by When NFL stars reach fame, money follows. Big companies want these athletes to sell their products because fans trust them.
Most endorsement deals make perfect sense – sports drinks, cars, or clothes. But sometimes, these deals get really strange.
The weirdest endorsement deals in nfl history show us that not every partnership works well.
Some players end up promoting products that seem completely wrong for them. Others create ads so bizarre that people still talk about them years later.
These strange partnerships happen for different reasons. Sometimes players need money and take any deal offered.
Other times, companies think a famous face will help sell anything. The results can be funny, embarrassing, or just plain weird.
From tough linebackers selling soft blankets to quarterbacks promoting windows while dressed as the sun, these deals prove that fame doesn’t always mean good judgment. Some of these ads became legendary for all the wrong reasons.
Weirdest Endorsement Deals In NFL History
In this guide, we’ll explore the most unusual endorsement deals NFL players have made.
You’ll learn about deals that shocked fans and made people question what these athletes were thinking.
Get ready to discover some truly surprising partnerships that show the strange side of sports marketing.
Top 10 Weirdest Endorsement Deals In NFL History
Professional football players often make millions from endorsements, but not all deals are created equal. Some partnerships between NFL stars and brands have resulted in truly bizarre advertising campaigns that left fans scratching their heads.
Thanks to Winners Ground team to share below list of Weirdest Endorsement Deals Taken by NFL Players.
Ryan Kerrigan: Thompson Creek Windows
Ryan Kerrigan spent almost ten years playing defense for Washington. He was popular with fans and got several endorsement deals during his career. But his strangest partnership was with Thompson Creek Windows.
The ads showed Kerrigan doing something completely unexpected for a tough NFL player. He dressed up in a giant, bright yellow sun costume. The idea was to scare customers into buying new windows for summer.
Key Details:
- Kerrigan wore a ridiculous sun outfit
- He did silly dancing in the commercials
- The ads tried to create fear about summer heat
- No one knew if Kerrigan actually used these windows
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Player Position | Defensive End |
| Team | Washington Commanders |
| Product | Windows and Home Improvement |
| Costume | Giant Yellow Sun |
| Campaign Theme | Summer Heat Protection |
The commercials were meant to be fun, but seeing a serious NFL defender dancing around in a sun costume felt wrong to many fans. The campaign raised questions about whether athletes should promote products they might not even use themselves.
Carson Palmer: John Morell’s Hot Dogs
Carson Palmer had a decent NFL career with several Pro Bowl appearances. He played for teams like the Bengals and Cardinals. But his endorsement choices weren’t always smart.
Palmer starred in a commercial for John Morell’s Hot Dogs that became famous for all the wrong reasons. In the ad, he shows up at a family picnic to “save the day” with these specific hot dogs.
What Made It Weird:
- Palmer talked about “sausages and wieners” in awkward ways
- The dialogue had unintended funny meanings
- His acting was worse than his worst games
- The whole concept seemed forced
The commercial tried to make Palmer look like a hero for bringing the right hot dogs to a barbecue. But his delivery of lines about meat products created unintentional comedy. Fans remembered this ad more for being embarrassing than effective.
Palmer’s performance as a pitchman was arguably worse than any of his on-field struggles. The ad showed that being good at football doesn’t automatically make someone good at selling products.
DeMarcus Ware, Clay Matthews, Wes Welker: Depends
Three NFL stars – DeMarcus Ware, Clay Matthews, and Wes Welker – all joined forces for one of the strangest endorsement deals ever. They promoted Depends, a brand of adult diapers.
This partnership was supposedly for charity, which made it slightly better. But seeing three active NFL players in their prime promoting adult diapers was still very odd.
Campaign Elements:
- All three players appeared in ads together
- Fans could vote on which player should model the diapers
- The promotion was tied to charitable giving
- The concept still felt completely wrong
| Player | Position | Team at Time |
|---|---|---|
| DeMarcus Ware | Linebacker | Denver Broncos |
| Clay Matthews | Linebacker | Green Bay Packers |
| Wes Welker | Wide Receiver | Denver Broncos |
Even though the campaign supported a good cause, fans couldn’t get past the bizarre image of tough football players promoting products for bathroom issues. The charity aspect helped, but it was still one of the most unusual partnerships in sports history.
Jonathan Ogden: Gebco
Jonathan Ogden was the first Baltimore Ravens player to make the Hall of Fame. He was known for excellent play and fun touchdown dances. Local Baltimore businesses wanted him to endorse their products.
One of these partnerships was with Gebco, a local insurance company. The resulting commercials were low-budget and strange.
