The NFL custom is for quarterbacks to gift their offensive linemen something for the holidays as a thank you for protecting their blindside all season.
The Buffalo Bills decided to flip the script.
Bills offensive linemen gave quarterback Josh Allen a custom diamond necklace of Allen’s no. 17 jersey that says MVP on the nameplate. On the back, it has the names of the Bills linemen listed. One of them, Dion Dawkins, posted the gift to Instagram on Christmas, with the caption, “Merry Christmas to our MVP.”
Allen wasn’t the only NFL player to clean up from the holiday. Here’s how other NFL players made out from their teammates:
Bengals: Joe Burrow, who is making nearly $30 million this season, went historical when it came to gifts for his linemen. The Bengals quarterback got his teammates authentic Japanese Katana swords. Each sword—which dates to the 16th century—had its own backstory, like being used in a certain battle, and specially carved handles. Burrow put them all in a room and had each player choose their own. The swords range from around $2,000 to $4,000.
“Joe does a great job at buying gifts that are extremely meaningful,” Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown said. “The fact that he bought me a sword, it’s the most ancient form of respect.”
Chargers: Justin Herbert ($19.3 million this season) kept it basic, getting his linemen luggage and a $5,000 gift card from Delta. Herbert signed a five-year extension worth $262 million in 2023, leaving some on social media to call Herbert’s gift cheap.
Packers RB Josh Jacobs gifted his offensive line diamond chains for Christmas 🎁pic.twitter.com/rrItwrvgdH
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) December 27, 2024
Jets: Aaron Rodgers ($17 million this season) bought his lineman several gifts, including a custom suit from Tom Ford, which retail for about $6,500, Tom Ford sunglasses (roughly $500), Tom Ford cologne ($160), a Louis Vuitton passport holder ($370), a stereo speaker, and Devil’s River Bourbon ($35.99).
Steelers: Russell Wilson is still getting paid $40 million by the Broncos after being released last year, giving him plenty of extra money to spend on his linemen. He gifted each one a $10,000 Airbnb gift card that can be used globally, a Louis Vuitton duffel bag, custom Steelers shoes from Good Man Brand, Wilson’s clothing company, and a bottle of rum from TenToOne, which is his wife Ciara’s brand.
🎁
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 24, 2024
From: @DangeRussWilson
To: The offensive line pic.twitter.com/eFXiVZfy4f
Packers: Running back Josh Jacobs ($5.3 million) gave Packers’ offensive linemen gold chains featuring diamond-encrusted jersey numbers.
Giants: Even though Daniel Jones is no longer on the team, he sent gifts to his linemen for the 10 games they played with him this season. Jones sent each one a limited edition bottle of Clase Azul, a high-end tequila that retails for $150, but the rare bottle he gifted likely cost thousands.
Commanders: Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels ($7 million) bought Segways for all of his linemen. Given the average NFL offensive linemen stands 6-foot-4 and weighs roughly 315 pounds, the traditional electric scooter didn’t seem like a practical gift.
Eagles: Quarterback Jalen Hurts ($13.5 million) and running back Saquon Barkley ($3.8 million) teamed up amid a 12-3 season to give their linemen personalized golf carts donning their names and numbers. Both Barkley and Hurts’ personal logos are on the back of each cart. The duo took a play from Patrick Mahomes, who gifted his linemen custom golf carts in 2023.
As I was leaving the NovaCare Complex today, Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley's joint holiday gifts to the Eagles offensive line arrived. They bought each lineman a personalized golf cart with their last name and number on it. Hurts and Barkley's logos are on the back. pic.twitter.com/6fhdrqNNtZ
— Olivia Reiner (@ReinerOlivia) December 24, 2024
Chiefs: Mahomes ($37 million) took a Rodgers-esque approach this year, gifting his linemen a package of a silver Rolex watch ($10,000), Normatec Elite compression boots ($900), Lucchese black cowboy boots ($3,500) and white framed sunglasses and a red Yeti Tundra Haul cooler ($300).
49ers: Fewer teams made out better than the 49ers. Quarterback Brock Purdy gifted every linemen a Toyota truck. Five players drove a Sequoia home while four went with a Tundra. It doesn’t hurt that Purdy, who is making just $985,000 this season on a rookie contract, has an endorsement with the automaker, which likely came with a discount given the trucks, which go for roughly $50,000 total up to roughly half his salary ($450,000).
Lions: Jared Goff ($27 million) kept it simple and got his linemen a Yeti package with Wagyu, steaks and beef. He joked on the radio that he found Purdy’s gift excessive and added it’s hard to find gifts that will be liked by the linemen.