The NFL Is Experiencing a Baggy-Sleeve Renaissance
GQ SportsPlayers all around the league are playing it fast and loose with longer, baggy uniform sleeves.By Matthew RobersonNovember 4, 2024Cooper Neill/Getty ImagesSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.Nearly every player, coach, and media personality in and around the league will tell you the NFL is all about winning. With guys putting their bodies on the line every single week, the whole point of the operation is to be victorious—to make all that sacrifice count for something.But let’s be real. Playing in the NFL is also about looking cool. If you look like a scrub, you’re probably going to play like a scrub. We’re seeing that in spades during NFL games this year, where one specific trend has infiltrated the gridiron. Move over, RPOs and fourth-down conversions. The biggest and baddest fad in the NFL is guys playing with humongo sleeves. Just look at Jets star receiver Garrett Wilson:New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is a king of the long sleeves. Cooper Neill/Getty ImagesIt’s not just Wilson, either, or even exclusive to his generation. (It is possible that the extra sleeve volume, functioning almost like a sail, helped Wilson haul in the touchdown catch of the year last week, though.) Stephon Gilmore, the veteran cornerback currently in his 14th NFL season, didn’t used to be a long sleeve guy. As recently as last year—when he was with the Cowboys—the former Defensive Player of the Year wore his sleeves in the traditional short and tight manner. But this year with the Vikings, he’s aired it out a bit and chosen to rock a shorter sleeve that still has ample room for air flow.Gilmore has been in the NFL since 2012. That's a lot of sleeves. Stephen Maturen/Getty ImagesIt’s a popular look among his position group. Fellow defensive backs Jalen Ramsey, Marlon Humphrey, Xavier McKinney, and Alontae Taylor also like their sleeves on the flowy side.Jalen RamseyBrennan Asplen/Getty ImagesMarlon HumphreyMichael Owens/Getty ImagesXavier McKinneyTodd Rosenberg/Getty ImagesAlontae TaylorCooper Neill/Getty ImagesThat group has combined for 11 interceptions—McKinney is tied for the lead league with six—five sacks, and 15 tackles for loss, so there's clearly something working here! We can certainly understand how loose-fitting clothes create a sense of freedom on the field, both literally and figuratively. On the literal level, your arms are less constricted, and thus able to make more sick plays. On the figurative level, zigging where everyone else zags is one of the more liberating things a person can do, fashion-wise. Whether your office is in a multi-use building downtown or an NFL stadium, it's fun to dress a little quirky. Take George Pickens, for example.Icon Sportswire/Getty ImagesMost PopularCultureIs Sturgill Simpson the Greatest Live Act in Music Right Now?By Chris CohenCultureCan Fontaines DC Make Rock Bands Cool Again?By Olivia OvendenStyleTom Hardy Wears the All-Time Classic RolexBy Oren HartovIf your WR1 isn't mangling a t-shirt in the pregame locker room to the point that it looks serrated, your team is simply not built for war. This is an interesting variation on the more widespread sleeve trend, as the sleeves on Pickens' uniform are standard, but he's choosing to go long with the undershirt. Not just long, but haphazardly long! We love it. No surprise: Pickens had 111 yards and a touchdown in the game he rocked this look.It's worth pointing out that, though they've been on the outs for a few years, baggy sleeves aren't new. NFL jerseys used to be truly enormous—check out the sleeves on Earl Campbell—but in the modern era, two names immediately spring to mind. On the defensive side of the ball, Super Bowl champion Byron Maxwell was loud and proud with his sleeves over a decade ago. Imagine lining up for a big third down and seeing these bad boys across from you:Tom Hauck/Getty ImagesThe true long sleeve hero, though—the guy who went baggy where everyone else went tight—is none other than Eli Manning. The Giants' lovable dork brought home two championships while wearing a parachute on each arm. There are some things in sports that you just can't teach, and aura is one of them. Good luck ever trying to replicate this type of gravitas:Most PopularCultureIs Sturgill Simpson the Greatest Live Act in Music Right Now?By Chris CohenCultureCan Fontaines DC Make Rock Bands Cool Again?By Olivia OvendenStyleTom Hardy Wears the All-Time Classic RolexBy Oren HartovJamie Squire/Getty ImagesAs the season chugs along into the winter months, we're expecting a few wild and wacky uniform innovations. We won't soon forget Packers wide receiver James Jones suiting up for a playoff game in 2016 while wearing a hoodie underneath his jersey, immediately making him an NFL style icon. While the hoodie has sadly been banned, the shiesty has become a popular accessory during cold weather games. Both of those ar
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Nearly every player, coach, and media personality in and around the league will tell you the NFL is all about winning. With guys putting their bodies on the line every single week, the whole point of the operation is to be victorious—to make all that sacrifice count for something.
