to release Fall 2026 for $180, per @brandon1an and zSneakerHeadz. See detailed images below, and keep our Jordan Release Dates page handy for updates.
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WHERE TO BUY
Mens Air Jordan 9 Low "What The Kilroy"
US 08/14/2026 Friday
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