Do Football Players Wear Jocks? - Four Verts Football (2024)

Football is one of the most physical sports on earth yet the vast majority of professional football players do not wear jocks or cups when they play. Some youth leagues will encourage players to wear cups but for the most part football players do not wear them.

This means that during NFL games football players will only have underwear on under their football pants. This leaves the potential for football players to take a direct hit to their vulnerable area at any point during the game.

This begs the question why don’t football players wear jocks? With all the hits football players take throughout the course of a football game one would think that a jock would be part of the mandatory equipment in football.

If you are enjoying this article on football players wearing jocks you may want to learn whether or not football players are allowed to wear glasses.

Why Don’t Football Players Wear Jocks?

Now that you know football players do not wear cups in football you may be wondering what their reasoning is behind this decision.

Below we are going to break down a few of the major reasons that jocks tend not to be worn by NFL players.

Interfering With Their Stride

One of the main reasons that NFL players do not wear cups in football is because it interferes with their ability to move. Though cups are relatively small pieces of equipment they sit in an area that can feel quite uncomfortable.

Having this piece of plastic between your legs makes it difficult to maintain your usual stride. New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora stated “I know it’s risky but I felt like I couldn’t move”

This isn’t uncommon for NFL players to sacrifice safety for performance. For years we have seen almost all football equipment shrink in order to allow for more movement from the players.

In a league this competitive a simple disadvantage like wearing a jock is not a performance risk most players are willing to take.

Doing More Harm Than Good

Another reason that football players do not wear cups is that it can actually result in more pain than not wearing one.

When a jock is in the right position it is going to cover your entire vulnerable area. But if the cup were to shift it can leave itself halfway covering this area.

If a player is hit around the waist there likely going to be some pressure on the cup itself. If the cup is not properly centered the hard plastic meant to protect is actually going to crush you.

With how much football players move around it is quite easy for the jock to get out of place.

Eli manning explained this point of view by stating “You know, it’s supposed to be centered, obviously. So, if it goes to the side and then you get hit and it presses into. … “

You Are Rarely Hit In This Area

Though the area where the cup goes is right in the center of the body this area is rarely contacted when tackled in football. A good portion of tackles are going to target the upper body of the player which of course leaves the lower half safe.

Lower hits tend to target a player’s hips or legs when looking to bring him down. The only real-time when the cup area is exposed is when hurdling another player.

If you take some time to watch football tackles you will find that very few tackles present a chance of injury for players that do not wear cups.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our guide breaking down whether or not football players wear jocks. If you want to learn more about football you check out our guide to why football players tape their fingers.

If you want to learn more about football terminology see our guide to players wearing neck rolls and why players wear knee pads.

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Do Football Players Wear Jocks? - Four Verts Football (2024)

FAQs

Do football players actually wear jockstraps? ›

Jockstraps are a piece of equipment commonly used as protection in the game of football. While this item is not always required, they are worn by many football players. Football jockstraps come in a few different variations depending on personal preference.

Do football players wear jock cups? ›

A cup is not required as an item of equipment in football. It's optional, just like rib guards or knee stockings. Every player is solely responsible for determining whether or not they require a cup; the referee will not check whether or not a player is wearing one before a match.

Do athletes actually wear jockstraps? ›

Mens jockstraps are a requirement in every high-impact sport league, including football, baseball, hockey, and soccer.

Why don't football players wear jock straps? ›

In this sport, you really can do some damage down there. Cleats, helmets, knees flying around everywhere. We're talking about some real discomfort in the groin area. Most of the NFL players don't wear cups because of restrictive feeling that impedes movement while trying to make lightning-fast cuts and explosive moves.

Do football players wear jockstraps and cups? ›

NFL players typically don't wear cups to protect their private areas, despite the fact that they play one of the most violent sports on Earth.

Do jockstraps feel good? ›

They maximize leg movement, and their lift and flexibility also reduce groin strains and keep genital slip-outs from turning into painful injuries. If you frequently experience aches in the groin area when you exercise, a plush, form-fitting jockstrap can also provide the relief you need.

Do most pro football players wear cups? ›

players protect their home field. Strange as it might seem, however, N.F.L. players do not protect — in any way, apparently — perhaps their most sensitive possession.

Do guys wear jockstraps anymore? ›

Do guys wear jocks anymore? Yes, guys still wear Jockstraps today. Despite the rise of alternative underwear styles, jockstraps have remained a popular choice for many men, particularly athletes and members of the gay community.

Should my son wear a cup for football? ›

A: It is very important for boys to wear an athletic cup to protect their groin area from blunt trauma injuries when playing sports. Any fast-moving kick, ball or helmet that hits a boy in the groin area can cause serious damage, including severe bruising, internal bleeding, testicular fracture or rupture.

What sports still use jockstraps? ›

This is used to protect the genitals against impact from the ball. Many sports require the use of an athletic cup. These include cricket, fencing, martial arts, boxing, lacrosse, hockey, baseball, paintball, football and many others.

Why do jockstraps have no back? ›

Sport – The lack of material at the back helps to keep the wearer cooler and dry. Because it allows sweat to evaporate more easily. Jocks are therefore good options as ventilating underwear. The lack of side material also aids leg movement.

Which is better jockstrap or compression shorts? ›

Compression garments are a step beyond wearing a traditional jockstrap and can be used in conjunction for the ultimate combination of support and comfort. The jockstrap offers stability while the compression garments wick away sweat to prevent irritation.

What do men wear instead of a jock strap? ›

There is a solution that does everything a jockstrap does -- even better than the jockstrap -- with increased levels of comfort. The solution is Underwear For Men. Our men's underwear products were designed for the athlete looking for the right briefs or boxer briefs to suit during every type of exercise routine.

What do American football players wear under their pants? ›

American Footballers wear either a compression underwear such as UnderArmour / Nike Dry Fit or they wear a jock strap. There was a long trend where guys stopped wearing jocks, but that trend is reversing based on all the strap lines visible through uniforms in a very wet play.

What do football players keep in their fanny packs? ›

Football players, mostly quarterbacks, and wide receivers, can be seen wearing this thick piece of material around their waist. These fanny packs are actually called hand warmers. Inside the fanny packs are small individual hand warmers that keep the player's hands warm.

How do football players protect their groin? ›

In the same way, all boy athletes need to wear something to protect the groin area when they start playing sports. If your son plays a contact sport – like football, soccer, baseball, basketball or hockey – he should wear a cup made from a hard plastic or metal as soon as he is big enough to fit in one.

What do NFL players wear under pants? ›

What do American football players wear under their pants?
  • American football players wear a type of underwear called athletic underwear. ...
  • Athletic underwear consists of two layers: an inner layer made of cotton or spandex, and an outer layer made of synthetic materials such as polyester or nylon.

Why do male football players wear bras? ›

The so called GPS bras are common in the big football clubs. They're used for the training or test matches. These bras record the movements on the pitch and the physical data. Like this it's easier to analize: how fast is the player, where is he moving to, what is his heart rate like etc.

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