But let’s be real. Playing in the NFL is also about looking cool. If you look like a scrub, you’re probably going to play like a scrub. We’re seeing that in spades during NFL games this year, where one specific trend has infiltrated the gridiron. Move over, RPOs and fourth-down conversions. The biggest and baddest fad in the NFL is guys playing with humongo sleeves. Just look at Jets star receiver Garrett Wilson:
It’s not just Wilson, either, or even exclusive to his generation. (It is possible that the extra sleeve volume, functioning almost like a sail, helped Wilson haul in the touchdown catch of the year last week, though.) Stephon Gilmore, the veteran cornerback currently in his 14th NFL season, didn’t used to be a long sleeve guy. As recently as last year—when he was with the Cowboys—the former Defensive Player of the Year wore his sleeves in the traditional short and tight manner. But this year with the Vikings, he’s aired it out a bit and chosen to rock a shorter sleeve that still has ample room for air flow.
It’s a popular look among his position group. Fellow defensive backs Jalen Ramsey, Marlon Humphrey, Xavier McKinney, and Alontae Taylor also like their sleeves on the flowy side.
That group has combined for 11 interceptions—McKinney is tied for the lead league with six—five sacks, and 15 tackles for loss, so there's clearly something working here! We can certainly understand how loose-fitting clothes create a sense of freedom on the field, both literally and figuratively. On the literal level, your arms are less constricted, and thus able to make more sick plays. On the figurative level, zigging where everyone else zags is one of the more liberating things a person can do, fashion-wise. Whether your office is in a multi-use building downtown or an NFL stadium, it's fun to dress a little quirky. Take George Pickens, for example.
If your WR1 isn't mangling a t-shirt in the pregame locker room to the point that it looks serrated, your team is simply not built for war. This is an interesting variation on the more widespread sleeve trend, as the sleeves on Pickens' uniform are standard, but he's choosing to go long with the undershirt. Not just long, but haphazardly long! We love it. No surprise: Pickens had 111 yards and a touchdown in the game he rocked this look.
It's worth pointing out that, though they've been on the outs for a few years, baggy sleeves aren't new. NFL jerseys used to be truly enormous—check out the sleeves on Earl Campbell—but in the modern era, two names immediately spring to mind. On the defensive side of the ball, Super Bowl champion Byron Maxwell was loud and proud with his sleeves over a decade ago. Imagine lining up for a big third down and seeing these bad boys across from you:
The true long sleeve hero, though—the guy who went baggy where everyone else went tight—is none other than Eli Manning. The Giants' lovable dork brought home two championships while wearing a parachute on each arm. There are some things in sports that you just can't teach, and aura is one of them. Good luck ever trying to replicate this type of gravitas:
As the season chugs along into the winter months, we're expecting a few wild and wacky uniform innovations. We won't soon forget Packers wide receiver James Jones suiting up for a playoff game in 2016 while wearing a hoodie underneath his jersey, immediately making him an NFL style icon. While the hoodie has sadly been banned, the shiesty has become a popular accessory during cold weather games. Both of those are for weather-related purposes, though. When it comes to big ass sleeves, that's a decision based purely in swagger. To everyone brave enough to ask the equipment manager for triple XL sleeves, we salute you.
What's Your Reaction?
