Joe Burrow has never been one to play it safe with his wardrobe choices. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback’s latest pregame ensemble at Paycor Stadium proved that point once again, sparking a social media firestorm that had fans comparing him to everything from popcorn boxes to cartoon characters. In an era where athlete fashion statements can go viral in minutes, Burrow’s bold pinstripe look became the talk of the internet before kickoff even arrived.
Why Did Joe Burrow’s Pregame Outfit Spark So Much Criticism?
Since his days at LSU, Burrow has never been intimidated to wear whatever he felt like, despite the disapproval of many. Before today’s game, the two-time Pro Bowler entered Paycor Stadium sporting a blue and white pinstripe shirt, black baggy pants with pinstripes, and black and white sneakers. The bold combination immediately caught fans’ attention, and they decided to have plenty of fun at his expense.
The reactions came swiftly and sharply across social media platforms:
“Am I the only one who finds this corny?”
Am I the only one who finds this corny? https://t.co/DUziGV64sF
— 𝕂ℂ🏹 (@KCGotAura) September 14, 2025
Fans definitely possess their own sense of style, and this one sees Burrow’s look as trite and cliché, lacking originality. “Corny” ranks among the worst insults anyone can lob at your apparel.
The comparisons got even more creative from there:
“Dude looks like a popcorn box.”
Dude looks like a popcorn box https://t.co/LTWYu5zF8x
— Fouts & Furious (@AdobeWanKenobi_) September 14, 2025
This tweet compares the two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year to theater food in respect to old-school movie popcorn boxes that feature red pinstripes.
The criticism wasn’t limited to just his clothing choices either:
“What has he done to his hair? Brrr.”
what has he done to his hair brrr https://t.co/aGFTZ2FU7W
— 𝙡𝒐𝙡𝒖 (1-0) (@rybacaraz) September 14, 2025
Over the years, Burrow has continued to embark on a hairdo journey. He’s worn everything from a moussed-up pompadour to this messy style, in which his bangs are curled and his hair is combed to the front.
Some fans took the quarterback’s body language as evidence of his own uncertainty about the outfit:
“@JoeyB’s outfit is so bad, he won’t even look up at security! #WTF”
@JoeyB outfit is so bad, he want even look up at security! #WTF https://t.co/4bZHPNWJ9M
— jiffyman (@jiffyman9) September 14, 2025
The quarterback looks down and ahead without acknowledging home stadium employees, leading some to believe his sartorial blend is embarrassing.
What Makes Athletes’ Fashion Choices So Controversial?
The roasting continued with increasingly imaginative comparisons:
“Daf*q is my man wearing? Did he fall through clotheslines like in the cartoons?”
dafuq my man wearing? did he fall through clotheslines like in the cartoons?
— Steve in Crowtown (@StevenCrowtown) September 14, 2025
For those of a certain age, cartoons often featured a chase scene that ends with a character falling through a clothesline and wearing random clothes.
Even fellow NFL players got in on the commentary, though in a more subtle way:
“Can’t wait for Justin Herbert to pull up in a hoodie and a Nike golf hat tomorrow night.”
Can’t wait for Justin Herbert to pull up in a hoodie and a Nike golf hat tomorrow night. https://t.co/9YmLeSXO35
— Scott Quessenberry (@ScootsyQ) September 14, 2025
Former Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans guard Scott Quessenberry chides Burrow’s choice while praising former teammate Justin Herbert in a seemingly understated fashion.
Fashion and football apparently run hand-in-hand in today’s social media landscape. With the prevalence of various platforms, some athletes attempt to catch attention or garner opinions through their clothing choices. While some outfits elicit praise, others evoke questions and comments of all shapes and sizes.
Burrow’s name, quotes, and appearance do carry weight in this discussion. In a recent Sports Illustrated article, he mentioned how football and fashion share a commonality that enriches each other. While that remains debatable, the fact that many fans objected to what he wore today is not in doubt.
