Then there’s the colorful life of the NFL full of song, fellowship and cut-throat competition. One notable feature that’s making the headlines is the music pumping through the locker rooms. Teams use their favorite songs to pump them up before competitive matches or practice sessions. In this rich musical fabric though, Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker is crashing the house party as one of his class’ caviar’s. Meanwhile, Washington Commanders Emmanuel Forbes Jr. is making waves in a very different locker-room DJ scene.
Jaquan Brisker plays the role of the Chicago Bears’ unofficial DJ. That might be because he’s put together a playlist that resonates unlike any other with the dudes on his team. His first three, Lil’ Durk, YoungBoy, and Future cover that hyped-up game-day style that sets the tone during their practice. Vibey … I’m Real Forbes Jr.’s distinctive musical touch lays the groundwork for his appeal. He mostly plays what his bandmates refer to as “a very Southern type of music.” Apparently not all his teammates are thrilled as several have reportedly taken to complaining about Forbes’ loop-de-loop playlist of a repertoire.
Musical choices are an ever-evolving part of what makes NFL teams unique. That’s how they shape the everyday practice grind, but even more, that’s how they shape the heart-pounding glory of Saturday afternoons.
Jaquan Brisker: The Chicago Bears’ Musical Maestro
Jaquan Brisker has taken on the role of the primary DJ for the Chicago Bears, impacting the locker-room atmosphere significantly. His selections represent an eclectic mix of new-age hip-hop whose beats not only pumps Tatum up but his compatriots as well. The shortsclad players always vibing to that lil durk/younboy/future wave on the tiktoks. That produces a crisp vitality that echoes up and down the halls of Halas Hall.
Brisker’s impact is more than pre-game playlists. In his spare time, though, he’s in charge of weight room jams, and the music played before games and after games. This control over musical selections allows him to set the tone for various activities that define a day in an NFL player’s life.
“Honestly, I just go with whatever the energy is in the room,” – Darnell Mooney
Mooney’s comment perfectly illustrates the dynamic between players that exists and the culture of cooperation around music choice. It’s a dynamic space, created by the competing needs of a variety of personalities and styles. Brisker’s decisions are key to establishing that lively mood.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr.: A Southern Soundtrack
Emmanuel Forbes Jr., cornerback for the Washington Commanders, has found his identity in the league with his sonic creativity and bold musical expression. Teammates and friends frequently characterize Forbes as performing “a real deep South kind of thing.” His goal is to add a new flavor to the locker room with his original creations. The complaints come too from former students who say that his curations start to feel predictable after a while.
Jared Verse on Forbes’ playlist selections. He loves the music’s cultural roots, but music of certain types may not be the best choice for a practice that takes place at 7 am.
“I’m not trying to listen to some YoungBoy at 8:30 in the morning after I was just on the phone with my mom. I’m not; it’s too much.” – Jared Verse
Verse’s comments show what happens when personal preferences and comfort level collide in the locker room environment. Forbes continues to highlight his Southern roots by infusing music with social activism. So variety is what they needed to keep that energy and enthusiasm high.
The Diverse Soundscapes of NFL Locker Rooms
Locker rooms in NFL teams are the first place you see this pulse, with wild and diverse musical preferences. These melodies capture the history and characters of the individual players. While some teams develop a reputation for their unique playlists, many teams lean into the genres that welcome their members home.
In Atlanta, players such as Bradley Pinion and Chris Lindstrom seem to love to go down memory lane with Cordarrelle Patterson. They warmly remember his eclectic approach to music. Patterson thrived by fusing together country, hip-hop, rock and pop. He even put gospel music on his prep playlists for Sundays when they’d play on Thursdays before the games started! That variety gave his students a special community and bond to share with their teammates.
Craig Reynolds told us, for instance, that each positional group on the team has their own musical style.
“So, if the O-line does their warmup first, they hurry in there and get to the iPad. Then it’s like an O-line day and they’re gonna listen to [heavy rock music or EDM] and then we’re gonna complain like, ‘What is all this screaming?’” – Craig Reynolds
Amongst them, Bijan Robinson has recently made news for running only NBA YoungBoy during his locker-room go-to’s sessions.
“He only plays one artist — NBA YoungBoy — and that’s all he plays the whole time,” – Eric Murray
While Robinson’s dedication to a single artist may appeal to some, it raises questions about musical diversity in the locker room.
The Role of Throwback Thursdays
One of the more creative methods of music choice was developed by Aaron Glenn, who created a carefully curated playlist just for “Throwback Thursdays.” This new national initiative aspires to infuse this same nostalgia into our outdoor recreation practices. It allows players to interact with each other while experiencing nostalgic tunes from different eras.
The diversity provided by these throwback sessions is a welcome change from the far more popular modern selections that pervade many locker rooms today. More importantly, it’s a perfect example of how music can connect players of different generations and create a connection between all players.
Darnell Mooney discusses his plans to be DJ for Chicago Bears a little more. He just wants to show that he welcomes and supports all genres of music equally.
“It could be Miley Cyrus. It could jump all over the place.” – Darnell Mooney
This business flexibility exemplifies a newly emerging trend in locker rooms. Players are particularly, and happily, growing immersed in wider, deeper springs of musical eclecticism.
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