After his college football career playing for the Utes, Eric Weddle was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Over the next 14 seasons, Weddle became one of the best safety players in the NFL. While playing nine seasons for the San Diego Chargers, he earned three Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro honors. Weddle bagged another three Pro Bowls selections during his three-season stent playing for the Baltimore Ravens. He announced his retirement after his 2019 season with the Los Angeles Rams, only to return two years later for the Rams’ pay off run ending in a Super Bowl LVI victory. 

Weddle’s prominent beard and mustache has been a signature look for him through most of his professional NFL career. His trophy-worthy mane became so iconic to his personality that in 2020 he announced his retirement with hashtag #BEARDOUT.

A Kent State alumni, Edelman was drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Starting out as a return specialist and wide receiver, over his 12 seasons with the Patriots, Edelman would later become a primary offensive starter and staple of the receiving corps in till his retirement at the end of the 2020 season. Julian’s NFL career would see him rise to become a three-time champion in Super Bowls XLIX, LI, and LIII, while earning MVP for the lattermost of those game. 

Julian would start every season with a face full of scruff and by January playoffs it would again be a burly man-beard. Edelman’s beard was so iconic that in 2019 he shaved it off on the “Ellen” show for a staggering $10,000 which was donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Boston.

This Harvard graduate has had a rollercoaster of a career.  Fitzpatrick was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Over his 17-season career, Ryan would play for nine different teams – a record in the NFL. His longest run was with the Buffalo Bills where he had a hot 2-0 start and became known as “The Amish Rifle”. Despite this, Fitzpatrick’s only two winning years were with the New York Jets in 2015 and the Miami Dolphins in 2020.  Later in his career, Ryan’s competitive yet inconsistent performances garnered him the nicknames “Fitzmagic” and “Fitztragic”.

Like his NFL career, Ryan’s beard has been all over the place – from a full neat beard to unpredictably wild and ferocious. The former style he attributes to the work of a good barber – and probably more than a little beard balm. No matter what kind of beard Ryan was sporting, his iconic pregame beard rub was always a part of the “Fitzmagic”.

Our next bearded icon is not your average footballer. DeAndre Levy was picked up by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He would continue his career as linebacker with the Lions for the next eight seasons, building a solid reputation as on the league’s top defenders and earning one the highest frequency ratings in the game. Unfortunately, a hip surgery in 2015 and a quad/knee injury in 2016 took him out of action for both years. Still, Levy stood out as one of the league’s most vocal advocates for human rights and would speak out against domestic violence. In 2015, this burly sneakerhead sold his 150 pair shoe collection, donating the proceeds to the Detroit Workers and Builders and Empowerment Plan – a charity helping the homeless in the Detroit area. 

This globetrotting NFL’er was frequently recognised on his travels by his long black beard. It’s not surprising that the more he followed his wanderlust the bigger and more iconic is beard grew.

While attending the California State University, Mankins played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs. In 2005, he was picked up by the New England Patriots in the first round of the NFL Draft. Logan would go on to play for the Patriots for nine seasons before getting traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for refusing to take a pay cut. Over his professional career, Mankins would earn seven Pro Bowls. 

Most notable in his career with the Patriots was Logan’s role guarding Tom Brady. Along with four other defensive linemen, Mankins would grew his beard as a sign of unity, which ultimately became his iconic look.

After playing college ball at Brigham Young University, Keisel was selected by the Pittsburg Steelers in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Brett would play for the Steelers for the next 12 seasons, racking up 30 sacks – 2010 being his best year. A two-time Super Bowl champion, Keisel would also be selected for the AFC Pro Bowl for the first time in 2010.

Brett Keisel’s “Da Beard” is one of the most impressive manes in NFL history. Over his career he has shaved his beard a whopping 10 times for charity, each time donating the proceeds to support the cancer programs at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Lawrenceville. Brett’s beard even has its own fan base which you can follow on twitter with hashtag #DaBeard. Keisel has been at the top of multiple best beard lists, earning him the title of “Greatest NFL Beard of All Time”.