Training has begun once again for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, and after being pictured fans can't help but suggest he's copied AFC rival Patrick Mahomes by wearing a headband.
Most quarterbacks in the NFL have their own unique style, especially in this day and age. Even Burrow himself has become quite the fashion icon and has earned himself the nickname 'Joe Cool' for his look when arriving to stadiums on a matchday.
But one look that's become iconic through Mahomes is the headband, which the Kansas City Chiefs star not only wears during training and on the sidelines, but also in games too. It's a new season for Burrow and another opportunity to exceed expectations, but NFL fans haven't taken too kindly to his Mahomes-style attire.
Burrow is known for his elaborate suits, hats and sunglasses on matchdays, as the former LSU star enjoys wearing statement outfits where possible since arriving in the NFL. Elsewhere in the AFC it's usually kept pretty simple by Mahomes, wearing a tied up headband to keep his curly hair in check.
But Burrow was filmed returning to training on Monday, sporting his own Bengals headband just as Mahomes would wear a Chiefs branded alternative. As Mahomes is one of the most popular players across the entire league, fans appear to have jumped to his defence and suggested that Burrow 'wants to be him'.
"Stealing Mahomes' swag," one user wrote on Twitter as the first images of Burrow's training came through. "He wants to be Mahomes so bad," another suggested.
One fan even mocked the Burrow by speculating what the Bengals star may have been thinking before deciding to wear the headband, as they wrote: "'Maybe if I dress like him I could play like him'." Either way, it's an accessory that can be worn by any professional and Burrow's hair appears to be longer than it was towards the end of last season.
The 26-year-old may be going for a new look entirely after letting his hair grow, and despite the fan slander it is Burrow that has the better record when facing the Chiefs. Until the AFC Championship game last season, Mahomes had never beaten Burrow in the NFL.
The Chiefs edged the Bengals 23-20 before going on to win the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles, as Mahomes claimed revenge on Burrow. The year before it was the Bengals that edged the Chiefs, with Burrow's side winning 27-24 at the exact same stage.
Burrow's record over Mahomes is now 3-1, but all four games have only ever been decided by three points. Their AFC rivalry is expected to last a generation, and their match-ups always seem to produce fireworks.
