Football players are a different breed. Plain and simple. After all, they are the modern gladiators sacrificing their bodies day in and day out… So—I suppose it shouldn’t come as a huge shock that every so often, an NFL player voices an opinion or a belief that doesn’t exactly jive with the norm. Let’s take a look at 10 NFL players that we’ve seen spout out some of the MOST INSANE beliefs that are sure to shock even the most diehard NFL fans.
How well do you know your favorite NFL players when it comes to their personal stuff?
Tyler Owens: Space isn’t Real
Former Texas Tech standout safety Tyler Owens made waves ahead of the NFL draft—and, spoiler alert, it wasn’t for the eventual undrafted player’s college resume or combine performance… but rather his, shall we say, interesting beliefs—or lack thereof about space.
Yup, he caused quite a stir with his unconventional belief: space isn’t real. You heard that right, the former Red Raider has openly declared his skepticism about the existence of space, sending fans, fellow athletes, and, unfortunately for him—NFL scouts—into what can only be described as a cosmic frenzy.
Despite the outspoken criticism he has received since, Owens stands firm in his belief, questioning everything from moon landings to satellites orbiting Earth.
The reaction from the football community has been a tempered mix of amusement and concern.
He was still able to sign a deal with the Washington Commanders—and his coaches and teammates have mostly laughed it off, focusing instead on Owens’ undeniable potential on the field, but it does call into question what kind of education they are giving their student athletes at Texas Tech!
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Harrison Butker: “Orthodox View” of Men and Women
Typically, when you are a kicker, the best course of action is to keep your name out of the headlines and focus on your job… Even if you are one of the best kickers in the league like Harrison Butker is!
Just ask former Pro Bowler turned NFL burnout, Mike Vanderjagt, who famously got on the wrong side of Peyton Manning for running his mouth publicly…
In any case, that ship has sailed for one of the most controversial former NFL players, who found himself at the center of a cultural controversy after expressing what’s been described as an “orthodox” view of gender roles during a commencement speech at Benedictine College.
To Butker’s credit—or his detriment… only time will tell, the standout kicker has since double downed on his comments about women and what he believes their role in the family and work world should be, stating publicly:
“It’s a decision I’ve consciously made and one I do not regret at all,” Butker said.
While Butker may believe himself to be well-intentioned, his belief system is mighty antiquated at this point, and it is striking how confident he was about making such controversial comments publicly.
Russell Wilson: Concussion Water
Ah, yes… Russell Wilson and the concussion water saga! An oldie but a goodie!
Leading up to the Super Bowl that year, he took a nasty hit from Packers linebacker Clay Matthews during the NFC Championship Game, leaving fans and commentators alike almost certain that he was going to be out of commission with a head injury.
But against all odds, Wilson stayed in the game and wasn’t even limited in practice during the subsequent weeks leading up to the Super Bowl.
During a profile in Rolling Stone, Wilson explained the magic:
“I banged my head during the Packers game in the playoffs, and the next day I was fine,” Wilson said. “It was the water.”
Or… more likely, the medical staff completely neglected their Hippocratic oath and the NFL’s faux mission to prioritize player safety so that Wilson could stay in the game for no other reason than to give the Seahawks the best possible chance at winning as one of the players on the floor.
Any potential medical malpractice aside, the fact that Wilson allegedly believed in this mythical elixir—and then, in true Russell Wilson fashion, tried to Evangelize it and turn it into a business is as ridiculous as it gets.
Honestly, I’m not sure how we didn’t see his eventual demise coming with takes like this back in 2015…
Tom Brady: Water Cures Sunburn
Russell Wilson isn’t the only star quarterback to have had some crazy beliefs about water…
In fairness, Tom Brady is one of a handful of NFL players who have never been afraid to stray from conventional wisdom when it comes to health and wellness, but his belief about how to prevent sunburn was pretty absurd.
Brady’s claim, which he detailed in his book “The TB12 Method,” suggests that staying well-hydrated is a key factor in preventing and treating sunburn and can essentially be instituted as a strategy in lieu of sunscreen which may have dangerous chemicals.
I love staying hydrated as much as the next guy, and I don’t think that it hurts, but to believe that by drinking plenty of water you can outright prevent sunburn is ridiculous.
Despite being met with overwhelming skepticism, Brady remains a staunch advocate for his approach to battling off the sun’s rays.
In subsequent interviews, he continues to advocate for the power of hydration, crediting it with not just his sunburn prevention but his overall physical performance and longevity in the NFL. Yup, I’m sure that was it, Tom! It was the water that made you a seven-time Super Bowl champ…
It isn’t like every other quarterback that has ever stepped foot on the gridiron has drank their fair share of H20!
Aaron Rodgers: He Should Be Vice President
While he didn’t end up running this go around, one thing is clear—former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers believes that his skillset extends beyond the gridiron…
Rodgers not only believes that he should have a career in politics… but that he should be the vice president of the country… and he may even have eyes on the POTUS title too!
The wildfire of controversy around the Jets veteran QB was sparked when independent presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. Mentioned Rodgers as a top candidate to be his running mate—before eventually changing his tune and naming a woman called Nicole Shanahan.
Either way, you can’t think that this sort of media attention to their signal caller’s insane beliefs was what the Jets were hoping would be the focus heading into his second year with the team!
