Kickoff Couture

Talking fashion, football and life with SHU alum and NFL pro Julius Chestnut.

From the Spring 2025 issue of Sacred Heart University Magazine

As sports becomes increasingly intertwined with luxury brands and sneaker culture, a new ritual has taken shape: the “tunnel fit.” In this growing tradition, teams and players show off their threads before donning a jersey or kit. Julius Chestnut ’21, a third-year running back for the Tennessee Titans, understands the tunnel fit concept about as well as anyone in professional sports.

Chestnut has always had a passion for fashion, staying tapped into what some of the most fashion-forward stars in professional sports are donning pregame to find inspiration.

“When I see what some of these guys in the NBA are wearing, it’s just crazy,” he says. “While I may not wear what they do, I appreciate some of the risks they take, and I look to what they wear pregame to influence some of my decisions.”

Says the 24-year-old former Sacred Heart star: “It all starts with the shoes. I always start at the bottom and work my way up when picking out an outfit.”

Chestnut’s experience with sneakers is no recent fad; it’s a long-lived love.

“I remember when I was a kid, my dad must have had about 1,000 pairs of sneakers in the house,” Chestnut says with a laugh. “He ingrained the idea in me that no matter how good or bad an outfit is, it can always be saved with a good pair of tennis shoes.”

As for Chestnut’s favorite kicks, he’s invested in classics. His time playing basketball growing up explains his love of Air Jordans as well as Nike’s signature models for Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. It’s this history with sneaker culture that’s helped further Chestnut’s love for clothing and develop his all-around fashion finesse.

A very intentional dresser, Chestnut will often choose an outfit based on the team he’s playing or his location. “If I’m back home [in Maryland], I keep that in mind when picking out a pregame fit. Maybe I’ll wear something that represents that place,” he says. “I like to wear items that connect to where we are week to week. It makes picking an outfit much more personal.”

Sacred Heart’s former First-Team All-American, who amassed 3,467 yards and scored 34 touchdowns during four seasons with the Pioneers, has also had some time to reflect on his experience in the league. “Being on an NFL team post-college is a dream come true, and the lessons I’ve learned from guys inside the Titans organization have been nothing short of life-changing,” Chestnut says.

Chestnut credits his time at SHU for instilling confidence in his life after football. “My time in the Northeast helped me so much. I learned that no matter what, you have to put in the work,” he says. “Whether it was staying up late or waking early to work out or sacrificing free time to work on homework, you have to work harder than anyone to get what you want out of this life.”