The Wired Headphone Comeback: Why Some Athletes Are Ditching Bluetooth
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Short Answer Summary
Wired headphones are making a real comeback, and NBA stars, NFL players, and celebrities are a big part of it. The reasons vary: reliability, sound quality, battery-free convenience, security, affordability, and a broader cultural pullback toward "analog" habits. For some, reducing exposure to wireless RF signals is also part of the appeal. Understanding the actual difference between wired and Bluetooth audio, including how Bluetooth's RF emissions compare to a phone's, can help you decide if switching back makes sense for you.
Why Are Wired Headphones Making a Comeback?
Wired headphones have quietly gone from "outdated" to "cool" again, and 2026 has been their biggest year yet. A recent CNN feature traced the trend from NBA arena tunnels (Anthony Edwards, Steph Curry, Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams, and others) to red carpets and subway platforms, where Drake, Zendaya, Harry Styles, and Bella Hadid have all been photographed with a cord instead of a case.
The reasons behind the shift are mostly practical and cultural, not medical. Lakers guard Marcus Smart summed up a common athlete complaint in a recent team video: "The Bluetooth ones are a little difficult. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they fall out, sometimes they disconnect, sometimes they lose power, sometimes you forget to charge them." Others point to affordability (wired earbuds can cost a fraction of premium wireless models) and a general "analog lifestyle" backlash, the same instinct driving interest in film cameras and dumbphones, as people look for ways to feel less tethered to constant connectivity.
Convenience is what made Bluetooth earbuds dominate in the first place. But as this trend shows, plenty of people are deciding convenience isn't worth every tradeoff.
Why Some Elite Athletes Prefer Wired Headphones
Athletes cite a familiar list of practical reasons for going wired:
Wanting to reduce EMF exposure
No charging required, ever
A connection that doesn't drop or lag
Often higher audio fidelity
No pairing issues before a big moment
One less piece of tech to think about on game day
While many athletes use wired headphones for reasons like reliability, consistent audio quality, or as part of their pregame routine, Aaron Rodgers has been especially vocal about another factor: reducing his exposure to EMFs. In a 2023 exchange with Zach Wilson captured on HBO's Hard Knocks, Wilson joked about Rodgers' wired headphones, to which Rodgers replied that they were "saving my brain from all the harmful EMF emissions.”
Bluetooth vs. Wired: What's the Difference?
What Does the Research Say About Bluetooth and RF Exposure?
Bluetooth headsets communicate using radiofrequency (RF) signals, the same general category of energy used by Wi-Fi routers and cell phones, just at much lower power. Most consumer Bluetooth earbuds are Class 2 devices, which the Bluetooth specification caps at roughly 2.5 milliwatts of transmission power. A cell phone, by comparison, can transmit at up to 1 to 2 watts, particularly when it's working harder to maintain a signal in a car, elevator, or rural area.
In the US, the FCC requires all cell phones to stay at or below a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of 1.6 watts per kilogram, a regulatory ceiling for how much RF energy the body can absorb from a device. Bluetooth headsets operate well under that same framework, given their much lower transmit power.
The World Health Organization and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) set the exposure guidelines that inform standards like this one, covering RF sources from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth to cellular networks. Research into long-term, low-level RF exposure is ongoing, and mainstream health authorities have not established harm from RF exposure at the levels Bluetooth devices produce. Some public health guidance still recommends minimizing unnecessary exposure as a reasonable, low-cost precaution, which is part of why practices like wired audio, speakerphone use, and keeping phones out of pockets have gained traction independent of any specific health finding.
Practical Ways to Reduce Wireless Exposure
Reducing exposure doesn't require giving up your devices. Small, realistic swaps add up:
Use wired headphones when you're stationary, like at a desk or on a couch
Switch to speakerphone for calls when you're not in public
Text instead of taking long voice calls when possible
Keep your phone out of your front pocket during calls or heavy use
Turn on airplane mode when you don't need a connection, like overnight
Use a directional phone case or sleeve during calls, one practical layer among several rather than a standalone fix
Should You Switch Back to Wired?
Wired headphones make the most sense if you:
Listen for long stretches at a time
Want the highest possible audio quality
Are tired of charging earbuds
Prefer minimizing wireless device use where it's easy to do
Bluetooth still makes sense if you:
Work out or move around a lot
Need to stay hands free and mobile
Prioritize convenience over the other tradeoffs
Nobody needs to abandon Bluetooth entirely. The point is that wired is a legitimate, practical option again, not a downgrade.
Taking Protection One Step Further: Anti-Radiation Headphones
Wired headphones solve the Bluetooth question, but they still run an electrical wire the entire distance to your ear. That's where air-tube headphones, like SafeSleeve's Anti-Radiation Air-Tube Headphones, take the idea a step further.
Instead of wiring that runs all the way to the earpiece, air-tube headphones use a hollow tube for the final stretch. The audio signal travels through wire up to that point, then converts to actual sound waves that reach your ear through air rather than an electrical conductor.
There's no continuous wire running the last few inches into your ear, which is the whole idea behind the design: less direct electronic connection right next to your head, without giving up a physical connection to your phone.
The air-tube design reduces the direct electrical connection near your head, which may help reduce EMF exposure while still providing the convenience of wired headphones.
Beyond that core difference, they function like any solid pair of wired headphones. HD speakers keep the sound quality and bass strong, a built-in mic handles calls and voice notes, and they're lightweight enough to toss in a bag or pocket. No charging, no pairing, no dropped connections mid-call.
It's not about overhauling how you use your phone. It's a small swap: wired headphones with one extra design choice, for anyone who already likes the reliability of a cord and wants to take it a step further.
Key Takeaways
Wired headphones are having a real cultural moment, led by NBA players, NFL athletes, and celebrities
Most athletes cite reliability, comfort, and style as their reasons
Bluetooth transmits at a small fraction of a cell phone's power and stays well under FCC exposure limits
Reducing wireless exposure is easy to build into daily habits without giving up convenience entirely
Choosing wired headphones is one practical way to reduce personal wireless exposure while gaining reliability and battery-free convenience
Are wired headphones safer than Bluetooth?
Wired headphones don't transmit an RF signal as part of the audio connection, so they eliminate that specific source of exposure. Whether that translates into a meaningful health benefit is still an open question, since Bluetooth already operates at low power and within established safety limits.
Does Bluetooth emit radiation?
Yes. Bluetooth devices use low power RF signals, generally far below the power output of a cell phone.
Is Bluetooth lower power than a cell phone?
Yes. Most Bluetooth earbuds transmit at around 2.5 milliwatts, compared to up to 1 to 2 watts for a phone during a call.
Why are athletes using wired headphones again?
Mostly practicality: no charging, no dropped connections, and consistency in a pregame routine. Some athletes, like Aaron Rodgers, have cited reducing RF exposure specifically.
Are wired headphones actually making a comeback?
Yes. Recent media coverage and visible use by NBA players, NFL athletes, and celebrities all point to renewed demand for wired audio in 2026.
