Joe Burrow is on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s August issue and honestly? He’s slaying. The Bengals quarterback, long adored for his calm confidence and cold-blooded precision on the field, is once again proving why he’s that guy off the field, too.
Yes, he’s an NFL superstar. Yes, he’s got stats and accolades and fans who scream “Who Dey” like it’s gospel. But the part that keeps people like me coming back is the way Joe Burrow fully owns his individuality, his vulnerability, and his style. He’s a quiet storm.
In the new feature, Burrow opens up about his journey, not just as an athlete, but as a human being who once struggled with self-confidence. “I struggled with confidence when I was little. I was pretty uncomfortable in my own skin,” he shares. “So I did express myself with colors and clothes.”
That inner child now commands NFL tunnels like a runway. His fashion is never forced; it’s simply “his own.” Some days, it’s floral and butterfly-core. Other days, it’s tonal neutrals with an edge. As Burrow puts it: “I wake up, feel the color, and find the fit.”
His style evolution wasn’t always this bold. When he first entered the league in 2020, he wore nothing but suits to games. “I was just super uncomfortable,” he shared. “I didn’t like getting on a plane in a full suit, sitting there for three hours and not being comfortable.”
So he ditched the tradition and started showing up in what felt right, even if it didn’t align with what an “NFL quarterback” was supposed to wear. And that choice? It’s changing the game.
“I think style brings a different demographic to football,” Burrow explains. “More young women, or people who might not have known or cared about football, are now paying attention… Maybe they see somebody wearing a Gucci fit into the game and they’re like, ‘Oh, who’s that?’ Then they start paying attention.”
He’s right. Joe Burrow is expanding what it means to be a quarterback. Not just because he plays smart, but because he lives smart.
Whether he’s reworking his off-season travel to prioritize recovery, refining his workout routine for longevity, or dreaming up a future fashion collab with designers, Burrow moves with intention. Quiet, grounded, and unbothered.
He doesn’t dress to impress; he dresses to express, and that’s what makes him the cover star we needed.
XO Diva D 