Stefon Diggs, the Buffalo Bills’ standout wide receiver, bought a new home in Maryland a little more than a year ago. From the time he received the keys, the interior design enthusiast has been preoccupied with constructing a room worthy of an Architectural Digest.
Diggs has been involved in all stages of the project. Each area has a distinct identity for each of his moods, such as his quiet study for reading and his “creative” room, which is packed with art and color for when he is in that mindset. To accomplish this impression, he spent many hours on YouTube examining other people’s homes and furniture layouts, as well as interacting with interior designers. Aside from working with someone to purchase historic furniture, Diggs has done practically everything himself, including collecting art and mastering feng shui to ensure his home is genuinely his.
Diggs was deep into sofa study, admiring a Missoni and Roche Bobois Mah Jong piece, when he realized he was being observed. “I was like, ‘Damn, that’s a nice couch, I wonder how many more are out there?'” he adds with a grin on his face: “And obviously my phone is hacked by the government, because couches start popping up everywhere on it.”
Diggs was caught up in an internet shopping frenzy when he came across a vintage couch identical to the Mah Jong. Point to the algorithm overlords: he had to get it. So long, $30,000.
“My [financial advisor] really gets on my ass,” Diggs said. “But I’m saying, listen, I need this. And I won’t stop until my house is exactly as I want it.”
This is how Diggs’ mind operates. He is obsessed with his interests, which range from American football (which he has dominated despite being ignored in the NFL draft) to design, fashion, and even ceramics.
Diggs’ personality is only partially reflected on the football field. Outside of the game, he is a lot more calm, collected, and creative empath than he is when playing a brutal, punishing sport. He hopes that his outside interests would provide fans with a deeper understanding of who he is as a person.
Diggs has frequently been represented in the game as a malcontent or even a diva, owing to tense moments that occur while the clock is ticking. Diggs was seen yelling at his quarterback, Mr Josh Allen, during a heated sideline discussion following a playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. Despite being the home favourites, the Bills lost. However, these few episodes do not reflect the man as a whole.Diggs has frequently been represented in the game as a malcontent or even a diva, owing to tense moments that occur while the clock is ticking. Diggs was seen yelling at his quarterback, Mr Josh Allen, during a heated sideline discussion following a playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. Despite being the home favourites, the Bills lost. However, these few episodes do not reflect the man as a whole.
Fashion has always been an essential element of Diggs’ self-expression, and he recalls changing the laces on his sneakers to stand out at the private (and uniform-required) high school he attended in Maryland. To wit, Liem Homme, a fashion brand that Diggs has overseen from start to finish, will be launched this month. He created designs on his iPad and found an atelier in Los Angeles.
“I don’t really allow people to know me,” Diggs admits. “I try to emotionally disengage from work. I believe that this [Liem Homme] will help me connect with people on a deeper way. People will assess you after seeing you for 60 minutes, or whatever amount of time you spend in the game. It’s reasonable, it comes with the job, and I respect it. I want people to meet me wherever I am. Football, as I’ve traveled across the world, is little in comparison to many other things.”
Diggs is dedicated to creating his own style, and unlike many other renowned athletes, he does not consult with a stylist for the crucial tunnel walks. “For me, it’s not that hard,” he says. “I make an effort to appear well on a consistent basis. I tell everyone that if you meet me in the tunnel or at the gas station, I will be dressed halfway decently. “If you fly every day, it’s just another day.”
Diggs looks for vintage pieces that fit his style. And, in a rare departure from modern stardom, he enjoys repeating outfits or specific pieces, arguing that if you’re proud of your style, you should acquire clothes you’ll want to wear more than once. (He even recommends his younger teammates to invest in a few high-quality pieces that they can wear often rather than chasing seasonal trends.)
“Why buy 10 shirts when you can buy three very quality shirts and just wear them consistently because they’re great?” Diggs remarks, repeating some very forward-thinking environmental rhetoric.
He wasn’t always in complete control of his own fate. In the 2015 NFL Draft, 145 players were chosen before Diggs, including 19 receivers. He got a contract worth approximately ten times less than the year’s top overall pick. Despite the fact that he did not become a full-time starter for the Minnesota Vikings until a few games into his rookie season, he leads his draft class in receiving yards.
(Those professional hurdles followed some personal ones: Diggs lost his father in 2008, when he was only 14 years old, leaving him with the responsibility of raising his younger siblings. Injuries threatened to wreck his career chances as he attended college at Maryland, partly to keep close to his family.
Diggs persevered despite the turbulence. And his individual success increased. He has at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his last six seasons, which is the standard for success among the best players at his position.
“I remind myself of where I was,” Diggs explains how he stays motivated. Remember where you were. Remember how hungry you were? This game solely respects thanks, grace, and those that put in the effort. My affection for it has never waned. That’s why I play so intensely and passionately. In my thoughts, this could be my final game.
“Also, my father started me playing football when I was five years old. He never got to watch me play in the NFL. And I hope I’m making dad proud. “When someone starts you on something, make sure you finish it.”
Diggs and the Bills have gone quite close to “finishing it” in football, making the playoffs each of the four years he has been with the organization. The Kansas City Chiefs ended their season three of the last four years.
Yes, the Chiefs. Some consider Diggs heroes, while others see him as an impediment.
“Starving,” Diggs says when asked how eager he is to defeat Kansas City. “It’s like a dry well. You’re trying your hardest to acquire the water, but it just doesn’t appear.”
Football is a sport that can drive a fan, let alone a player, insane if they focus on the losses. The difference between winning and losing is quite thin. And, as difficult as the sport can be, success can be determined by the slightest of minutiae, such as how a fumble bounces or which way a quarterback turns his head first in the two seconds he has to throw the ball.
Every season takes Diggs on an emotional rollercoaster. And, as someone who dislikes being depressed, he needs to find ways to decompress during his free time. Watching the game as a fan is beneficial. So does design, whether it’s for his home or his clothing. His most recent project is ceramics, which lends a sense of calm to his creative expression.
“I’m learning how to use the wheel.” “I’m very excited to go home and play with some more clay,” Diggs says. So far, he hasn’t made much to brag about, other from an ashtray. And, while he hopes to eventually mould some objects for his home, the process is just as vital as the end result.
“For me, this is a time of tranquility and thankfulness. It makes you relax. It necessitates a certain amount of detail and focus. It’s more than simply a hobby; it’s something that gives me calm. And if you enjoy all forms of creativity, fashion isn’t the end. “Why not take advantage of this opportunity to express myself creatively?”
Diggs appears to have struck an optimum balance between his day job and his interests. He can’t wait to recover from the NFL season and resume training. He’s only a few yards away from 10,000 yards, which is a huge accomplishment for any receiver, let alone one who was drafted so low.
Diggs’ professional achievement is leading to new opportunities. He’s made it a point to enable himself to explore the world around him, especially after witnessing so many athletes struggle to find love outside of the sport that has consumed their lives.
“Sometimes I take a step back and I really appreciate where I am,” Diggs says. “Because of how hard I worked for my dream, it’s given me the ability to do things I wouldn’t be able to do otherwise. When I do have that leisure time, I try to open my mind to new things, because you never know where they’ll take you.”
