If you’re a fan of any major professional sport, you’ve likely noticed facial hair has made a vengeful comeback over the last few years. Football is no exception.
Handlebar mustaches, goatees, neck beards … it’s as if we’ve gone back in time to an era when players were jamming out to Hendrix and Rollie Fingers was just another fashion statement.
But is there a correlation between facial hair and performance?By analyzing every NFL player’s profile on ESPN.com, these guys put in a ridiculous amount of time and effort to find out.
For instance, quarterbacks who are clean shaven have a rating of 92.7 and throw for over 3,400 yards. In fact, most quarterbacks are either clean shaven or only have stubble while defensive lineman LOVE the beard.
Or how about information on which teams sport the most of each facial hair type?
They even supply the percentages of each facial hair/head-hair combo, a buzz cut with a goatee being the most common.
You can view the full report here, with complete team by team analysis.
In conclusion, the numbers are completely arbitrary. Sure, it looks like you’re going to want a clean shaven quarterback with some rough and tumble defensive players with more facial hair than your Amish uncle Abe. But there’s no proof to back it up.
It still is fun to look at!
Credit: footballbeards.directv.com
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.
Photo: Getty
