Ja’Marr Chase signed a massive four-year, $161 million contract to remain in Cincinnati, but a recent incident in New York caught the attention of NFL fans. The Bengals’ star wide receiver did everything possible to avoid an incident with a woman who looked less than pleased with Chase’s actions. Ultimately, this is not the first odd incident that Chase had to partake in in the past couple of days.
Ja’Marr Chase Dodges a Hug From a Random Woman in NYC
After being touched on the shoulder by a woman trying to get a hug, Chase walked right past her as he continued to go about his day.
Being an NFL player means there is a lot of press and fame to come with it, but these random instances have been building up lately for Joe Burrow’s right-hand man.
TRENDING: A woman touched #Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase in NYC, and he was not very happy about it.
😳😳😳
(Via TMZ)
pic.twitter.com/aVm6LfytLi— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) June 23, 2025
Just recently, Chase was in the news for refusing to sign a fan’s autograph on the plane. Chase was doing nothing other than quietly sitting in his seat, something that the fan took offense to, as he decided not to sign an autograph. Athletes are entitled to sign, or not, as it’s completely up to them. Their signature can be worth a large chunk of money, but it’s usually not about the money; it’s about the actions of the fans who refuse a signature.
The woman in NYC didn’t want an autograph; she just wanted a hug. One would argue that’s even worse, as the athlete would be forced to touch someone else. Chase had no idea who the woman was as he walked past her without saying a single word. Her reaction was priceless, though; she clearly didn’t expect him to do that. No matter what Chase does in public, he always seems to be recognized and spotlighted.
Chase is 25 years old and clearly used to the spotlight. The 2019 College Football National Champion reunited with Burrow in Cincinnati, as the duo made a Super Bowl appearance in 2021. Already in his young career, Chase is a four-time Pro Bowler, having won the triple crown in 2024.
With the most receptions, most receiving yards, and most receiving touchdowns, Chase’s 2024 season won’t be appreciated as much as it should, as the Bengals failed to make the playoffs. Burrow has a favorite target, and it’s a reliable one at that. Last season, Chase finished with a career high of 127 receptions, 1,708 receiving yards, and 17 touchdowns. Chase had more receiving touchdowns in 2024 than in 2022 and 2023 combined.