We recently had a unique opportunity to chat virtually with Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Fabletics and Chase’s new partnership with the activewear brand made this opportunity possible.
In conjunction with The Orange and Black Insider podcast, its hosts Anthony Cosenza and John Sheeran, as well as with Cincy Jungle and A to Z Sports, Fabletics gave us an opportunity to have a back-and-forth with the team’s star receiver. We fired off questions to “Uno” as the season kicked off, and he gave us his
thoughts on a number of topics pertaining to the team.
The Bengals are 1-0 and are seemingly heading in a great direction for the season. Chase is and will continue to be a major component of the team’s success.
You’ve been very open about the expectations surrounding the Bengals this year. With the additions Cincinnati made on defense, particularly Dexter Lawrence, what feels different about this team heading into 2026 compared with the teams you’ve been part of in the past?
JC: It just feels like we’re more complete. We know what we can do on offense, and adding guys like Dex on defense helps take us to that next level. He makes his presence known every day in practice. The foundation is there, now we’ve just got to go win.
You’ve accomplished virtually everything individually that a receiver can accomplish, but the Super Bowl remains the obvious team goal. Has your mindset changed at all as you’ve gotten further into your career in terms of balancing individual success with that bigger goal?
JC: At this point, winning is what matters. I want a Super Bowl. That’s always the goal. Everything else comes with that.
You and Joe Burrow have been together since 2021, and your connection has obviously become one of the defining QB-receiver relationships in the NFL. Is there still a part of that relationship or your on-field chemistry that you feel you can take to another level in 2026?
JC: For sure. There’s always more. Me and Joe have been doing this a long time, so we know what the other one is thinking. But we’re never satisfied. We can always get better, make more plays and keep pushing each other. That’s the fun part of the game.
Joe Burrow said he’s getting 2019 LSU vibes from this team. What do you remember about the leadup to that season, and do you also feel something similar now with the Bengals?
JC: Back then, we knew we had something special before everybody else did. It was just about going out and proving it. I feel some of that now. We know what we’ve got in this locker room. Now we’ve got to show it on the field.
After a full training camp going up against DJ Turner II, how does he challenge you in practice and how do you feel you’ve helped each other get better?
JC: DJ competes. He’s fast, he’s physical, and he’s going to make you work every rep. That’s what you want in practice. I make him better, he makes me better. We’re going at it every day.
With Dohnte Meyers officially making the team, what has impressed you the most about him this offseason?
JC: He comes in ready to work, competes and isn’t scared of the moment. I like that about him. He earned his spot.
At this point in your career, defenses obviously know exactly what you’re capable of. What part of being Ja’Marr Chase on a football field has become more of a mental game for you — recognizing coverages, manipulating defenders, understanding what Joe is seeing — rather than simply relying on athletic ability?
JC: It’s a lot more mental now. They know what I’m trying to do, I know what they’re trying to do. So it’s like, alright, who’s gonna win?
I’m watching where the safety is, how the DB is playing me, where the help is coming from. Me and Joe usually see the same thing, so I already know where I need to be. Then it’s just setting the DB up. Make him think he’s got me figured out, then give him something different. That’s the fun part for me now. You think you know what’s coming? Cool. Stop it.
Your Fabletics partnership is pretty different from a traditional athlete endorsement because you’ve had a significant hand in the actual creative process. What was something in the collection where you said, “That’s got to be changed,” and what did you ultimately get them to do?
JC: I care about what I wear. On the field, in the gym, wherever. It’s got to look right and feel right. That’s what I like about working with Fabletics. I actually get to be in it. I’m not just putting my name on something. I’m wearing it, testing it, telling them what I think.
For me, it’s always about fit, and I’m picky about that. Something can look good, but if I put it on and it doesn’t move right or sit the way I want, I’m gonna say something. But it’s also about having the right pieces, all the way down to the stuff people forget. Accessories are where a lot of brands stop paying attention.
That’s where I pushed hardest. I wanted a skull cap. I wanted a balaclava. Things I’m actually reaching for in December in Cincinnati, not just things that look good in a photo. Fabletics ran with all of it, and now that’s some of the gear I’m most excited about.
The phrase “Chasing No One” has been associated with your Fabletics collection. What does that phrase mean to you personally at this stage of your career?
JC: I’m really just focused on being better than I was yesterday. That’s it. I’m not watching what everybody else is doing. I know what I can do, and I know I can still get better. So, I’m chasing the best version of me. Numéro uno.
Our thanks to Ja’Marr Chase and Fabletics for this exclusive opportunity. We can’t wait to see all of the great things Chase will continue to do in 2026 and the years ahead!
Go check out Ja’Marr’s exclusive line of Fabletics products here and see some of the products in the images here in the article!
