The swankiest gifts from quarterbacks to their offensive linemen this Christmas highlight a growing tradition in the NFL. Before 2020, the league had scheduled Christmas games 21 times in its history. Since then, there have been 11 holiday matchups, including notable games like Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans this season.
Alongside these festive games, quarterbacks have embraced the custom of gifting their offensive linemen extravagant presents during the holiday season.
The reason for this generosity is clear: quarterbacks want to appreciate the big men who protect them from opposing defenders. A recent interaction between Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and offensive lineman Alex Cappa on “Hard Knocks” encapsulated this sentiment well.
“Is O-line fun?” Burrow asked Cappa, who has been with the Bengals for seven seasons.
“There are good elements in terms of like, you’re doing something bigger than yourself. Your work isn’t always celebrated, and you have to celebrate it,” Cappa replied. “But like, I feel like it’s the most anxiety-filled position.”
“You never get praised for anything good that happens, and anything bad that happens, you get killed,” Burrow concurred. “Quarterback, you’ll get criticized if you stink, but if you’re great, it’s pretty nice.”
Thus, Christmas becomes an opportunity for quarterbacks across the NFL to express gratitude toward their often-underappreciated teammates.
Here’s a look at some of the most extravagant gifts offensive linemen received this year.
Joe Burrow gifts samurai swords to the Bengals OL
Burrow’s gift to his linemen was this year’s standout choice, featuring samurai swords that sparked an unforgettable quote from offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr.: “The fact that he bought me a sword, it’s the most ancient form of respect,” he told The Athletic.
Burrow later explained his reasoning behind selecting these swords, which have origins in 16th century Japan.
“Well, they wanted guns,” he said. “And I was like, ‘I don’t know about guns, guys.’ So I was in the weapon mindset, and I was like, ‘What’s a cool weapon?’ Samurai swords, I think, are pretty dang cool.”
His linemen were on board with the unique gift.
Cappa told ESPN, “My favorite gift I’ve ever gotten by far because it’s so different.”
Russell Wilson puts together a loaded gift bag for the Steelers OL
Wilson, who joined the Steelers on a one-year, veteran minimum salary, still managed to spoil his offensive linemen with an impressive gift package that included:
- a Louis Vuitton duffle bag in the Steelers’ signature black and gold colors
- a $10,000 Airbnb gift card for worldwide travel
- a bottle of Ten To One Rum (co-owned by his wife, Ciara)
- custom-made Good Man Brand shoes in the Steelers’ colors for every teammate and coach (a brand co-founded by Wilson)
While the last two gifts may not have cost Wilson directly, they still reflect his intention to show appreciation to his linemen for their role in his comeback season.
Patrick Mahomes goes all-out on “stocking stuffers” for the Chiefs OL
When it comes to Mahomes, there were certainly no lumps of coal in these stockings. In fact, he left a $400+ YETI cooler for each lineman.
This was just part of what Mahomes prepared for his linemen, as the coolers were filled with luxurious items such as Hyperice’s Normatec Elite air compression leg attachments, Rolex watches, Oakley sunglasses, Lucchese leather boots, WHOOP bands, and apparel from Adidas’ Black Y-3 line, according to PEOPLE.
Mahomes even reserved a special gift for his star target, Travis Kelce.
Brock Purdy channels Oprah and surprises each 49ers OL with a new vehicle
Purdy, the 49ers quarterback, took gifting to a new level by presenting each offensive lineman with a new truck, complete with a bow on top, reminiscent of holiday commercials. This generous gesture stemmed from his sponsorship deal with Toyota.
However, tight end George Kittle found himself left off Purdy’s holiday list.
Jayden Daniels gives the Commanders OL a way to take a load off
Daniels, the rookie quarterback for the Commanders, followed in the footsteps of Kyler Murray by gifting his offensive linemen electric scooters.
He explained his choice by highlighting his performance this season: the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is a frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and is on pace to break Robert Griffin III’s rookie QB rushing record. His offensive linemen, who have helped him avoid numerous sacks, deserve a chance to rest their feet.