Commercial Highlights:
- Ogden would somehow destroy cars just by standing near them
- He did goofy dancing with women in the ads
- The production quality looked very cheap
- The connection between Ogden and insurance made no sense
The ads tried to show that Ogden was so big and strong that he could accidentally damage cars, proving people needed insurance. But the logic was terrible, and the dancing scenes were embarrassing.
These commercials definitely didn’t make it into Ogden’s Hall of Fame highlight reel. They showed that local endorsement deals don’t always have the same quality standards as national campaigns.
Jake Delhomme And Steve Smith: Bojangles
Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith were teammates on the Carolina Panthers when they made a commercial for Bojangles, a chicken restaurant chain. The product itself wasn’t weird, but the ad was completely insane.
The commercial was based on “The Dukes of Hazzard” TV show. Delhomme and Smith raced around in a car that looked like the General Lee, but with a giant chicken on top.
Ad Campaign Details:
- Car chases with police
- Giant chicken mascot on the roof
- Stunts and crazy driving
- Dukes of Hazzard theme music
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Theme | Dukes of Hazzard Parody |
| Vehicle | Modified General Lee |
| Special Feature | Giant Chicken on Roof |
| Action | Car Chase Scenes |
The ad was so over-the-top that it became memorable, but not necessarily in a good way. It had nothing to do with selling chicken, and the connection between football players and Southern TV shows was weak at best.
At least both players probably got free meals from the deal, which might have been worth the embarrassment of being in such a ridiculous commercial.
Tom Brady: UGG
Tom Brady endorsing UGG boots might be the most surprising partnership on this list. UGG boots are mainly marketed to women, though they do make men’s styles too. Seeing the greatest quarterback of all time promoting these fuzzy boots was shocking.
Brady has defended this endorsement by saying he was a fan of UGG boots long before the deal. He claims they’re comfortable and he genuinely likes wearing them.
Why It’s Strange:
- UGGs are seen as primarily women’s footwear
- Brady could endorse almost any luxury brand
- The boots don’t match his tough football image
- He claims to own more UGGs than dress shoes
Brady’s UGG partnership has lasted for years, suggesting it’s been successful. But many fans still find it odd to see someone who projects such masculinity on the field promoting boots that most people associate with teenage girls and young women.
The endorsement works because Brady seems genuine about liking the product. Still, it’s definitely one of the more unexpected partnerships in sports marketing.
Ray Lewis: Snuggie
Ray Lewis was one of the most intense players in NFL history. He won two Super Bowls with the Baltimore Ravens and was known for his fierce playing style and emotional speeches.
So it was shocking when Lewis decided to add Snuggie blankets to his clothing line. Snuggies are those blanket-sweatshirt combinations that became popular through late-night TV commercials.
Product Details:
- Part of Lewis’s RL52 Style clothing line
- Blanket and sweatshirt combination
- Marketed as adult clothing
- Seemed too childish for Lewis’s image
The idea of Ray Lewis, one of the most intimidating players ever, promoting what looked like children’s pajamas was bizarre. The Snuggie already had a reputation as a silly product, and Lewis’s endorsement didn’t help either his image or the product’s credibility.
While Lewis was technically promoting his own brand, the decision to include Snuggies in a line of designer sweatshirts and jeans was questionable. It showed that even smart business decisions can sometimes go wrong.
Mike Ditka, Jim McMahon, William Perry: Silestone
The 1985 Chicago Bears were legendary. They went 15-1 in the regular season and crushed opponents in the Super Bowl. Three key members of that team – Mike Ditka, Jim McMahon, and William Perry – reunited years later for a very strange commercial.
They promoted Diana Pearl Silestone, which makes upscale bathroom counters and bathtubs. The ad had each man saying “I am Diana Pearl” in serious tones.
Commercial Elements:
- All three Bears legends appeared
- Each declared “I am Diana Pearl”
- Promoted luxury bathroom fixtures
- Ended with Dennis Rodman in a bathtub
| Player | Role on Team | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Ditka | Head Coach | Tough Leadership |
| Jim McMahon | Quarterback | Rebellious Attitude |
| William Perry | Defensive Tackle | “The Refrigerator” Nickname |
The weirdest part was the ending, where former NBA star Dennis Rodman appeared in a bathtub, also claiming to be Diana Pearl. The connection between football heroes and bathroom products made no sense.
This commercial was so strange that it made the famous “Super Bowl Shuffle” music video look normal by comparison. It proved that reunion projects don’t always work out well.
Jimmy Johnson: Extenze
Jimmy Johnson coached the Dallas Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl wins in the 1990s. After coaching, he became a popular analyst on Fox NFL Sunday. His endorsement deals were usually related to sports or coaching.