Also Read: NFL Suspends Star Player 6 Games For Violating The League’s PED Policy
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila: Straightway Truth Ministry
Aaron Rodgers isn’t the only former Packers player to get wrapped up in some wacky beliefs…
Former Green Bay defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila has made headlines for his deep involvement with the Straightway Truth Ministry, a controversial religious group that many believe has crossed the line from religious groups to cults.
The Straightway Truth Ministry, led by Pastor Charles Dowell, promotes a strict interpretation of the Bible and emphasizes living a lifestyle that aligns… well… with the personal desires and whims of the group’s powerful leaders.
Between the authoritarian leadership of the group, the isolation from society, and the group’s treatment of women, it is pretty safe to say that Gbaja-Biamila has gotten wrapped up with the wrong crew and now has some pretty insane beliefs.
Cam Newton: Polygamy
Former NFL MVP, Cam Newton, has never been one to shy away from controversy… So I suppose it shouldn’t be a shocker that the quarterback, known for his flamboyant style and polarizing personality, sparked just that… a controversy… with his unconventional views on relationships—specifically, his belief in polygamy.
The NFL player has openly discussed his belief in polygamy, arguing that it’s a natural and honest way to live. He suggests that having multiple partners can prevent the deceit and infidelity that often plague monogamous relationships.
Where it really got dicey for Newton in the court of public opinion was that he kept trying to use the bible to justify his sexual proclivities on a popular podcast.
“You can’t sit up here and say you want a man of God and not acknowledge the fact that, oh, in this society, it’s socially accepted, but in the Bible—when you talk about David, when you talk about Solomon, the wisest person in all of the earth—he had the most wives anybody has ever had and concubines.”
Truly a valiant effort from Cam, but people weren’t buying his attempt at validating his, shall we say, “eccentric” belief system on relationships.
Kelce Brothers: 15% of the NFL are Flat Earthers
For as long as there have been star athletes, there has been a running trope that they aren’t exactly the brightest bulbs.
And I’m not sure who this one is more of an indictment on… the Kelce Brothers for asserting 15% of the players in the NFL are flat earthers—or the rest of the league because it is actually plausible.
For those who aren’t up to date on this one… Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce and his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles’ standout, Jason Kelce, have claimed that a significant portion of NFL players hold the belief that the Earth is flat and they made it known loud and proud on their popular podcast.
‘Conspiracy theories help bring NFL locker rooms together,’ Travis told his guest, Andrew Santino. ‘Have you got any good conspiracy theories?’
Santino posited about “Kyrie’s Flat Earth” — to which Travis replied: ‘Kyrie is not the only one that thinks that. He is probably the most well-known. Dude, honestly, there are at least ten guys, 10 to 15 guys, in every locker room, I would imagine. It’s crazy.
Like we touched on at the top, it is hard to say what is more ridiculous! Which is what makes this one so entertaining, it is a crazy belief about a crazy belief.
Joe Burrow: He can score “12-15 points” in an NBA Game Right Now
On the tail of the raging NBA vs. NFL debate, Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals’ star quarterback, decided to make a bold claim that has the sports world buzzing.
The signal caller believes he could do his fair share of damage on the hardwood and score “12-15 points” in an NBA game right now.
Burrow, who is known for his pinpoint passing and cool demeanor under pressure, isn’t a stranger to basketball. He played in high school and was a very good basketball player… But again… that was high school—not an NBA game!
And for Joe, stepping onto an NBA court and scoring double digits is a literally whole different ball game.
Some of his diehard NFL fans have backed him, citing a few rogue highlights and his admittedly underrated athleticism, but the reality is that playing at the NBA level requires a different caliber of ability that there is simply no chance Joe has right now among its players.
Maybe if he dedicated a couple of years to training basketball instead of hucking the pigskin, but until he shifts focus, we are dropping this one in the insane beliefs bucket.
Trent Richardson: That He’s Going to be in the Hall of Fame
While Joe Burrow’s belief in his own athletic prowess may pretty ridiculous, I don’t think that it is hyperbole to suggest that it has a better chance of proving true than Trent Richardson’s… which is quite sad considering the former third-overall pick’s insane belief was around football—you know—the sport he actually played professionally!
Richardson’s NFL career started with promise. He did well to build on his impressive college run at Alabama during which he won two National Championships and was a Heisman finalist, by going for a smidge under 1000 yards and 11 touchdowns his rookie season.
The outspoken running back unfortunately ended up encountering turbulence soon after.
The Browns sold high on him just two years into his sophomore year, likely knowing something about his preparation or his skillset the rest of the league wasn’t privy to yet—and the Indianapolis Colts were the suckers left holding the bag.
His performance quickly declined, leading to a diminished role with the Colts, but his confidence didn’t. Richardson remained outspoken that his career was going to end with him wearing a gold jacket in Canton, Ohio, as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Oh, what life must be like with that kind of confidence!
Unfortunately, his confidence didn’t map well to reality… and his relationship with the Colts deteriorated further when he was suspended by the team for the AFC Title game against the Patriots when he missed a mandatory walkthrough for what he referred to as a “family emergency.”
Considering Indy waived him soon after, it is safe to say they weren’t buying it.
In any case, this led to a brief stint with multiple teams, including the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens, but both stops ended with him getting cut. The final stops on his skid were the CFL, where he played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, then the Birmingham Iron of the short-lived AAF.
Richardson is only 33 years old, but he hasn’t sniffed an NFL sideline since 2016… so safe and sad to say that his Hall of Fame delirium is dead.
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