Zach Wilson’s new haircut backfires: The Broncos’ quarterback becomes social media laughingstock

Zach Wilson’s fresh hairstyle has become the joke of the internet, adding yet another chapter to his tumultuous NFL journey. The quarterback, traded to the Denver Broncos this offseason after a rocky three-year stint with the New York Jets, has debuted a sleek, slicked-back look that has rival fans buzzing with comments and memes.

Wilson’s time with the Jets was anything but smooth. The former first-round pick struggled to live up to the hype, with his inconsistent performance leading to a 12-21 record as a starter.

His tenure in New York was marked by headlines not just for his on-field struggles, but also his off-field antics, including his dating history and a rumored rocky relationship with Aaron Rodgers.

Seeking to flush the memories of his unsuccessful past, Wilson is aiming for a fresh start in Denver. The Broncos acquired him, hoping to rejuvenate his career. But it’s not just his performance that’s getting a makeover – his hairstyle has undergone a significant transformation too.

Social media were unforgiving with Wilson

Originally clean-cut with a fauxhawk, Wilson’s new look is more akin to Patrick Bateman, the slicked-back, Wall Street style that has drawn mixed reactions online. Social media users were quick to lampoon the quarterback:

“Zach Wilson’s new hairstyle makes him look like he’s playing Brock Osweiler in a new Disney Channel movie that absolutely nobody asked for,” said one netizen. “WHAT IS THAT HAIR?” asked one more, while someone else commented, “Denver moms are gonna absolutely love him.”

One more joined the jockes, “I thought it was a wannabe Justin Herbert for a minute.” “7/22, 97 yards, 2 picks and a fumble has never looked so good,” mocked one more.

Despite the jokes, Wilson is serious about his fresh start in Denver. He’s set to compete for the starting job against Jarrett Stidham and rookie Bo Nix. The new look, coupled with a new environment, might just be what Wilson needs to reignite his career.

Broncos hope to give Wilson a fresh start

Back in April 2023, just before the 2024 NFL Draft, the Broncos solidified their quarterback room by adding Wilson. Denver acquired the former second-overall pick and a 2024 seventh-round pick from the Jets in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick. This move reflects the Broncos’ commitment to finding a veteran presence to bolster their quarterback depth.

Wilson, who started 33 games over three seasons for New York, has thrown for 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions with a 57 percent completion rate. Broncos General Manager George Paton mentioned in March that the team evaluated the market for quarterbacks, and in Wilson, they believe they’ve found a valuable addition.

As Wilson steps into this new chapter of his career, all eyes will be on him to see if he can shake off his past struggles and bring some magic to the Mile High City – and maybe, just maybe, his new look will be the start of something great.