NFL players are skilled at punting, passing, and tackling. Graphic design and painting, not so much.
The NFL asked rookies to paint their new team’s logo from memory, and it turns out players don’t really know what they look like. Let’s call it taking “creative license.”
But no matter how you assess these renditions of NFL franchise logos, there’s one thing we know for sure: You can now wear them. Apparel brand Homage has turned the 15 rookie paintings into T-shirts as part of what’s become somewhat of a tradition. The brand, which sells licensed apparel for pro leagues and the NCAA, is selling the shirts for $38 ($28 for youth sizes).
Now let’s get into the field of play. Chicago bears wide receiver Rome Odunze didn’t get the shading (or anything else) in his team’s logo quite right, and Carolina Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders turned the logo into a simple circle frowny face with whiskers and ears.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley’s logo does indeed look like a bird, but so does the Denver Broncos logo painted by quarterback Bo Nix. (We get it, sports logos can be complex, and horses are hard!) For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers logo, which shows a flag with a skull and crossed swords, wide receiver Jalen McMillan painted a flag with what appears to be the grim reaper from the Cartoon Network series The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy.
Some of the rookie players’ paintings this year aren’t bad, though, particularly those for teams with nonanimal logos. Check out Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton’s take on the tiger-striped “B” logo, and the Indianapolis Colts horseshoe logo by defensive end Laiatu Latu.
One team logo rendering is even legitimately good. Hands down, the best of the bunch is the Minnesota Vikings logo by linebacker Dallas Turner, who painted a professional-looking side profile of a viking that looks like a legit concept sketch for the real logo.
But that being said, it might be best for these pro athletes to stick to their day jobs.