The Biggest Coaching Fits in NFL History
Traditional sports have become somewhat of a wellspring for the fashion-forward. Rugby shirts dominated the transition from summer to fall this year, while low-profile vintage track shoes steadfastly remain the go-to sneaker option for celebrities and art directors. Tunnel walks are as closely monitored for emerging trends as red carpets and runways. But as the temperature begins to drop—like, really drop—few popular sports remain viable as a source material for winter styling. Football, a sport whose season begins in September and concludes with the Super Bowl in early February, may be the exception. While professional football players have about 20 pounds of gear and about three hours of physical activity to temper the chill, NFL coaches only have their wardrobe and their own screaming to keep warm.
The styling of a football coach is a delicate balance. Obviously, the outfit should be easy to move in since they are often running along the sidelines to keep up with the action. And yet, it must also be professional. On the gridiron, a coach is the most easily identifiable member of a particular team—it’s not a stretch to say that visibility makes them unofficial ambassadors for the city their team represents—and their clothing, in a sense, serves the purpose of visually communicating leadership, team spirit, and good ol‘ brawn.
Naturally, these unspoken sartorial requirements have led to some incredible NFL coach fits. (If we were talking non-NFL, June Jones, head football coach at the University of Hawaii from 1999 to 2007, would surely take the cake with his leis and aloha shirts.) From the ten-gallon hats and shearling jackets favored by the mythically named Bum Phillips of the Houston Oilers, to Tom Landry and his immaculately tailored suits and mid-century fedoras, to long-time coach of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick, and his ascetic mastery of the hoodie, perhaps this winter will be the one where we take our fashion cues not from the tunnel, but from the sidelines.
