Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow faced a wave of online mockery on Sunday after arriving at Paycor Stadium for the team’s critical matchup against the Cleveland Browns in an unconventional outfit. The 28-year-old star, known for his confident fashion choices, opted for a grey hoodie, white vest, baggy black pants adorned with love hearts, and white sneakers—an ensemble that left fans scratching their heads.
Fans React to Burrow’s Bold Look
NFL fans didn’t hold back in their critique of Burrow’s outfit, taking to social media to voice their opinions.
“Why do NFL players always wear the weirdest s***??” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Another quipped, “What tf are those pants? People with money are weird.”
A third fan questioned the trend, asking, “Do rich people just wear the stupidest pants all the time?”
Others compared Burrow’s look to a teenager’s wardrobe, with one user concluding, “Dude dresses like he’s 14.”
Adding to the lighthearted commentary, another joked, “This his Slim Shady look?”
While the reactions ranged from confusion to outright ridicule, Burrow’s fashion choice was just one of several headlines surrounding the Bengals quarterback in recent weeks.
RELATED: Joe Burrow Stuns Fans with ‘Bada**’ Christmas Gift for Bengals Offensive Line
High Stakes for the Bengals
The Bengals entered Sunday’s game with a 6-8 record, desperate for a win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. With the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens sitting above them in the AFC North standings, a loss to the Browns would all but eliminate Cincinnati from postseason contention.
Burrow, who led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in 2022, has been under increasing pressure as the team struggles to replicate last season’s success.
Off-Field Drama
Burrow’s on-field challenges are compounded by recent off-field drama, including a burglary at his $7.5 million Cincinnati mansion. The break-in occurred while Burrow was in Texas for a game against the Dallas Cowboys, and TMZ Sports revealed a surprising twist in the story: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Olivia Ponton was the one who called the police, not Burrow’s long-time girlfriend, Olivia Holzmacher.
The revelation has fueled speculation about Burrow’s personal life, with rumors circulating that he and Ponton have been romantically involved since early fall.
“They have been hooking up since the early fall and are keeping it casual,” an insider told People.
Burrow and Holzmacher, who met during their college days at Ohio State and went public with their relationship in 2017, had been considered one of the NFL’s most stable couples. Holzmacher, a data analyst for retail giant Kroger, was a fixture of support during Burrow’s rise to NFL stardom, including his Super Bowl run in 2022.
Rumors of a potential engagement surfaced in August 2023 when former Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones claimed on The Pat McAfee Show that the couple was engaged. However, neither Burrow nor Holzmacher has confirmed the claim, and their relationship status remains unclear.
A Quarterback Under the Microscope
Between the Bengals’ playoff push, the burglary investigation, and rumors of a new relationship, Burrow finds himself at the center of intense scrutiny.
His outfit choice on Sunday may have been a minor footnote in a larger narrative, but it served as a reminder of the heightened attention NFL stars face both on and off the field.
For Burrow, the best way to silence critics—whether about his fashion choices or his performance—will be leading his team to victory.
As the Bengals fight to keep their season alive, all eyes will remain on their quarterback, who continues to be one of the most intriguing figures in the league.
