Lamar Jackson has spent most of his NFL career being defined by two things: his gravity-defying speed and his signature braids. So, when the two-time MVP hopped on Instagram and posted a photo that looked absolutely nothing like the guy we see on Sundays, the internet collectively lost its mind.
The Lamar Jackson new haircut wasn't just a trim. It was a total transformation that had fans, teammates, and even casual observers doing a double-take.
Honestly, it’s rare to see a franchise quarterback cause this much of a stir over a trip to the barber. But Lamar isn't most quarterbacks. Whether he’s shaking defenders or shaking up his personal style, he knows how to keep people talking.
The Post That Started the Fire
In early 2025, right as the offseason was kicking into gear, Lamar dropped a photo of himself sitting in a barber’s chair. The braids were gone. In their place was shoulder-length, straightened hair that flowed down past his ears.
He captioned the story "Bones."
If you aren't a fan of early 2000s cult classics, that reference might have flown over your head. He was shouting out the 2001 film Bones, where Snoop Dogg rocked a similar long, sleek look. The resemblance was uncanny.
The reaction was instant. You had people comparing him to "Emo Jimmy" Butler—remember when Jimmy showed up to Heat media day with the straightened hair and piercings? It was that level of shock value. Within hours, the image was everywhere, from sports talk shows to meme accounts that hadn't posted about football in months.
Breaking Down the Lamar Jackson New Haircut
Is it actually a haircut, or just a temporary state of being? That’s the question everyone's been asking.
When you wear braids as long and as consistently as Lamar does, your hair goes through a lot of tension. Taking them out is often part of a maintenance routine. Most of the time, players will take the braids out, let the hair "breathe" or get a treatment, and then go right back to the protective style.
🔗 Read more: Why Funny Fantasy Football Names Actually Win Leagues
But the way Lamar presented it felt different. He leaned into the joke. He knew exactly what he was doing when he posted that photo.
- The Length: Without the braids, his hair is surprisingly long, reaching down to his shoulders.
- The Texture: The hair appeared blown out or straightened, giving it that "silky" look that led to the Snoop Dogg comparisons.
- The Style: It was a middle-parted, loose look that we simply haven't seen from him since he entered the league in 2018.
Some fans wondered if this was a "New Year, New Me" situation for the 2025-2026 season. After a tough exit in the playoffs, athletes often look for ways to reset. Sometimes that's a new trainer, and sometimes it's a new look.
Why People Care So Much
It sounds silly to write 1,500 words about a guy's hair. I get it. But in the world of the NFL, your "look" is your brand. Lamar has been the face of the Baltimore Ravens for years, and that face has almost always featured those tight, professional braids.
When a player changes something that fundamental, it feels like the start of a new era.
Think about when Tiger Woods started wearing the mock neck, or when Patrick Mahomes changed his fade. These things matter because they signal a shift in vibe. For Lamar, showing off the long hair felt like he was relaxing, letting his guard down, and showing a bit more of that "New Era" personality that his fans love.
From Braids to "Bones": A Timeline of Style
Lamar hasn't always been strictly about the braids. If you go back to his Louisville days, he rocked a more natural look.
- The College Era: A standard, clean-cut look or a short afro. This was the Heisman-winning Lamar.
- The Early Ravens Years: This is where the braids became iconic. They were practical for the helmet and became part of his silhouette.
- The Occasional Afro: Every now and then, we'd see a "fro-out" during training camp or in a casual post-game interview.
- The "Bones" Reveal: The straightened, long-hair look that broke the internet in early 2025.
What’s interesting is how it reflects his growth. He's 28 now. He's a veteran. He’s a multi-time MVP. He has a $260 million contract. At this stage of his career, he has the confidence to do whatever he wants with his appearance without worrying about what the "traditional" quarterback mold says he should look like.
Does the Hair Affect the Game?
Let’s be real: your hair doesn’t help you read a Cover 2 defense.
