The NFL season is off to a hot start as the Seattle Seahawks shut down the New England Patriots in a rematch of the Super Bowl on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Lumen Field.
Besides a dominant defense that got three sacks and three interceptions, the Seahawks also looked sharp in the tunnel with a variety of subdued outfits from Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DeMarcus Lawrence. The Patriots don’t have fashion-forward Stefon Diggs anymore, but fans can keep an eye on Christian Gonzalez‘s sleek style, especially after his big payday.
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Many players don’t develop their fashion sense on their own. While having a stylist used to be frowned upon because of the thought that it meant someone couldn’t dress themselves, it is now practically essential. A stylist’s job is to help a client’s personality shine, elevate their confidence and simply take the task of finding an outfit off the to-do list.
Some of the top stylists and designers in the NFL have been piecing together outfits since long before the tunnel walk was a thing. A few have found their stride more recently as the crossover of football and fashion has expanded exponentially. What unites them is their creativity, attention to detail and heart for storytelling.
This is also a plea for the Denver Broncos to post their game day fits. They’re one of the most fashionable teams in the league, but nobody knows…
Here are 9 stylists to keep an eye on this NFL season:
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Infamis Missy is a Chicago-based stylist who calls herself a lifestyle architect because her work is not just about clothes, but about experiences. She is an expert in textures and colors and had one of the best looks of the entire season last year. In Week 11, she put Jaquan Brisker in a monochromatic plum ‘fit that was incredible. Even though the safety now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Missy will continue to work her magic to make him, and others, game day ready.
You’ve definitely seen Dex Robinson‘s work, you just might not know it was done by him. He is Tyrod Taylor‘s right hand man and business partner in the Diallo clothing company. Besides working with the quarterback on a variety of looks, he also dressed him for his wedding! The look Taylor wore for his ceremony was a white jacket and a wide-legged pant from Louis Vuitton designed by Pharrell.
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The duo is known for playing with proportions and embracing accessories to make true statements.
Not the fun-loving wide receiver. There’s a new Chad Johnson making an impact in the NFL. Miami-based designer Chad Johnson has his own brand, Duane & Johnson, and he knows how to empower athletes through what they wear. He’s made some standout looks for Brandon Jones, Trent Sherfield and Charles Omenihu. Johnson crafted two significant looks for Omenihu in the 2024 season: his dapper comeback look and his rockstar Super Bowl outfit.
“This season people can expect to see us push things a little further creatively, especially week 1 starting BRIGHT!” Johnson told USA TODAY Sports via text. “For me, it’s always about making sure each guy still feels like himself, just through a more elevated lens and still exploring some guys’ true style that they feel their best in.
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“I’ve been designing a lot more custom pieces specifically around each person, their personality and how they naturally like to dress, so nothing feels like they’re wearing a costume or nothing that’s out of place for them. Confidence is everything. There are definitely some pieces and moments coming this season that I’m really excited for people to see!”
He said that some of the ideas he and clients were working on were cut short due to injury. Jones had season-ending surgery after suffering a pectoral injury in December.
“We pulling those out for sure!” Johnson said.
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London Wilmot is a must-know stylist. She has been doing this for a long time and is responsible for helping build the images of CeeDee Lamb, Hollywood Brown and Tee Higgins. She has guided Pat Surtain II on his journey to become not only a shutdown defender, but one of the most fashionable players in the league.
A standout look from last season has to be for DJ Reed. Wilmot got her hands on a Prada outfit that hadn’t been released to the public yet. The patchwork leather jacket is a piece of art.
In regards to what fans can expect from her work with Surtain and Reed this season, Wilmot said, “consistency, elevated, natural outfits.”
Evan Engram is quietly one of the most stylish players in the NFL. It’s all thanks to TJ Herron, who goes by Ruggged. Week after week, the duo exemplifies luxurious coziness. The layering is always on point. There’s no loud colors or extreme proportions. Everything is just classic and cool. Engram’s Instagram handle is “EazyEngram” and his style surely lives up to the name.
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“We’re really focused on effortlessness this year,” Herron told USA TODAY via Instagram. “Last season, we really hit a stride with pairing comfort and versatility. I think this year, we’ll break that down even more with consistency and a continued veteran approach. It’s year 10 for him and I want to illustrate exactly that, continuing to push style that doesn’t have to be overtly recognizable, carrying weight through details/silhouette and really leaning into his personality.
“I’m always fine tuning things, making them ‘smaller’ if you will. For me it’s always less is more, and when achieved, I’ve found that generally it’s more satisfying visually and comfortable for the client physically.”
Haylo is a master of separates. She puts together the coolest jacket and pants combos and knows proportions well. Last season, she worked with several Green Bay Packers players, including Dont’e Thornton Jr., Patrick Jones II and Javon Bullard. She put together a really fly look for Ernest Jones at the Super Bowl.
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“I’m looking forward to continuing to grow my presence in NFL fashion this season while helping my clients build their brands and express themselves through style,” she told USA TODAY via Instagram.
Tom Marchitelli, owner of Gentleman’s Playbook, is one of the most well-known suit designers in all of sports. And rightly so. His client list is extensive and includes players from a variety of positions. He had five looks in last season’s conference championships and helped Jared Verse look dapper in luxe overcoats of various colors and patterns.
But Marchitelli doesn’t just do suits. He can do edgy, too. He was responsible for DeMarcus Lawrence’s ultra cool Super Bowl ‘fit, an all-black ensemble that featured a moto jacket and gloves.
Ini Ikpe is another stylist who can do it all. He outfits a handful of Seattle Seahawks players and frequently collaborates with Gambia-born and Los Angeles-based designer Baba Jagne to turn heads in the tunnel. They worked together on Nick Emmanwori‘s incredible Super Bowl look. It was a jacket and pants set that expertly mixed black and brown leather. Even though it was the safety’s rookie year, this was the statement of a sartorial sage.
DeVonta Smith and Brian Alexander are another dynamic duo that has elevated sports fashion. You know the monogram lapel pins? Those started as a signature of the designer’s Brian Alexander Bespoke company and most likely helped revive the brooch as an “it” accessory in menswear. Alexander always nails the fit and isn’t afraid to play with prints and colors. The lanky Eagles receiver isn’t his only client. The designer has shown expertise for players of all sizes and shapes and wowed with Will Anderson Jr.‘s NFL Honors suit. It was velvet!
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Football fashion: 9 NFL stylists to keep an eye on during 2026 season
