After decades of speculation among collectors, a legendary Air Jordan sample is finally seeing the light of day. In 1999, a catalog preview showed an unreleased ‘Infrared Salesman’ version of the Air Jordan 6 before it was quietly shelved. Now, as part of the silhouette’s 35th anniversary, Jordan Brand is bringing that sample to retail, complete with the distinctive details that originally set it apart.

Compared with the classic Infrared, the ‘Salesman’ spreads the crimson hue across most of the midsole instead of confining it to the heel and toe. A black nubuck upper, visible Air unit and Dynamic Fit inner sleeve remain, but the internal bootie construction has been tweaked to more closely mirror Michael Jordan’s 1991 game‑worn pairs. Jordan Brand even raised the tongue by 2 mm and included sample text on the collar, along with factory hangtags and sample‑style packaging.

The result is a sneaker that feels both familiar and new – a piece of sneaker lore brought into the present. Releasing February 14 on Nike.com and at select retailers, the Air Jordan 6 ‘Salesman’ will retail for around $215.

Expect limited pairs and plenty of buzz on release day as longtime collectors and new fans compete for a piece of history. For background on the Air Jordan lineage, take a look at our sneakers section or browse the broader Jordan Brand catalog.

By reviving an unreleased sample and fine‑tuning its shape to align with the original, Jordan Brand proves that sometimes the best ideas are worth waiting decades for.