11 NFL Players With Surprising Hobbies

A lot of people hold football players in incredibly high regard. The superstar status that they can hold in the eyes of many also leads many to forget that those heroes on the field are completely ordinary people once the game is over. They enjoy many of the same things that the average person does, and a few even have a few hobbies to keep themselves occupied.

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Sometimes, those hobbies can be a bit surprising. Seeing someone dominate the field may make it nearly impossible to see them doing anything else aside from working out or hopping into a professional wrestling ring. Regardless, NFL players may partake in more than a few surprising hobbies that most people don’t know about.

11 Sammy Watkins - Poker

To a lot of people, Sammy Watkins was one of the major factors that helped the Kansas City Chiefs find victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 54. While he’s not dominating at the wide receiver position, Watkins likes to take time to get a bit of gambling in.

It seems that poker is Watkins’ game of choice and one that he enjoys quite a bit. At one point, Watkins' hobby saw him skipping voluntary practices with the Buffalo Bills in order to play a few hands.

10 Marshawn Lynch - Acting

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Whether people love him or hate him, Marshawn Lynch was a dominant force on the field. The all-star running back picked up more than a few accolades throughout his career, and even managed to earn a Super Bowl victory as well.

When he’s not on the field, Lynch can often be found getting up to all kinds of antics, but one of the most prominent is his hobby in acting. Lynch has appeared in various projects over the years, with some of the most notable including Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The League, Murderville, and Westworld.

9 Boston Scott - eSports

Fans of the Philadelphia Eagles are probably big fans of running back Boston Scott. While he’s been an asset to the team, something that might surprise a lot of people is that he has quite a hobby as a gamer.

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His skill in the game Rocket League is so high that he actually found his way onto an eSports team as an alternate. Clearly, if the NFL doesn’t work out, he’ll have something just as exciting to fall back on, something that will include a lot less painful contact.

8 Russell Wilson - Helicopter Flying

Without a doubt, Russell Wilson is and forever will be one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch play in the NFL. His skill has led to a Super Bowl win, and countless other accolades over the years, but he has found a surprising way to relax.

For quite a while, Wilson was an avid fan of helicopter flying. It is possible that his hobby has been abandoned a bit these days as after the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant, Wilson publicly stated that he wasn’t too keen on flying as much.

7 Von Miller - Chicken Farmer

Even people who don’t love the teams he plays for love Von Miller. The man is one of the most exciting linebackers in the league, and his accolades more than show that. There isn’t a single quarterback that is safe on the field if they’re sharing it with Miller.

It’s that very intensity that makes his hobby as a chicken farmer a bit of a surprise. He’s actually acknowledged that the pastime is great for stepping away from the ferocity required on the field and that he doesn’t actually eat any of the chickens on his farm.

6 Justin Tucker - Opera Singing

Sports fans may poke fun at kickers, but Justin Tucker isn’t one anyone should scoff at. The man is deadly accurate, and as such, has become known as one of the greatest placekickers in NFL history.

It’s a major shock to learn, but Tucker is actually quite the singer. Rather than breaking out karaoke for his favorite pop song, he goes for something a little different, opera. It’s not hard to find videos of Tucker showing off his hobby, and it’s actually quite impressive to see for those who watch those videos.

5 Andrew Luck - Reading

When most people think about the average football player, they probably don’t think about someone with their nose buried in a book. When it comes to reading, Andrew Luck is absolutely no slouch.

The once-promising quarterback was able to show off a kinder side off the field as he would often share his hobby with others. Luck would often read to groups of children, and he even started his own book club. Retiring in his prime gave him a lot of time to pursue his intellectual hobby.

4 Julio Jones - Fishing

Julio Jones may have had a bit of a setback this season, but he’s been doing what he can to help the Buccaneers reach the playoffs and ultimately the Super Bowl. The fantastic wide receiver has been dominating in the league since 2011, but it seems he’s picked up a surprising hobby.

In order to get some time to unwind off the field, Jones takes to fishing. While there’s no telling how good of a fisher he is, some photos have revealed he’s more than capable at reeling in some serious prize catches.

3 Aaron Donald - Ping-Pong

The defensive tackle for the Rams has been a mainstay for the team for nearly a decade. While Aaron Donald has no problem dealing with any threat on the field, it seems he has no problems with threats in another sport, Ping-Pong.

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He’s a self-professed Ping-Pong master, and any videos of him playing show exactly why he has that kind of confidence. The speed, power, and grace that he whacks the ball with show that athletic skills can be transferable to other sports, even if it’s just a hobby.

2 Vernon Davis - Art

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Everyone knows that Vernon Davis is someone who shouldn’t be messed with on the field. The man managed to win a Super Bowl, something that many players wish they could say. The thing is, football isn’t his only passion.

It seems that Vernon Davis is also in love with art. At one point he founded a company that dealt with fine arts and interior design, and just a few years later he opened his own art gallery. He’s been quieter in recent years, but it’s likely he’s finding plenty of ways to enjoy his art-loving hobby.

1 George Johnson - Dog Shows

Of just about any hobby one could think of for a football player to have, most people would probably struggle to come up with something like a dog show competitor. That is exactly what George Johnson has admitted he enjoys doing with his spare time.

Training dogs to be at their peak level of performance is as important to him as being at the peak performance level for football was. Now that he seems to be done with football, maybe he’ll take the full leap into full-time dog show competitions.