Joe Burrow is used to having all eyes on him during the NFL season, but over the last few years, he’s made a name for himself off the field, turning heads in fashion shows and, most recently, at the 2026 Met Gala. During a new interview, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback and LSU alum opened up about his look on the red carpet and revealed how he’s found an escape from the world of sports through fashion.

Joe Burrow Stuns In Custom Bode Suit At The 2026 Met Gala, Says Fashion Is ‘Fun’ For Him

Burrow was one of many superstar athletes and one of four LSU alumni at the 2026 Met Gala. The Bengals QB stunned in a custom navy blue BODE suit, paired with Cartier jewelry. He went shirtless beneath his blazer, opting for a simpler look this time around.

Getting ready for the Met Gala, which had tons of A-List celebs, from Beyoncé and Jay Z to Rihanna, was special for Burrow. He told Vanity Fair that his appearance on this year’s red carpet was an “exciting” moment for him.

“Emily and her team did a great job. She is super, super smart. We’re doing a smoking jacket with some frogging, and some inspiration was pulled from American portraitists. It’s very detailed, and sick,” Burrow said.

Joe Burrow Gets Real About How Fashion Has Been An Escape For Him In A Busy World

Continuing, Burrow, who has been snapped in many statement pieces in his short career, said being part of events like the Met Gala means more to him than people likely realize.

“Fashion is just fun for me,” he said. “It’s a nice change of pace from the world of sport, in some ways, and it’s fun for me to be able to try to merge the two and try to build within both industries. The whole dynamic between sport and fashion is exciting to me. It started out with… with really just playing with colors, playing around, and it has evolved to this. Whatever this is. And I think I’d just call it… fun.”

Last summer, Burrow made headlines when he appeared in a Vogue fashion show, hitting the runway in a black Peter Do suit with an open back. “I’ve been roasted in just about every group chat I could possibly be roasted in,” he joked, according to The Blast.

Despite the criticism, Burrow said he’s doing things his way, noting that he was “fully prepared” to catch some heat over his offseason plans.

Joe Burrow Sees The Similarities Between Athletes And Designers

In a 2025 interview, Burrow explained how fashion and clothing helped him break free from the chains of insecurity.

“I was always pretty particular about what I wore, like when we’d be school shopping. I didn’t know anything, I just liked how the clothes felt and looked. I struggled [with confidence] when I was little. I was pretty uncomfortable in my own skin, and I think I was quiet and socially awkward, so I did express myself with colors and clothes,” the national champion said.

Elsewhere during the conversation, Burrow, 29, noted the similarities between fashion designers and athletes, calling both “artists.”

“Theirs is with clothes, ours is with our bodies. There’s a lot of creativity in what we do. It’s definitely different realms, but there are very creative people in both. It feels like a natural merging,” he said.

Burrow Gets Some Help From His Bengals Teammate

Some people in Burrow’s inner circle have also spoken publicly about the athlete’s fashion sense, including his Bengals teammate, Ja’Marr Chase.

Last year, the wide receiver said he’s actually purchased designer pieces for Burrow to consider adding to his wardrobe.

“Last year was the first year where I started to buy stuff for him and he would consider to wear it. We’ve started talking more about shoes and other brands. He’s starting to like it more,” Chase said.

Chase Says Burrow Is ‘Breaking Barriers’ In The NFL

According to Chase (who also played with Burrow at LSU), his Cincinnati teammate is a disruptor in the industry.

“He’s still breaking barriers, trying to be himself and show off more of his personality and stuff,” Chase said. “I try to help him with that, try to get him to open up more. You know, he’s always been the quiet guy. He knows when to talk, but I just want him to talk more often.”

See more of Burrow’s Met Gala look here.