One of the more unique NFL traditions is when quarterbacks get their offensive linemen to celebrate Christmas.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow took that practice incredibly seriously and decided to give each of the men who guarded him every game their own.
After Thursday’s practice, Burrow presented the Bengals offensive linemen with authentic Japanese Katana swords.
Each sword has a unique design and comes with a backstory of a particular city or battle The Athletics.
Burrow put them all in a room and let the linemen pick theirs. There is no word for those who were married what the reactions of their wives were when they came home with a sword.
“Joe does a great job of sourcing gifts that are extremely meaningful,” Orlando Brown told the outlet. “The fact that he bought me a sword is the oldest form of respect.”
Burrow gave the Bengals linemen authentic Japanese Katana swords as Christmas presents
The linemen were touched by the gifts, with Orlando Brown citing an “ancient form of respect.”
Katanas were the weapon of choice for Japanese samurais generations ago and have found their way into popular culture in a number of ways.
In the ‘Kill Bill’ film series, Katanas play a crucial role in the storyline, created by a character based on real-life samurai Hattori Hanzo.
A Katana is also memorable in the series ’24’, as Jack Bauer’s final kill of villain Cheng Zhi takes place with the sharp sword.
Of the hundreds of murders that the character played by Kiefer Sutherland carries out in the series, the finale is the only one in which the federal agent uses a Katana.
The Bengals are 6-8 and will likely need to win the rest of their three regular season games to have a chance at the postseason.