The Cincinnati Bengals had a special guest at their Thursday practice: country music sensation Luke Combs.
Combs, who is set to perform back-to-back shows at Paycor Stadium, observed most of the hot and humid practice session in downtown Cincinnati. His presence quickly attracted attention on the Bengals’ sideline, where players like wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, defensive end Sam Hubbard, and team president Mike Brown took the opportunity to meet him.
“He was a really nice guy,” Hubbard told ESPN. “Super down-to-earth, relatable. It was great to see all the guys interacting with him and even cooler to see the owners talking to him before he performs in the stadium.”
Linebacker Joe Bachie, a devoted fan of Combs for nearly a decade, was especially excited. He had included Combs’ music on his wedding playlist and couldn’t resist getting a photo with the star before the team resumed practice.
“I went up to my linebackers coach [James Bettcher] and said, ‘Yeah, I just fanboyed there for a second,'” Bachie shared, noting he will be attending one of Combs’ concerts in Cincinnati.
Tee Higgins, who hails from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, appreciated Combs’ interest in sports. “It shows that he’s actually invested in sports and not just an artist,” Higgins said. “It’s pretty cool.”
Combs, a well-known Carolina Panthers fan, held his fantasy draft inside their stadium last year. This year, he will be making his picks inside the Bengals’ stadium, where he’ll perform for the next two nights.
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