Super Bowl 2020: 49ers, Chiefs stars share love of Air Jordans, which they also wear on field
MIAMI – Style. Swag. Flair.
Whatever you choose to call it, there's usually not much room for any kind of personal expression on an NFL field.
But as flamboyant Hall of Famer Deion Sanders once said, "If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good."
And after talking to several players during the build-up to Super Bowl LIV, it sure seems quite a few of them are looking and feeling good now that they can wear Air Jordans between the lines.
"I think it's awesome for the culture of the game, because Jordan has made such an impact on everybody's lives," Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce told Paste BN Sports.
"Guys are starting to transition into Jordan being not just a basketball brand, but an all-around sports brand."
Jordans were pervasive this week.
Numerous players wore them during Monday's Super Bowl Opening Night festivities, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo – one of the first NFL players Jordan Brand signed – going with all-white IVs. Teammate Richard Sherman chose black XIIs even though they broke up the look of the all-white, team-issued warm-ups that resembled track suits.
"It's awesome," said Garoppolo, who hails from suburban Chicago and grew up watching Michael Jordan's Bulls. "I love Jordans."
He's given Jordan XIs, including the popular but fairly elusive "BREDs," as gifts to all of his Niners teammates the past two Christmases.
Garoppolo, who counts the III and XI versions among his favorites, was previewing Miami-inspired Xs during the week, a Super Bowl-themed Jordan available to the rest of the world Saturday.
For the Chiefs, safety Tyrann Mathieu alternated between I and IV models, the latter being the black and purple "Raptor." Kicker Harrison Butker wore red and white IXs.
But there's little question Kelce is the top proponent of "Js" for Kansas City.
"I have a pretty good shoe game," Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, an Adidas endorser, said when asked whose was best on his team, "but I'll give it to Kelce."
Said receiver Byron Pringle: "Kelce comes in a different kind of shoe every day."
The exuberant tight end was sporting hard-to-find Travis Scott versions of the Air Jordan I and VI at his media sessions.
"I've been a sneaker fan since I was a kid, man," said Kelce. "I think my first pair was Jordan 14, all white with red accents. Ever since then, the Jordan era, then you throw in all the other sneakers that were going crazy – Shaqs (O'Neal), the Reebok pumps, to when Kobe (Bryant) switched from Adidas to Nike, to LeBron (James)."
And as much as Kelce was compared to fellow tight end George Kittle of the 49ers – arguably the two best players in the league at their position, both expected to make major contributions on Super Sunday – it turns out they're both also big Jordan guys.
"I actually just got into shoes really this past offseason," Kittle told Paste BN Sports. "I wore like the same pair of black Nikes my entire college career (at Iowa) because I couldn't buy anything else."
Kittle said his workout partner, Packers tight end Robert Tonyan, turned him into a sneakerhead. He admittedly overspent to launch his collection but now knows to demand new (read: free) pairs from Garoppolo every time the quarterback puts him in a compromising position with a bad throw over the middle.
"Shoes are just kind of a way to express yourself and have some fun," said Kittle, who proudly wore his Spider-Man-themed Is this week.
But make no mistake, function is paired with form, Jordan Brand cleats gaining authorization for field use before the start of the 2018 season. Stars like Jamal Adams, Jalen Ramsey, Michael Thomas and Bobby Wagner all wear them.
"When I looked at them, I was like, 'I'm not gonna wear those in a game. I'm old school. Give me regular cleats,'" Chiefs running back Damien Williams said. "But my regular cleats got tore up. And the 1s were really comfortable for me and my wide foot. I'm not trying to be stylish on the field, but it's a good cleat."
The I model, which is a high-top, seems to be especially popular among linemen due to its comfort and added ankle support.
"Honestly, man, they're just really comfortable," said Chiefs offensive tackle Cam Erving, who customizes his footwear with extra colors and plans to have a special pair Sunday.
"They've been there for me. Good grip, good base."
Butker just signed with Nike and is now wading increasingly into matters of shoe style.
"I'm slowly getting more involved, watching guys like Kelce," he said. "The majority of the league is wearing Nike. But if you're wearing Jordan, it's like a select, elite group."
Of course, no soccer models as of yet, but Butker admitted it's "a possibility" he might eventually go with a Jordan on his non-kicking foot at some point.
Even 49ers left tackle Joe Staley, a self-described creature of habit and man of simpler tastes, rocked some Travis Scott Jordans this week. But asked about them, he conceded both pairs were gifts from Kittle.
"I'm actually not a big shoe guy, but these are very comfortable," said Staley, opining that teammates like Kittle and rookie defensive end Nick Bosa like to flash style on the field.
He then laughed about how much he abuses his fairly rare kicks, blasphemy to so many sneaker lovers.
"Everybody treats them really nice," he chuckled. "I don't. I just wear 'em. They're all scuffed up and everything."
All good, Joe. Style is still optional in the NFL.
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Follow Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis