The swankiest gifts from QBs to their offensive linemen this Christmas

The NFL has started turning Christmas games into an annual tradition. Before 2020, the league scheduled a vacation meeting 21 times in its history. Since then, there have been 11 Christmas games, including Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans this season.

But there’s another Yuletide tradition that’s been established in the NFL for more than four years: quarterbacks give their offensive linemen holiday gifts.

It should be a clear explanation as to why quarterbacks want to reward big men whose job it is to protect against other big men who are trying to tackle them. The exchange between Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and offensive lineman Alex Cappa on a recent episode of “Hard Knocks” did a good job of summing it up.

“Is the O-line fun?” Burrow asked the seventh year guard.

“There are good things about, you’re doing something bigger than yourself. Your work is not always celebrated, and you should celebrate it,” Cappa replied. “But I said, I feel like it’s a very anxiety-ridden situation.”

“You’re never praised for anything good that happens, and anything bad that happens, you get killed,” Burrow admitted. “Quarterback, you’re going to get criticized if you stink, but if you’re good, it’s great.”

So the Christmas season is a way for quarterbacks around the NFL to show appreciation for their often underappreciated teammates.

Let’s take a look at some of the swankiest gifts offensive linemen have received this year.

Joe Burrow gives Bengals OL samurai swords

Burrow’s gift to his linemen was very unique this year, and resulted in, perhaps, the best quote of the season: “The fact that he bought me a sword, it’s a classic form of respect,” Orlando Brown Jr. said. Athletic.

Burrow later explained why he decided on swords, which originated in 16th century Japan.

“After all, they wanted guns.” “And I was like, ‘I don’t know about guns, guys.’ So I was thinking about weapons, and I was like, ‘What’s a cool weapon?’ Samurai swords, I think, are pretty cool.”

His superiors agreed.

Cappa told ESPN, “It’s my favorite gift I’ve ever received by far because it’s so unique.”

Russell Wilson puts together a loaded gift bag for the Steelers OL

Wilson joined the Steelers this offseason for a one-year, veteran minimum wage, but the 13-year champion has made enough money in his career to splash his OL with a full offer package that includes:

• Louis Vuitton black and gold Steelers duffle bag
• a $10,000 Airbnb gift card for anywhere in the world
• a bottle of Ten To One Rum (owned by his wife, Ciara)
• Good Man Brand custom shoes in Steelers colors, for all teammates and coaches (product put together by Wilson)

Maybe those last two gifts cost Wilson nothing, but that shouldn’t matter. Wilson wanted to show his gratitude to the OL for helping pave the way for his bounce-back season, and kept quiet.

Patrick Mahomes took out all the “stocking stuffers” of the Chiefs OL

There were no lumps of coal in the socks. Or socks really are socks, unless you count the $400+ TEA cooler as stock.

That’s part of what Mahomes left for his teammates in front of their lockers. He also packed the coolers with goodies like Hyperice’s Normatec Elite air compression leg attachments, Rolex watches, Oakley sunglasses, Lucchese leather boots, WHOOP bands and items from Adidas’ Black Y-3 line , INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE.

Mahomes saved a special gift for Travis Kelce, a special gift.

Brock Purdy channels Oprah and surprises each 49ers OL with a new car

If you’ve ever seen a car ad during the month of December and wondered who gives someone a new car for the holidays, we have an answer: Purdy does. The 49ers quarterback, who has a sponsorship deal with Toyota, used his connections to present each OL with a new truck — complete with a bow on top, just like in the market.

Unfortunately for George Kittle, tight ends were not on Purdy’s list for Santa.

Jayden Daniels gives Commander OLs a way to lighten the load

Daniels isn’t the first rookie quarterback to connect his OL to electric scooters; Kyler Murray also did it back in 2019.

However, the first-year signal-caller for the Commanders gave the perfect reason why he chose the gift he did:

2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is the frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and is on pace to break Robert Griffin III’s rookie QB rushing record. He was also sacked 22 times less (60 vs. 38) than Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the draft. Williams is the most sacked quarterback in the league this season, as was Murray five years ago. So it’s understandable that Daniels would like to give the players tasked with blocking him a chance to rest.

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