Ja’Marr Chase #1 and Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been putting his legendary connection with quarterback Joe Burrow to good use off the field, too.
Chase, 24, has become a sartorial guiding light for Burrow, 27, who won a national title with Chase at LSU in 2020 before the duo reunited in the NFL.
“I’m starting to get him into more fashion stuff lately,” said Chase, who spoke exclusively to Us via his “Always Open” collaboration with 7-Eleven. “Last year was the first year where I started to buy stuff for him and he would consider to wear it. We’ve started talking more about shoes and other brands. He’s starting to like it more.”
In essence, it’s all been part of a concerted effort to get Burrow to loosen up a little bit and get him “out his comfort zone.”
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“He’s still breaking barriers, trying to be himself and show off more of his personality and stuff,” Chase said. “I try to help him with that, try to get him to open up more. You know, he’s always been the quiet guy. He knows when to talk, but I just want him to talk more often.”
Burrow certainly got other people talking this summer, when he cut off his iconic wavy locks and debuted a new bleached buzzcut. But all of the attention didn’t surprise Chase.
“I’ve been with him the past six years of my life,” the 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year said. “I’ve seen him grow as a person. I’ve seen him get more status as the years go by. I expect it at this point.”
Chase added, “But seeing the kids change their hair colors was just an inspiration, you know what I’m saying? That let me know what a big inspiration he is to everyone.”
As far as Chase’s personal style goes, cultivating his gameday outfits is part of a highly-curated — yet often chaotic — process.
“Some are planned out, some are based on whatever comes in the fastest,” Chase said. “Some clothes don’t always come in on the certain times I need them to. So, sometimes it’s whatever I have for the moment and sometimes it’s a planned outfit.”
While Chase joked he’s “not an online shopper” himself, he has a crew of “shoppers” who help him find the pieces that best fit his style.
“They send me a few items here and there,” Chase explained. “Hopefully, it’s the hottest stuff that’s coming out right now. They send me a lot of different stuff, literally, every other day.”
Chase has put his fashion sense to good use with the new “Always Open” collection, birthed from his quote last season when he said he was “always open” and referenced convenience chain 7-Eleven.
The line features streetwear-inspired tees, crewnecks, snapbacks and fitted caps, plus other accessories like insulated beverage holders, stickers and pins.
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“I was just asked the question, ‘Do you think you were open?,” and I was like, ‘Uh yeah, I’m always effing open.’ That’s how the slogan started,” Chase said. “7-Eleven actually reached out. We communicated and now we have this partnership.”
The collaboration will even extend to the football field soon, when Chase will rock some 7-Eleven gloves and cleats on gameday.
“Those just came in,” Chase teased. “I’m gonna try and get those out. I’ll pop out with that soon.”
To get your hands on the limited “Always Open” collection, visit 7Collection.com.