8 Sharpest Dressers in the NFL

Not so long ago, the term "professional football player" only described men with gruff demeanors, broken fingers crookedly healed and approximately the same fashion sense as an oil-rig worker; nowadays, NFL stars have personal stylists and a knowledge of what "Nantucket red" looks like. Many of them wear bow ties—by choice.

When fashion merges with popular culture and celebrity status, persisting with a T-shirt-and-jeans sensibility no longer suffices. The NFL's mavens of style know that all too well. These hard-hitting, touchdown-scoring ballers don't just look good in the spandex kit supplied by the team. They also know how to sport an elegant three-piece suit or an $800 sweater, whether at a magazine shoot or a postgame press conference. 

With GQ declaring "Style Wars" among the most stylish players in the NFL, we round up the league's spiffiest dressers with some proof from social media to boot. While it's too difficult to rank them between one another without the benefit of waging a full-scale "style war," these players are a tailor's cut above the rest.

Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks

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You'll have to speak up, because Russell Wilson cannot hear you over the roar of the propeller on his pontoon plane. You get these kinds of perks for winning a Super Bowl:

"

In honor of the Seahawks vs. Packers opener, here is the @DangeRussWilson in GQ magazine. #FootballIsBack #NFLKickoff pic.twitter.com/3srgEzpq1f

— Men's Class (@MenFashiondaily) September 5, 2014"

The Seattle Seahawks signal-caller also recorded a passer rating over 100 in each of his first two seasons and made the Pro Bowl both years. Safe to say, things are going pretty well for Wilson, even though he's earning less than $1 million for this season and next, per Spotrac.

Now all that's left for him to do is sit back, let his defense go to work and practice looking good for the big payday contract awaiting him. Plus, he's keeping warm with that wooly, high-necked sweater. 

Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

An undrafted free agent from Paterson, New Jersey, Victor Cruz had to find a way to stand out. His college career at UMass did not vault him to the pros, but in an unforeseen turn of events, the 2011 NFL lockout actually precipitated his stunning rise.

With players banned from team contact during the labor strife, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning held off-site practice sessions with his receivers, and Cruz benefited handsomely. As NFL.com's Kimberly Jones wrote in September 2012:

"

Receivers, in particular, say Manning is patient, regularly offering tips to those learning the complicated offense. . .Victor Cruz deeply appreciated that Manning invited him to play catch during last year's lockout. At the time, Cruz wasn't yet Cruz; he didn't have an NFL reception to his name. 'That meant a lot to me and my progression,' said Cruz, who went on to grab 82 catches for a franchise-record 1,536 yards in 2011.

"

Cruz salsa-danced his way to big-play touchdowns against rival teams and vaulted himself onto the New York sports scene with sufficient clout to garner a coveted Chunky Soup commercial. 

Cruz also takes pride in his attire, and he shared some of that sartorial splendor with GQ:

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Victor Cruz suits up for #GQ pic.twitter.com/i9nAW30cMF

— Trending Report™ (@TrendingReport) November 27, 2013"

Nothing could be more baller than casually slinging what looks to be an expensive jacket over another expensive jacket. 

Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

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At one point in his career, Cam Newton's most significant fashion choice was the towel occasionally found draped over his head. It turns out that habit sought not to project a lack of confidence, but to emulate a hero of Newton's: Michael Jordan. 

Newton has refined his game and sought to become more of a team leader, a maturation that coincided with the Carolina Panthers winning a division title in 2013 behind a 12-4 record. Newton has also built a national profile with his sensational skill set and a pair of Pro Bowl nods. 

It makes perfect sense that Newton has also kept his profile relevant off the field, thanks to his stylish sensibilities:

"

Switching it up a little bit today with some mens fashion! Like Cam's style?#CamNewton #inspiration #five13studio #gq pic.twitter.com/a8XYOnibBa

— Five13 Studio (@Five13Studio) February 12, 2014"

If Cam could play football in that sweater and sunglasses, he would. 

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers

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Colin Kaepernick bared his tattoos for a 2013 GQ cover, and it turns out that ink is all about the Bible. He's a thoughtful, stylish young star eager to break out with a Super Bowl title after reaching at least the NFC Championship Game in three consecutive seasons. 

