NFL-How NFL players are becoming game changers in the fashion industry

Sept 3 : NFL players are remembered for what they do on the field, but what they wear off it has become just as highlight-reel-worthy in recent years, helping both the league and its players harness fashion as a tool to grow their brands.

A rising interest in athletes’ game-day outfits has helped the relationship between fashion and sports evolve into a world of opportunity.

Nobody knows that better than Kyle Smith, the NFL’s fashion editor, whose job is not only to help players with their style but to teach them about the various ways they can immerse themselves in the fashion industry.  

“As I get to talk to our athletes, what I find is maybe they might not know about all the opportunities that exist for them,” Smith said.

That includes starting clothing brands or walking shows at Paris Fashion Week, like Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson did in 2024.

Fashion is also an approachable way to gain exposure among new and younger audiences. Social media plays a big role in generating interest as people consume content online, whether it is players’ game-day outfits or the league’s “Behind the Fit” video series that dives into the stories behind their style.   

Something as simple as a player wearing a band T-shirt could also help the league gain a new fan as it continues to grow globally, Smith said.

“Then you’re following (that athlete) from team to team or their whole career, and you’re buying their jersey,” he said. “So it’s really important for the league to just find a new way to talk to a new audience, especially as we are growing internationally.”

While fashion has opened new doors for the league and its athletes, it is also an avenue to tell stories.

“There’s so