💡 You might also like: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
However, there is a practical side to the Lamar Jackson new haircut conversation. Most players with long hair, like Derrick Henry or hair-pioneers like Troy Polamalu, have to deal with the "hair-tackle" rule. In the NFL, if your hair is out of the helmet, it’s considered part of the jersey. You can be pulled down by it.
Lamar is a runner. He’s the most dangerous running QB in the history of the game. If he actually played with his hair down and straightened, he’d be giving defenders a literal handle to grab onto.
That’s why most experts believe the "Bones" look was just a transition phase. By the time the 2025 season kicked off and headed into 2026, he was back to a more manageable style. You can’t have shoulder-length hair flying around when you’re trying to navigate a collapsing pocket.
The Cultural Impact of the Change
We have to talk about the "Katt Williams" of it all.
Social media is a brutal place. As soon as the photo hit, the comparisons to comedian Katt Williams started rolling in. Specifically, the "Permed Katt" look. Lamar, being the guy he is, didn't get defensive. He didn't delete the post.
He basically just laughed along.
This is why he's one of the most relatable stars in the league. He knows he’s a superstar, but he also knows he looks a little wild with straightened hair. That authenticity is why Ravens fans are so loyal. He isn't some polished, PR-managed robot. He's a guy who gets a haircut and posts it because he thinks it's funny.
The Business of Being Lamar
Beyond the memes, there's a branding element here. Lamar Jackson is one of the few players who doesn't use a traditional agent. He handles his business—and his image—his own way.
📖 Related: When Was the MLS Founded? The Chaotic Truth About American Soccer's Rebirth
Every time he goes viral for something non-football related, it keeps his name in the cycle during the slow months. In 2026, the "Lamar Jackson new haircut" is still a search term people are hitting because it was such a departure from his "standard" look. It’s part of the "Lamar Brand"—unpredictable, authentic, and always entertaining.
What’s Next for Lamar’s Look?
So, where are we now?
As we move through the 2025-2026 season cycle, Lamar has mostly settled back into the braids. They are the most efficient way to manage hair under a helmet, and they've become his "battle armor."
But the "Bones" incident taught us one thing: don't get too comfortable. Lamar likes to keep people on their toes. Whether it's a sudden spin move on a linebacker or a sudden change in his grooming habits, he’s going to do what feels right at the moment.
If you’re looking to emulate the look, or you’re just curious about the maintenance, here’s the reality of a style change like that:
- Maintenance is key: Switching from braids to a natural or straightened look requires a lot of hydration and professional care.
- The "Reset" Factor: Many stylists recommend taking braids out every 6-8 weeks to prevent breakage. Lamar was likely just following a healthy hair schedule.
- The Helmet Factor: Any NFL player will tell you that the helmet is the ultimate enemy of a good hairstyle. Whatever Lamar does, it has to fit under that shell.
Final Thoughts on the Viral Transformation
The Lamar Jackson new haircut was a fun, chaotic moment in the NFL offseason that reminded us these players are humans who like to experiment with their style just like the rest of us. It didn't change his passer rating, and it didn't make him any slower on a scramble, but it did give fans a glimpse into his personality.
Honestly, the league is better when the stars have some character. If Lamar wants to look like Snoop Dogg in a 25-year-old horror movie for a week, let him. He’s earned it.
What to Watch For
If you’re keeping an eye on Lamar this season, don't just look at the stat sheet. Watch the pre-game tunnel walks. That’s where the real style reveals happen now.
- Check his Instagram Stories: That’s where he usually drops the "shocks" first.
- Watch the press conferences: If he’s wearing a beanie or a hood, there’s a good chance he’s transitioning between styles again.
- Follow his barber: Sometimes the pros who work on these guys leak the fresh cuts before the players do.
Lamar is always going to be the "New Era" guy. Whether he’s rocking braids, an afro, or shoulder-length "Bones" hair, the only thing that really matters is that he keeps winning. But a little style along the way never hurt anyone.