His frame seems like the blueprint for a muscular mannequin, and he looks eminently stylish whether wearing a suit, No. 7 for the San Francisco 49ers or just some casual wear while standing in front of a sneaker wall:

"

Thanks to our September cover star Colin @Kaepernick7 for coming by #GQHQ today! by gq pic.twitter.com/EkUPj1HzzJ

— Mauricio Villalón R. (@mauriciocapital) January 31, 2014"

Kaepernick has probably not read the steamy book, but he's sporting at least three shades of gray here. 

Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets

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As a second-year wide receiver, Eric Decker hauled in eight touchdowns. Then Peyton Manning arrived in Denver Broncos and Decker became the beneficiary of 24 touchdown catches over the next two seasons.

Now Decker is with the New York Jets, and while his new team's future looks much less certain than his old team's, he's at least got himself a gig as a No. 1 receiver.  

Decker also has a stupendous mustache, but facial hair does not make the man—clothes do, or so the saying goes. To that end, Decker and his wife, who was pregnant at the time, paired up for a surprisingly steamy photo shoot for GQ: 

"

#NFL: Denver Broncos Receiver Eric Decker And His Pregnant Wife Jessie James In GQ Magazine http://t.co/cTHsWGH9Bm pic.twitter.com/inAKanmjtu

— Mentality Mag (@MentalityMag) January 19, 2014"

Kudos to Jessie James for rocking the baby bump with such confidence and beauty, and kudos to Decker for rocking the football phone!

Earl Thomas, FS, Seattle Seahawks

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Earl Thomas thinks the Seattle Seahawks play like James Brown. No, not James Brown the CBS studio analyst—rather, the late singer known as the "Hardest Working Man in Show Business."

As Thomas phrased it, via ESPN's Terry Blount: "We're in sync and we're swarming the ball. We just have a different sound. It's funky and nasty; James Brown-type stuff. It's very unique."

As a Super Bowl champion and finalist for the 2013 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year, Thomas has license to say practically whatever he wants about the defense. Still, evoking the relentless, spastic energy of Brown's music seems fitting. And so does Thomas' choice to sport this daring, nearly clashing, slightly retro three-piece number:

"

In football & fashion @Earl_Thomas takes the game to a new level. His outfit from yesterday's win. #nflstopmodel pic.twitter.com/4LbBSvsxDI

— Jovita Ann (@jovaann11) November 11, 2013"

 Funky, nasty and unique? Check, check and check! 

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Larry Fitzgerald knows how to rock the red carpet. You have to when you're one of the best wideouts in the game:

"

Looking like he just stepped out of GQ Magazine, it's #AZCardinals wide receiver @LarryFitzgerald! #missusa pic.twitter.com/HhjfdyFnrd

— Planet Hollywood (@phvegas) June 16, 2013"

Marooned on the Arizona Cardinals, Fitzgerald has hauled in 846 receptions for 87 touchdowns during his first 10 seasons. His team has improved recently behind a burgeoning defensive unit that ranked first in the league against the run during 2013.

Fitzgerald's tenure with the Cards included a trip to Super Bowl XLIII that nearly ended victoriously, but that was one of only two seasons in which his Cardinals even reached the playoffs. They got squeezed out last season despite a 10-6 record. 

Fitzgerald's father, Larry Sr., who also works as a journalist in Minneapolis, took issue with his son's lack of targets in Arizona's season opener for 2014. That tweet sparked a minor kerfuffle, but the superb Cards receiver quelled the brief uproar with a tweet of his own that displayed his team-first attitude. He's impossible not to love, unless you're an opposing defender. 

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

When you're married to Gisele Bundchen, you have to come correct with your style, and Tom Brady always stays fashionable despite occasionally making odd hairstyle choices: 

"

Gisele and Tom Brady win at life. 😍 pic.twitter.com/w94aoFuhiU

— Pocahontas (@MawiaRod) September 7, 2014"

His bow tie could use a little work, but you can't begrudge him. OK, you can begrudge him. 

A sixth-round pick back in 2000, Brady has three Super Bowl rings, two Super Bowl MVPs, two AP NFL MVP awards, nine Pro Bowl appearances and the honor of being among People's sexiest men alive.

Sure, he once posed with a goat and growled at a dog. That's because Tom Terrific has been in such high demand for photo shoots since his first Super Bowl win more than a dozen years ago.