If you’ve followed Lamar Jackson online for a while, you already know he has a funny little reputation with gas stations. Last year, during his appearance on Barstool Sports’ Sundae Conversation with Caleb Pressley, things went viral when Pressley started flipping through random photos from Lamar’s Instagram and asking where each one was taken. No matter the picture, Lamar’s answer was: “Gas station.” In his defense, he said, “My car just needed some gas.” But that was last year. Now it seems like the “King of the Gas Station” is forced to ditch the pump altogether.

In Jackson’s recently shared Instagram story, he posted a screenshot of the high costs of fuel with a man riding a bike. According to the image, gas prices were expected to hit $6.00 per gallon, which was highlighted with the bike picture. Jackson decided to add his two cents to the matter by making light of the situation.

“I’m so Jody at they ah,” Jackson wrote, referring to the bike-riding protagonist of the film Baby Boy who famously had to pedal his way around town.  “About to become a biker boy,” he jokingly said. But the message was clear to everyone.

The story quickly went viral, as fans jokingly commented that “inflation has finally reached the MVP.” But the reality is that in the background of the escalating US-Iran conflict and rising oil concerns, gas prices across parts of the country are climbing fast. People are watching their hard-earned money disappear into their fuel tanks at an alarming rate. And when a $260 million star is complaining of the fuel prices, you know that things have got rather serious.

In certain parts of Chicago, regular gas has already climbed past $6 a gallon. This is past the national average of $4.45. The situation near the Kennedy Expressway is even worse, where prices hit a peak of $6.29. Even with a discount from a car wash, drivers have to pay $5.99 as of Monday morning. The fate of Illinois drivers is no different, as they are paying $4.93 per gallon. And if you are planning to save fuel, turns out an NFL sideline reporter has an apparent “plan of action” which she shared. 

Michele Tafoya, someone who is also running for a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota offered a blunt take on how people should handle the situation. “Maybe you take one less trip to Starbucks, and so that gas goes a little further,” she said on The Todd Starnes Radio Show. “Until this thing is over and these gas prices come back down again, let’s just try to be patriots about this.” Well, that is something. However, the the main question is when will the surge really stop?

When this question, was put forth to the President, he had four words, “for a little while.” But well, until that happens the hike will definitely affect everyone and every sector even the NFL.

How rising gas prices could spill over into NFL Sundays

One of the NFL’s biggest advantages has always been its rhythm. One game a week, built around it in a way that’s perfect for travel. Fans don’t just go to the games; they plan for them. It’s not unusual to see people crossing state lines. So a random Sunday can be a road trip for a family down to watch a game. But now that tradition can be affected with the fuel prices climbing. The impact, though, won’t hit all the fanbase the same way.

Teams with spread-out regional followings, which are especially in the rural parts of the Midwest and South, where driving isn’t just common but essential, can feel it the most. Because when the stadium is 150 miles away instead of 15, every extra dollar at the pump matters.

Plus, even if they get there, you have to factor in tickets, parking, and food, which all cost money. For the middle class the question of “Is it worth going?” does come in front. And this isn’t just an NFL problem either. The same travel pressures are actually spilling over to the 2026 FIFA World Cup as well.

Unlike the compact host nations, the U.S. tournament is spread across vast distances, and that geography comes at a real cost. Domestic flights are expected to spike sharply, and rail and match-day transport costs are already seen to be trending higher. There are reports of $150 round-trip fares for certain venues! One thing is for sure, for now it seems like everyone is just one fill-up away from becoming a Biker Boy.