Super Bowl Pre-Game Fashion
Every year, the Super Bowl inspires players to step out in their best fits of the season. However, it was not until recently that football and fashion joined forces. Just a few years ago, pre-game tunnel walks were characterized by players wearing an ill-fitting suit. Nowadays, pro football players are enlisting stylists and using game days to display their own personal fashion.
The world of sports is changing, and just this year the NFL hired an in-house fashion editor. This fusion has been propelled by athletes embracing fashion as an extension of their personal brand and by fashion houses recognizing the cultural influence of sports figures.
Athletes made bold fashion statements as they arrived at Caesars Superdome on February 9th, turning the pre-game tunnel into a runway of self-expression. From Canadian tuxedos to lavish fur coats and eye-catching, colorful ensembles, players embraced individuality and high fashion. The looks reflected the growing intersection of sports and style, with athletes using their outfits to showcase personality, confidence, and cultural influences.
Kyle Smith, the newly appointed fashion editor of the NFL, is at the forefront of the league’s evolving relationship with fashion as he aims to expand its media reach through style. By blending sports with high fashion, Smith is helping to transform the way players, teams, and fans interact with the league. One of Smith’s biggest high-profile moves was bringing Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson—two of the NFL’s most stylish and influential players—to Vogue World in June 2024. This was a major event that highlighted the fusion of sports and fashion. This shift in NFL culture was particularly evident during Super Bowl LIX, where pre-game tunnel walks have become must-watch moments, as athletes use their outfits to make bold statements.
Before the big game, some players even went so far as to rep the colors of the opposing team. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tried trolling the Philadelphia Eagles by stepping out in an Eagles green suit, sending a message that he is not intimidated by them. Mahomes’ plan backfired and the game ended in an Eagles blowout win.
There is an ever growing intersection of fashion and football, and on Super Bowl Sunday, football’s biggest stage also turned into football’s biggest runway.
Resources
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/style/nfl-fashion-editor-kyle-smith.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/style/super-bowl-tunnel-walk-travis-kelce-saquon-barkley.html
https://threadsofconversation.substack.com/p/kyle-smith-nfl-fashion
Graphic by Madeleine Carter