Ahead of Buffalo’s meeting with Cincinnati in the AFC Divisional Round, Bills quarterback Josh Allen was asked if he planned to step up his pregame outfit to match Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who is known for his unique fashion sense.
Don’t count on it.
“No, he’s going to win that battle 10 times out of 10,” Allen said with a laugh on Wednesday. “I don’t dress to impress on game day. I just kind of walk in the closet and pick whatever I see first.”
The answer was quintessential Allen. He has endeared himself to the blue-collar Western New York community through his normal-guy persona, as well as his on-field excellence.
These days, Allen is most likely to arrive on game day wearing an outfit that looks like it could be replicated at the team store. Pregame photos show him arriving in an array of sleek T-shirts and hoodies, as well as team-logo apparel and that gives a more relaxed look than he opted for earlier in his career.
While Burrow’s outfits seemingly announce that patterns, hats, sunglasses and jewels can all be mixed and matched as long as you wear them with confidence, Allen’s athleisure vibe simply says he’s ready to kick back and watch a Will Ferrell movie at the drop of a (designer) hat.
Allen’s most well-known pregame look was arguably a hoodie with his high school logo across the chest that spurred consumer demand and helped Firebaugh High raise $100,000.
Contrast that with Burrow, a Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl finalist who garners headlines in GQ and was named one of the New York Times’ 93 Most Stylish People of 2022, alongside Rihanna, Zendaya and Harry Styles.
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen arrives in a Firebaugh Eagles hoodie before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) -
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow talks to the media at his post game press conference after an NFL Football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth) -
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills enters the stadium prior to the game against the New England Patriots at New Era Field on September 29, 2019 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) -
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow arrives at M&T Bank Stadium before a NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) -
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) arrives to Highmark Stadium wearing the number 3 in support of safety Damar Hamlin before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Hamlin remains hospitalized after suffering a catastrophic on-field collapse in the team’s previous game against the Cincinnati Bengals. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes) -
Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers arrives before a game against the Northwestern State Demons at Tiger Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) -
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen arrives prior to an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes) -
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen arrives wearing a Buffalo Sabres jersey for an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) -
A Finalist for the 85th annual Heisman Memorial Trophy quarterback Joe Burrow of the LSU Tigers speaks during a press conference on December 14, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) -
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills enters the stadium before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on September 12, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) -
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (1) arrive at stadium prior to the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the New England Patriots in Orchard Park, N.Y., Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes) -
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen wears a Buffalo Sabres jersey as he speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) -
Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals takes a drink of water before speaking to the media during a practice for Super Bowl LVI at UCLA’s Drake Stadium on February 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) -
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, center, arrives at New Era Field prior to an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes) -
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen arrives at New Era Field for an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes) -
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) -
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen addresses the media during an NFL football news conference, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, In Orchard Park N.Y. (AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes)
“They’re definitely real,” Burrow once told a reporter who asked if the diamonds in his necklace were real. “I think I make too much money to have fake ones.”
For the record, Allen makes substantially more money than Burrow – at least until Burrow signs his first contract extension. But Allen seems to choose comfort over flash on game day, feeling no pressure to compete with Burrow off the field.
