The pregame outfit has become a focal point for NFL fans as media outlets comment on players’ attire. In Week 1, Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Landon Robinson took the spotlight. Unlike others, Robinson didn’t choose a trendy suit or casual jeans.
While Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes donned a Spider-Man costume, Robinson’s choice surpassed all. He wore his full dress uniform from the Naval Academy during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This gesture was not random. Robinson, a Navy graduate, remains committed to military service, honoring the 25th anniversary of 9/11 along with other NFL teams.
NFL’s Week 1 9/11 tribute featured memorable moments, including a guitar performance in Seattle during the national anthem.
Robinson graduated in May 2026 with a degree in cyber operations and took on the role of a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. A provision permits select service-academy athletes to pursue professional sports, allowing Robinson to play for Cincinnati while serving in the reserves.
The Bengals drafted him in the seventh round of the April draft, their first such selection from a service academy since 1968. Robinson, before being drafted, assured the Bengals that his 10-year reserve commitment would not interfere with his football career, though active duty remains an option later.
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Apart from football, Robinson values the leadership and discipline instilled by the Naval Academy. Standing 6-foot-tall and weighing 295 pounds, those traits have strengthened his resolve to secure a roster spot, despite being smaller than most players.
“The Naval Academy, it’s a leadership laboratory,” Robinson mentioned post-draft.
Although Robinson was among the Bengals’ inactive players during Sunday’s game, his presence on the 53-man roster in the opening week symbolizes significant success. Celebrating this milestone in his service uniform felt apt.