At a Glance
- NFL reporter Erin Andrews wore a massive faux-fur coat on Jan. 11 during the 49ers vs. Eagles playoff game.
- Social media exploded with comparisons to Cruella de Vil and polar-bear jokes.
- Andrews told Glamour she had “zero clue” about the buzz until after the game.
- Why it matters: The moment shows how a single fashion choice can dominate sports talk as much as the game itself.
Erin Andrews is brushing off the internet chatter. The 47-year-old NFL on FOX sideline reporter triggered a firestorm of memes when she appeared in a floor-length faux-fur coat at Lincoln Financial Field for the wild-card showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles. In her first comments since the broadcast, Andrews told Glamour she never saw the criticism coming.
The Coat That Broke The Internet
January 11 started like any other playoff assignment. Andrews arrived in Philadelphia, saw the forecast, and trusted stylist Daniela Romero‘s suggestion to “go big.” The result: a $950 “Fox Jacket” by fledgling label Auter, a 100 % faux-fur piece that drapes to the knee and flares in the wind. When FOX cameras rolled for the pre-game hit, Andrews introduced Christian McCaffrey and moved along, unaware that screen-grabs were already ricocheting across X, TikTok and Instagram.
- The coat retails for $950 and is stocked by outerwear brand Auter, founded by designer Rob Zangardi.
- Andrews says she “forgot” she had it on once kickoff neared and her producer counted her down.
- The piece is fully synthetic, contradicting early speculation that it was real animal fur.
Social Media Reactions: From Cruella To Compliments
Within minutes, the coat had its own fan faction and roast session. Side-by-side images placed Andrews next to Disney’s Cruella de Vil; others joked she had “taken out the entire polar bear exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo.” A few celebrated the drama. “Erin, fire. I don’t care what people say, you look chef’s kiss,” one TikToker gushed. Another wrote, “looked at my coats in disgust 😭.”
Sample posts that rocketed past 100 k views:
| Platform | Viral Line |
|---|---|
| X | “Erin Andrews just demanded Pongo’s puppies or else.” |
| X | “Shout-out to Erin Andrew’s coat, the type of coat only movie villains wear.” |
| TikTok | “@ErinAndrews did not come to PLAY! The coat. The styling. 10/10 🤏🏾👏🏾🔥.” |
Andrews insists the comparisons made her laugh once she finally checked her phone post-game. “In the wind, I know it looked like a Beyoncé video,” she admitted, referencing the way the coat billowed during stand-ups. “It felt fun, it felt fabulous, it felt like a big event.”
Why She Chose The Look
Andrews, who normally sticks to team-issued puffers or sleek wool coats, said the decision came down to mood and moment. A wild-card game in a cold-weather city presented the “perfect time to wear this piece,” and Romero’s pitch-“it’s outside the box and super fun”-sealed it. The reporter also noted that Philadelphia fans bring theatrical energy, so she leaned in.
Key points from her Glamour interview:
- Had “zero clue” about online chatter until after final whistle.
- Believes reaction stemmed from the departure from her usual sideline wardrobe.
- Does not regret the choice and would “absolutely” wear it again for a similar stage.
Designer Backstory: Meet Auter
Auter launched in late 2023 as a cruelty-free outerwear line by celebrity stylist Rob Zangardi. The Fox Jacket-oversized lapels, concealed hook closures, satin lining-quickly became the brand’s hero SKU after stylist Daniella Romero pulled it for Andrews. A News Of Losangeles request for comment confirmed the coat is back-ordered through March following the broadcast exposure.
Auter’s brand pillars:
- 100 % vegan materials
- Limited production runs
- Price points between $650 and $1,200
Life After Viral
Andrews boarded a red-eye to Los Angeles after the game and woke up to hundreds of notifications. Rather than issue a formal statement, she leaned on humor, reposting some of the Cruella memes to her Instagram Story. Network executives, she says, never flagged the wardrobe choice; the NFL on FOX team focused instead on her McCaffrey interview clips.
The reporter’s long-term takeaway: sideline fashion can spark conversation equal to play-call debates. “It’s such a different look for me,” she reiterated. “But sports are entertainment-why not have a little fun with it?”
Key Takeaways
- A single sideline outfit generated more social impressions than many game highlights.
- The $950 faux-fur piece is completely animal-free, despite viral rumors.
- Andrews embraced both praise and parody, signaling changing norms around self-expression in sports media.
- Demand for Auter’s coat spiked overnight, proving broadcast exposure still moves product faster than ads.
Bottom line: Erin Andrews proved that in the age of instant memes, a bold fashion risk can become as talked-about as the final score-and she’s perfectly fine with that.
