Whether you call it American football or just football – or maybe even gridiron – the sport is gaining quite the reputation for producing good golfers. It helps that the sport’s season is short, running from September until its culmination at the Super Bowl in late January or early February, so the stars have plenty of time to perfect other hobbies. Here we have picked out nine of the best NFL golfers…
With such a large off-season, what better way to spend it than on the links for American football’s biggest names?
9. Tom Brady
Handicap: 8
Arguably the greatest quarterback of all time is also a pretty neat golfer, six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady played his entire career with the New England Patriots and took up golf several years ago.
8. Aaron Rodgers
Handicap: 4
From one quarterback to another we land at Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers is a keen golfer and the 2010 Super Bowl winner has played in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am several times.
7. Peyton Manning
Handicap: 3
One of the best-known NFL players who spends time on the golf course is the former Colts and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. The two-time Super Bowl champion has often teed up alongside Tiger Woods as well as in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
6. Eli Manning
Handicap: 9
Staying with the Manning family, New York Giants quarterback Eli is also a two-time Super Bowl champion and a smart golfer. The younger of the pair announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2020 season and we can only assume this will lead to even more time on the links to work on getting his handicap closer to his brother’s.
5. Larry Fitzgerald
Handicap: 8
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is a regular competitor in both the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he won at Pebble alongside Kevin Streelman in 2019, and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
4. Matthew Stafford
Handicap: 7
Why are quarterbacks so good at golf? Detroit Lions star Matthew Stafford has apparently halved his handicap in recent years.
3. Drew Brees
Handicap: 3
New Orleans quarterback and 2009 Super Bowl champion Drew Brees is often seen teeing up with some guy called Jack Nicklaus…
2. Ben Roethlisberger
Handicap: 5
Ben Roethlisberger learned the basics of the game playing in his back garden as a child. The two-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ‘Big Ben’ told Barstool Sports that he believes Tony Romo is the best NFL golfers. Speaking of which…
1. Tony Romo
Handicap: +1
The first plus-handicapper in our list is Tony Romo. The former Dallas Cowboys star has played in several PGA Tour events. At the 2020 Safeway Open he opened with a 2-under 70 and Adam Scott described his ability to excel in golf as well as football as “bloody impressive”. Quite right, Scotty.
By Joe Hughes
This article originally appeared on NationalClubGolfer.com.
