Look, NFL players don’t get many opportunities to display many unique traits on game day. Any deviation from the league’s uniform code will result in a fine. Even the My Cause, My Cleats campaign only allows players to wear custom shoes — in the name of charity! — during pregame warmups.
But the moments before they’re officially on the clock belong to them. That means they can prove their individuality walking into the stadium hours before kickoff. Joe Burrow used that opportunity to make himself a low-key style icon. Stefon Diggs rolled into Orchard Park in Week 16 wearing a kilt, because that’s a very Stefon Diggs thing to do.
Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback Najee Thompson, however, took things a bit further.
.@najee_thompson understood the assignment pic.twitter.com/Kxlor0eiez
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 24, 2023
Yep, that’s a full wolf suit, topped with a pure white Vikings hoodie and white ski gloves. Did he rock the full tail? Brother, you’d better believe he rocked the full tail. Honestly, that’s a pretty great look for a white-out game.
Of course, this wasn’t the first time Thompson got all furred up for his pregame fit. Though last week’s kit would have been a better choice for a Christmas Eve game.
Najee Thompson was the Grinch last week. This week…
pic.twitter.com/MdupO6demU pic.twitter.com/lDlJ5rwJYv
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) December 24, 2023
Fans had jokes. Of course fans had jokes. Here are all the ones that didn’t involve the costume being anatomically correct.