CINCINNATI – Ted Karras had a plan, but not much time to execute it.
The Cincinnati Bengals center has transformed into a marketing phenom with the creation and sales of his Cincy Hat, which is a project to raise money for the Village of Merici, a living community for adults with disabilities in Karras’ hometown of Indianapolis.
Hat sales took off almost immediately after Karras introduced it, and he’s worked tirelessly to continue its growth.
Ted Karras’ Elevator Pitch Scores With Luke Combs
When Karras found out Luke Combs would be at practice Thursday ahead of the country stars’ two sold-out shows at Paycor Stadium on Friday and Saturday, Karras saw an opportunity to expand the hat’s reach exponentially.
“I had given a box of hats to the equipment guys and had them put it on the golf cart so we had it outside,” Karras said. “I said, ‘When he’s out there today, when we get a chance, let’s give it to him.’”
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But Karras knew he had to explain what the hat represented, so during a break in action during practice, he tried to provide Combs with as much details as possible.
“I talked to him for maybe 30 seconds,” Karras said. “I just gave him the elevator pitch of what we did and what we’ve done and how it would mean a lot to me and the city and the Village.”
“I didn’t even have enough time to get his reaction,” Karras added. “I think I kind of flustered him. I was like, ‘We do this, this, and this,’ and then they yelled ‘short yardage.’”
With that, Karras ran back onto the field, not knowing what would come of it.
He didn’t know if Combs would wear it for a song or two, or even at all.
It turns out Combs wore the hat for the duration of both concerts.
And for a second-straight night, Luke Combs is wearing a Cincy Hat👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/UlbkQiN0Td
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien)
Not surprisingly, the specific version of the Cincy Hat Combs wore sold out almost instantly.
“He’s the man for that – wearing it two days in a row, that’s really special,” Karras said. “He’s gonna be in the first class of the Cincy Hat Hall of Fame.”
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Karras earned the Bengals’ Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nomination for his work with the Cincy Hat project and all the nearly $2 million it has raised for the Village of Merici.
