Football Drip Trends for 2025: What’s Hot This Season?
Introduction
Every football season brings a wave of new gear, new styles, and new drip trends, and 2025 is shaping up to be no different. From the NFL down to youth leagues, players are always looking for creative ways to stand out, and this year, we’re already starting to see a few trends catch fire.
Whether you’re gearing up for spring ball or trying to upgrade your look before the fall season, this is your inside scoop. Let’s talk about the football drip trends I think will dominate in 2025, across youth, high school, college, and the pros.
1. Mismatched Cleats and Gloves
First up, we’ve got mismatched cleats and gloves, and I’m a big fan of this one.
This look brings me back to the Le’Veon Bell era, when he was known for mismatching his gloves and occasionally other pieces of gear. It was different, it was bold, and it was clean. Fast forward to now, and players like Keon Coleman have been doing the same, mismatching not only gloves and cleats but even sleeves, creating a look that feels chaotic in the best way.
Even Nike got in on the trend when they dropped a mismatched Kobe 6 “Grinch” cleat, one of the hottest and most expensive releases of the year. It was extremely limited, but the hype it generated showed that players are 100% willing to lean into the mismatch style.
What’s cool is that it’s easy to do, just buy two pairs of cleats or gloves in team colors, mix and match, and suddenly you’ve got a custom drip that’s unique to you. Expect this look to blow up in 2025, especially on Instagram, TikTok, and 7on7 highlight reels.
2. Bright and Custom Cleats
Next up: bright colors and custom cleats.
The rise of 7on7 culture has changed the way brands design cleats. What used to be mostly black, white, or team-based colorways is now being replaced with bold, eye-popping styles. Companies like Adidas are dropping exotic color packs like the “Exotic Speed” Adizero series, and even New Balance has joined the movement with some bold new cleat drops.
Even Nike, typically more conservative in the cleat world, dropped the Kobe Grinch cleats we mentioned earlier, and that’s a huge deal. Five years ago, something like that would’ve never happened.
In the NFL, we’ve seen a surge in cleat customization. Artists are designing one-of-one pieces, often inspired by basketball shoes like the Jordan 1, Kobe 6, or Travis Scott collabs. As demand grows, more artists are stepping up, making it easier, and cheaper, for players at every level to get fully custom cleats.
There are already custom Jordan 1 football cleats on Etsy and eBay under $400. That price is dropping fast, and we’re heading toward a world where custom cleats become commonplace across high school and college football.
3. Cleat Charms, Custom Aglets, and Double Laces
This next one is more of a prediction than a trend we’ve seen everywhere, but I think we’re going to see more players accessorize their cleats in 2025.
I’m talking about cleat charms, custom aglets, and even double-laced setups.
Right now, we’ve seen a few examples pop up in 7on7, where guys are known to push the limits of gear style. Charms have shown up in baseball cleats more than football, but I think that crossover is inevitable.
Custom aglets, those little metal or colored lace tips, are also becoming more common. It’s a subtle touch, but it adds that designer vibe to your cleats. As for double laces, we haven’t seen this yet in football, but the Off-White and hypewear influence is growing. And when fashion meets football, something like this feels like a natural evolution.
Again, this one’s a long shot, but when it happens, you saw it predicted here first.
4. Face Coverings, Sheistys, and Custom Eyeblack
One of the most visible trends right now is face accessories, from sheistys to creative eyeblack styles.
Sheistys (balaclavas) have blown up over the past couple years, especially in skill positions. Players like CeeDee Lamb, Sauce Gardner, and Justin Jefferson have all been spotted wearing them in various colorways. It’s a mix of fashion and intimidation, and it just looks cold.
Then there’s eyeblack. But not just the two lines under your eyes, we’re talking personalized, creative looks. Think Aidan Hutchinson’s warpaint, Saquon Barkley’s full-face strip, or Jaxson Dart’s cross-style streaks. More and more players are using eyeblack as a way to brand themselves, and I expect that trend to continue.
So in 2025, get ready to see more colorful sheistys and bold eyeblack designs, especially at the high school and college level where the rules are more relaxed.
5. Double Mouthguards and Oversized Straps
Another trend that continues to hold strong is mouthguard drip, especially the double mouthguard look.
Now, I’m on the fence personally, but the numbers don’t lie. This trend is everywhere, and it’s not going away anytime soon. Players like Nate Wiggins, George Pickens, and Dyami Brown have all rocked the double mouthguard setup, usually with both mouthguards hanging from the facemask.
Part of the appeal is that mouthguards aren’t heavily regulated, even in the NFL. That means players have full creative control. Bright colors, funny graphics, oversized branding, it’s one of the few areas where you can get away with being extra.
Brands like NXTRND, Battle, and Shock Doctor have caught on, and they’ve started releasing mouthguards with huge, bright-colored straps. These are designed to be seen, and photographed, and they’re going to be extremely popular again this season.
Expect more double setups, color-matched guards, and chunky strap styles to dominate the field in 2025.
6. Turtleneck Undershirts
Last but not least: turtlenecks.
This is a trend that’s been building over the last couple years and is now fully mainstream. From Ceedee Lamb to Jayden Daniels to Justin Fields, turtleneck base layers are now a go-to undershirt for elite players, especially in cooler climates.
These aren’t your regular mock necks either. Brands like Battle Sports, KutFBL, and Endzone Apparel have started making form-fitting, breathable turtlenecks designed specifically for football. They’re clean, functional, and give off that pro-level vibe.
So if you’re looking to keep warm and boost your drip, this is a must-have for 2025.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, the top football drip trends to look out for in 2025. From mismatched gloves to double mouthguards and custom cleats, the field is becoming just as much a runway as it is a battleground.
Let me know what you think, did I nail these predictions? What do you think will blow up this year? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
And hey, once the season ends, we’re definitely coming back to this list to see how accurate we were.
Until then, thanks for reading, and if you liked this breakdown, make sure to subscribe or follow for more football gear, trends, and reviews every week!
