Football players wear a lot of gear. Each piece of the uniform is worn for a specific reason. You may have seen football players even wearing a towel while they played during a football game.
Have you ever wondered why some players have a towel tucked into their pants? I know I’ve often wondered why football players wear towels, and what it may be used for.
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So, why do football players wear towels?
Most of the time a football player is wearing a towel to keep their hands or the football dry during a football game.
I say most of the time because I’m certain some guys are wearing a towel tucked into their pants for no good reason.
They just want to look cool or flashy. It really can become an accessory like gloves or sleeves.
However, some football players wear towels for very practical reasons.
You will notice the quarterback and running backs often wear a football towel on rainy or muddy days.
They are simply trying to keep their hands dry so the ball does not slip while they are carrying it.
You may also see the center wear a towel for the QB to wipe off his hands before going under center.
That way the quarterback doesn’t have to carry around the extra football towel while running from defenders.
Where do football players wear towels?
It looks as though football players tuck the towel into their pants, however, there are specific football towels made for football players to wrap through their belts.
Some players may put their towels in front of them, however, some players like them to be on the side of their hip.
Here is a great video showing a closer look at how the football towel should attach to your belt and different places to wear them.
Another good place for a QB to put their football towel is on the back of the center during a football game.
That way they don’t need to carry the extra weight, and can wipe their hands off right before receiving the snap.
Centers wearing towels are probably the most common place to see them outside of QBs.
For running backs and receivers, they will need to carry their own towels!
You may also see an NFL player wearing something else attached to their hip that kind of looks like a pocket to a hooded sweatshirt.
These are hand warmers and are used for the same reason as a towel.
Once a player wipes the moisture off his hands, he’s going to want to keep them dry and warm before receiving the ball.
Here is a link to find hand warmers if you may be looking for one. They can be very useful for offensive players carrying the football.
Taking care of the football and preventing turnovers is a huge part of the game. Anything the offense can do to help them take care of the ball is key to winning the game.
The defense is working hard to punch or strip the ball out of the running backs hands.
If it’s cold outside, these players know the ball can come out easier and will try to rip it out of their hands.
The offense needs the moisture off their hands, which gives them the best opportunity to hold on the football.
Why do football players wear pink towels?
The month of October is breast cancer awareness month.
The NFL and youth sports recognize and bring awareness to breast cancer by wearing pink socks, gloves and towels.
Its a great way to bring awareness to a great cause.
Players and coaches wear pink to show their support.
Here is a link to find out more and donate.
Most of the time a player will either wear a black or a white towel.
Sometimes you may see a player wearing a camouflage towel around a military appreciation holiday.
What are alternatives to using towels to keep NFL Players hands dry?
Here are a couple of other options NFL players use besides towels to help keep their hands dry:
Sticky football gloves
Almost all wide receivers wear sticky football gloves to help protect their fingers from high-velocity passes as well as give them extra traction.
Back in the day wide receivers used to use a substance called “Sitckum” to provide extra layer of tackiness to their hands and fingers.
Stickem was quite popular during the 70s for wide receivers but was banned in 1981.
Here is a great article that breaks down some of the history.
Occasionally you may even see a quarterback using football gloves. Teddy Bridgewater and Kurt Warner are two of the most famous players to wear gloves at QB in recent history.
Grip Boost
Former NFL player Matt Furstenburg developed a substance called Grip Boost to help keep gloves tacky and it is approved for all levels of football. Grip Boost is a clear substance that is one of the few approved for players to use in games.
Why do football players put towels on their heads?
You may see football players with a towel draped over their heads on the sideline.
This is mainly to help keep them out of the elements.
If it’s hot outside and the sun is blaring, a cool towel draped over their head will help shield them from the sun and provide some shade.
If it’s cold, a warm towel may be used to keep their body warmed up as they wait to get back on the field.
You may also see a towel on their head if they are injured and don’t want to show their tears. Football is a game of guts, and most guys don’t want to show weakness.
They may just need a few seconds of privacy as they drain their eyes.
Final Word
Once again football players will wear towels for many reasons. It really is practical. If it’s raining outside, the ball carriers need to keep their hands warm and dry to avoid fumbles.
However, you will always get the player wearing a towel on the warmest day of the year, just because it looks good (or so they think).
NFL fans have also gotten in on the towel action with teams like the Steelers having fans wave towels throughout the game to distract the other team.
The Steelers and their bright yellow “terrible towel” are just one of the many recognizable fan towel-waving traditions throughout NFL and college football.
Wearing a towel can be a good way to help take care of the football. A dry ball is way easier to hold onto than a wet one.
Until next time,
Coach Scott
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