8 NFL Players Who Love The Outdoors

A bayou boy from Kiln, Mississippi, the most winning quarterback in NFL history grew up learning to shoot with his brothers in gator country.

“We had a single-shot .410, another single-shot 20-gauge, and a single-shot .22. We’d mix it up—it didn’t really matter who carried what. If we shot a squirrel, we’d bring it home and our dad would make us clean it and we’d eat it. Typical country boys.” – Favre, in an Outdoor Life story.

Arguably the greatest running back in the history of the game. While there were backs who were faster and shiftier, “Sweetness” far surpassed his competition in other categories: strength, preparation, mental toughness and a passion to compete.

He probably would have played football year-round if he could, but since the bodies of typical humans demand an off-season, he had to channel that energy elsewhere. So he took it to the Great Outdoors, camping, fishing and hunting – mostly with his trusty bow.

“Walter had the natural ability to shoot. We had him shooting a bow set at over one hundred pounds. He draws back like we would a sixty-five or seventy-pound bow.” – Hunting buddy (and hunting pro) Ralph Cianciarulo, from the book Walter Payton: Football’s Sweetest Superstar

Carson Wentz, the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, is an avid hunter! In fact, he was goose hunting when he got the call that he was being named the 2016 starter. He also gave his offensive linemen Beretta shotguns for Christmas.

Trent Cole, 2x Pro Bowl Defensive End, was instantly hooked on hunting after being introduced to the sport by his step dad. He now runs his own hunting production company and TV series!

“I learned a lot of stuff from the hunting aspect of it, like patience and discipline. That’s what’s made me successful. And as far as football, it’s made me a patient player. Wait for it. Just be patient. It’s going to come to you. Your time will come. And discipline, you’ve got to learn the game.”

Coming face-to-face with massive, ill-tempered beasts is a common workplace occurrence for the former Oakland Raiders and New York Giants defensive end, but standing two yards away from a 1,000-lb. water buffalo is another story all together. That’s exactly what Tuck encountered in an episode of Sportsman Channel’s Bowhunter TV last Fall featuring a hunt in Argentina. And what did the 2-time Pro Bowler do to the buffalo? Sacked him, of course.

On the field, he may be the most clutch placekicker in the history of the game. IN the field, the “Iceman” rarely misses his target, either. The South Dakota-born Vinatieri grew up in the outdoors, as many South Dakotans do – developing a love of hunting and fishing along the way.

“Start the boat! Start the boat!”

According to his dad, those were the first words ever uttered by Joe Thomas as he pitter-pattered down the dock and leaped into the family fishing boat. Very little has changed.

Even now, as a perennial Pro Bowl offensive lineman for the Browns, Joe Thomas is a sportsman at heart with his own TV show, Outdoors Ohio.

Heck, Joe even passed up his own NFL Draft Day in 2007 to go fishing with his pops (he ended up being selected #3 overall that day).

When Randy Moss wasn’t busy baiting cornerbacks, the former Viking was doing the same thing to the fish in Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes. The accomplished bass fisherman has long been a constant at tournaments and charity events throughout his playing career and, now, into retirement.