The Tunnel Is the New Red Carpet

Let me take you back to 2023. While everyone else was still stuck on celebrity red carpet coverage, NFM was already looking down the tunnel. Literally. That summer, we started photographing rugby players in Seattle, capturing their grit, charisma, and off-field style. It sparked something that quickly became a defining moment for us: our first "Men Behind the Uniform" series in August 2023. It wasn’t just a photo series; it was a statement. We were early to this sports-meets-style evolution, and now the rest of the world is catching up.

Enter Kyle Smith, the NFL’s first-ever Fashion Editor. A title he created for himself. Yes, you read that right. He literally willed this job into existence by styling NFL talent, posting player tunnel fits to Instagram (@kyleforserious), and building an entirely new lane at the intersection of fashion and sports.

This isn’t just a fun fashion story. It’s a blueprint for what’s next.

Kyle didn’t grow up loving sports. In fact, he didn’t even like them. He studied Art History at Cal Poly Pomona, a major that would become the perfect foundation for understanding how culture, politics, and identity influence aesthetic movements—including fashion. His career began in L.A., interning for celebrity stylist Karla Welch and later joining the team at fashion label Amiri. From there, he freelanced for icons like Billie Eilish and Chloe x Halle, while also working with corporate giants like Amazon and J.C. Penney. Then in 2019, the NFL came calling.

What started as a behind-the-scenes role styling NFL Network hosts and managing visual communications turned into a career-defining pivot. He realized there was an untapped narrative in football—the athletes themselves. Their stories. Their style. Their presence off the field. He began posting tunnel fits and quickly understood what NFM already knew: the new red carpet is the tunnel.

Kyle Smith, NFL Style Editor, and Anna Wintour, Editor in Chief of Vogue US

By 2024, the NFL made it official, naming Kyle the league’s first Fashion Editor. Now, he styles high-profile players like Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson, helps coordinate their appearances at events like Vogue World and Paris Fashion Week, and is reshaping how the world views athletes. He helps players share who they are when the pads come off.

At a recent 4se event in New York City, Kyle said it loud and clear: "The tunnel is the new red carpet."

Let that sink in. Because what he's really saying is that athletes are the new influencers. And they’re authentic in a way traditional influencers can’t touch. These men aren’t trying to fit into fashion. They’re making fashion fit them.

Kyle’s story isn’t just about styling. It’s about believing in your ideas when no one else sees the vision yet. He spotted a shift in culture, chased it, and carved out a career doing exactly what he loves. His advice? Be over-prepared. Be kind. Write everything down. And above all else, make people feel something when they work with you.

Charles Omenihu of the Kansas City Chiefs

He maintains his relationships with PR agencies and brands like a true pro. Not just with email threads and spreadsheets, but with flowers and thank-you notes. Real energy. Real gratitude. Real connection.

That’s the difference.

What Kyle is building at the NFL aligns with everything we believe here at NFM. Style is power. Presence is storytelling. And athletes? They’re not just part of the fashion world now. They’re defining it.

So when you see Tyrice Knight, Elijah Arroyo or Legend Cliff Avril on our covers this summer (to name a few), remember: this didn’t come out of nowhere. We’ve been in this game. And like Kyle, we’re not following the trend.

We are the trend.

The tunnel is the new runway, and we’re already halfway down it.

Editor’s Note: Kyle Smith's journey is a reminder that the fashion industry is evolving in real time. Keep watching the tunnel because you never know who might strut through it next. And if you're lucky, you might see their story unfold first right here at NFM.