But Johnson shocked everyone when he appeared in commercials for Extenze, a male enhancement supplement. The ads were filmed on the sidelines during actual games.
Campaign Problems:
- Product was for personal male issues
- Filmed during live NFL games
- Johnson’s co-workers made fun of him
- The connection to football made no sense
Johnson’s Fox NFL Sunday co-hosts constantly joked about his Extenze commercials during broadcasts. The awkwardness was obvious every time they brought it up during shows.
The endorsement seemed like a poor choice for someone who was trying to maintain credibility as a football analyst. It became a source of ongoing embarrassment and showed that some deals aren’t worth the money.
Joe Namath: Beautymist Pantyhose
Joe Namath’s pantyhose commercial from the 1970s might be the most shocking endorsement deal in NFL history. Namath was a Super Bowl champion and one of the biggest stars in football when he made this ad.
The commercial showed a pair of legs in pantyhose. The camera moved up to reveal it was Namath wearing them. He said, “If Beautymist can make my legs look this good, imagine what they can do for yours.”
Why It Was Revolutionary:
- First major male athlete to wear women’s clothing in an ad
- Created huge controversy in the 1970s
- Challenged traditional gender roles
- Namath’s legs actually looked good in the pantyhose
The ad was scandalous for its time because men simply didn’t appear in women’s clothing in commercials. It generated enormous publicity, both positive and negative.
Looking back, Namath was ahead of his time in challenging gender stereotypes in advertising. But in the 1970s, seeing a tough football quarterback in pantyhose was absolutely shocking to most viewers.
Authority Resources for Sports Marketing
For readers interested in learning more about sports endorsements and marketing, here are some trusted sources:
- Sports Business Daily (sportsbusinessdaily.com) – Industry news and analysis
- AdAge Sports Marketing (adage.com) – Advertising industry insights
FAQs:
- Q: Why do NFL players make strange endorsement deals?
A: Players sometimes need money and accept any deal offered. Other times, they don’t realize how the ads will look until it’s too late. Some deals also sound better in theory than they work in practice.
- Q: Do weird endorsement deals hurt players’ reputations?
A: Usually, fans just laugh at strange ads and forget about them quickly. Most weird endorsements become funny stories rather than serious reputation damage. Players’ on-field performance matters more than commercial choices.
- Q: Which weird endorsement deal was most successful?
A: Tom Brady’s UGG partnership has been the most successful, lasting many years and helping both Brady and the brand. The authenticity of Brady’s interest in the product helped overcome the initial strangeness.
- Q: Are athletes forced to appear in commercials they don’t like?
A: No, athletes choose their endorsement deals. However, they might not see the final commercial until after filming. Some deals also include contractual obligations that require multiple commercials.
- Q: Do companies benefit from weird endorsement deals?
A: Sometimes yes, because strange ads get attention and people remember them. But the attention isn’t always positive, and bizarre campaigns can sometimes hurt a brand’s image.
- Q: What makes an endorsement deal successful?
A: The best deals match the athlete’s personality with a suitable product. Authenticity is key – fans can tell when someone genuinely uses and likes a product versus just getting paid to promote it.
Conclusion:
The weirdest endorsement deals in nfl history show us that fame and money don’t always lead to smart decisions.
From Ray Lewis promoting blanket-sweatshirts to Joe Namath wearing pantyhose, these partnerships created unforgettable moments in sports marketing.
Some of these deals worked despite being strange. Tom Brady’s UGG partnership proved that authentic endorsements can overcome initial skepticism.
Other deals, like Jimmy Johnson’s male enhancement ads, became sources of ongoing embarrassment.
These bizarre partnerships teach us important lessons about sports marketing. Athletes should choose endorsements carefully, thinking about how deals will affect their image long-term.
Companies should also consider whether a famous face actually fits their product.
The most successful weird endorsements happen when athletes genuinely use and enjoy the products they’re promoting.
When partnerships feel forced or fake, fans notice immediately.
Modern NFL players can learn from these examples. While endorsement money is tempting, protecting your reputation is more valuable than any single deal.
The internet means embarrassing commercials live forever, so players must think carefully before signing contracts.
Looking back, many of these weirdest endorsement deals in nfl history are now entertaining memories rather than serious career damage.
They remind us that everyone makes questionable choices sometimes, even professional athletes. The key is learning from mistakes and making better decisions in the future.
These strange partnerships will always be part of NFL history, showing the funny side of sports marketing and proving that even the toughest football players can end up in ridiculous situations when money is involved.
