At first glance, professional sports and luxury watches may seem like they have very little in common. However, the truth is, they are a match made in heaven. Luxury watches are ubiquitous throughout the sports industry, including the NFL. In recent years, football stars have developed quite the weakness for eye-catching timepieces, and more than a handful have been seen showing off some very extravagant wristwear.
OBJ and Richard Mille
The subject gained traction in the media recently due to Odell Beckham Jr., or OBJ. The Cleveland Browns wide receiver made headlines after his first game with his new team. However, this had less to do with his performance and more to do with the fact that he was wearing a watch on the field. It wasn’t any old watch; it was a Richard Mille RM 11-03 McLaren. This high-tech timepiece features a case made of layered carbon fiber and orange quartz. A skeletonized, in-house caliber with a flyback chronograph, oversized date, and month display ticks away inside. The watch is so robust that it can withstand even the hardest tackles. However, all that durability comes at a price. According to the Chrono24 Watch Collection, this masterpiece is worth over $325,000.
Several weeks after this media storm, OBJ outdid himself. While he was warming up for a game against the New York Jets, the NFL star appeared to be wearing a Richard Mille RM 56-02 Sapphire Tourbillon – a super-rare timepiece worth over $2 million. When asked about his choice of accessory, the 28-year-old reportedly said he thought Daniel Wellington watches were probably better and less flashy. It was soon revealed that his watch was actually a fake and that the whole thing had been a big publicity stunt. Daniel Wellington announced OBJ as their new brand ambassador the very next day.
Curious about Richard Mille watches? Check out listings on Chrono24 here.
Tom Brady, Watch Enthusiast
Tom Brady, the NFL’s most successful quarterback, also has a penchant for luxury timepieces. Over the years, the six-time Super Bowl champion has donned classic watches like the Rolex Milgauss, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and AP Royal Oak Offshore. In 2015, Brady became a brand ambassador for TAG Heuer. It didn’t take much persuading, as the star already had a long history with the brand. After his very first Super Bowl win in 2002, Brady rewarded himself with his first luxury timepiece: a TAG Heuer Carrera. The traditional manufacturer even launched a limited-edition Heuer 01 Chronograph in honor of the football star.
Brady has been promoting IWC Schaffhausen since 2019. He is a big fan of their pilot’s watches in particular, including the Big Pilot, Top Gun, and Spitfire. However, he also has been seen wearing several versions of the iconic Portugieser. Brady’s wife, Gisele Bündchen, reportedly gifted him a Portugieser with a perpetual calendar for his 30th birthday.
Rolex: Beloved Among NFL Stars
OBJ and Brady aren’t the only football stars with a passion for luxury timepieces. Cam Newton, the New England Patriots’ quarterback, is often spotted with a Rolex on his wrist. He is particularly fond of the Yacht-Master II and Day-Date. He also wears a Hublot King Power on occasion.
Quarterbacks Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks and Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys both prefer more classic timepieces. Their watch of choice is a Rolex Datejust 41. Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan is also a fan of the Genevan manufacturer. He owns both a Sky-Dweller and Submariner “Kermit.” New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, on the other hand, wears a Panerai Luminor. Finally, Malik Jackson and Aaron Rodgers are fans of the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Calatrava, respectively.
Hublot: Sponsor of the Dallas Cowboys
Although luxury watches are extremely popular among NFL players, most brands have shown limited interest in becoming involved with the American football league. Sure, some major brands will occasionally sign token stars, such as Tom Brady and Eli Manning, as advertising partners, but there is no comparison to the links brands have forged with soccer, tennis, or Formula 1.
That being said, in 2014, Hublot broke the ice by signing a sponsorship deal with the Dallas Cowboys. The contract included naming rights to the VIP parking area and a Hublot kick-off countdown clock during home games. While the relationship only lasted a few years, Hublot took the opportunity to release special editions of the Classic Fusion, Classic Fusion Chronograph, and King Power in the Cowboys’ colors. Each version was limited to a run of 50, making them very rare and extremely popular among collectors and Dallas fans alike.
VIP NFL Fans and Their Watches
Of course, luxury timepieces aren’t just popular among NFL players – it’s also fun perusing wrists in the stands. Major events like the Super Bowl draw big names from a wide range of industries, many of whom are luxury watch enthusiasts.
For instance, Jay-Z took the cake at Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. The bona fide watch nerd wore a Patek Philippe 6102 Celestial Moon Age to the occasion.
Comedian Kevin Hart and Beatles legend Paul McCartney also donned Pateks at the same event. Hart wore a ref. 5270 with a chronograph and perpetual calendar, while McCartney sported a classic Nautilus 5711-A1. Rapper Meek Mill, on the other hand, showed off with a Richard Mille RM 055 “Bubba Watson,“ and DJ Khaled had on a yellow gold Rolex Sky-Dweller.
