Some current and former NFL stars who adore superheroes

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Professional American football players have to be physically and mentally strong in the same way many iconic superheroes do while they’re attempting to save the world. Whether it’s a Marvel favorite or a DC delight, there are numerous NFL stars from the past and present who openly admit their passion for protectors of the planet.

Whether they watch movies featuring some memorable superheroes, they’re always dressing up as numerous figures for Halloween parties, or they’ve shared their love for a famous meta-human in recent interviews, there are some big NFL players who adore the superhero genre. In the same way fans who bet on NFL Week 1 games and make their fantasy picks throughout the season also watch Thor and read Superman comics, some of their heroes whom they support during a typical season are also soaking up the same type of superhero-themed content.

With all that in mind, below we take a brief look at some current and former NFL stars who adore numerous superheroes and are extremely passionate about the genre as a whole.

Brian Burns 

When Brian Burns isn’t leading the charge for the New York Giants, the outside linebacker has been known to settle down on a comfortable chair and watch Spider-Man movies. In fact, even his nickname is Spider, a title he was given during his college football career. Not only has Burns bought into the title he was labelled during his younger playing career, but he’s now a diehard fan of all things Spider-Man having previously spoken about his excitement for movies like Spider-Man: Brand New Day. For Brian Burns, Peter Parker is the best of them all.

Eli Manning

Numerous people grew up watching some seriously iconic Marvel productions, and Eli Manning is no different. The New York Giants legend is a proud superhero geek, having watched a variety of memorable Marvel movies during both his childhood and his more senior years. A former player who managed to get his hands on the Super Bowl prize, Manning’s personal favorite is Wolverine, although the now-45-year-old is also partial to other productions in the space. Overall, though, Eli Manning is a staunch supporter of the superhero category.

Chris Hubbard

Having played for huge organizations in the NFL like the Giants and the Lions, Chris Hubbard has had an illustrious career in the sport of American football. However, when times are tough and a difficult run of results occurs, Hubbard has spoken about the way in which Batman is a source of motivation. With Batman never giving up and relying on his intelligence to overcome any obstacles, Chris Hubbard aims to replicate the mentality of his favorite superhero.

Brian Dawkins

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At the age of 52, Brian Dawkins’ playing days are firmly behind him, but the former Philadelphia Eagles star is probably enjoying retirement given the array of comic book heroes he can explore. After he was given the nickname “Weapon X” after Marvel’s Wolverine, Dawkins was said to explore the genre in more detail, eventually becoming a fan of certain parts of it and even collaborating with Marvel Comics. It’s all quite fitting given his aggressive playing style, something Wolverine himself would have been proud of.

Rodney Anderson

Although Rodney Anderson’s career was cut short after tearing his ACL in 2019, the former Cincinnati Bengals and Oklahoma Sooners running back has remained strong just like his beloved superheroes do. Anderson is a known collector of comic books, with some of his favorites including Thor and Silver Surfer. Being from a family of comic book fanatics, Anderson will probably always be passionate about a selection of iconic characters.