Super Bowl LI is just around the corner, marking the 50th anniversary of the very first Super Bowl and will see the New England Patriots face off against the Atlanta Falcons to decide the league champion for the 2016 season.
That got us thinking. See, here in the UK it’s usually soccer players that are associated with owning (and occasionally crashing) expensive and flashy cars, but what sort of cars to American football stars own?
Below, we take a look at some of the best current NFL players and their enviable list of cars.
Tom Brady – Audi R8
Quarterback for the New England Patriots, veteran Tom Brady remains one of the best quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen, and thanks to his considerable talent has built up an estimated net worth of $120 million.
With a fortune like that comes an enviable car collection, and Brady has owned a range of expensive cars in his time that includes a Rolls Royce Ghost. By far his favourite cars seems to be Audis, as he’s owned several including an A6, an RS 7 and a bright red R8 supercar.
Julio Jones – Ferrari 458 Spider
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Quintorris Lopez ‘Julio’ Jones has played with the team since 2011, and is estimated to have a net worth of around $15 million after signing a five-year contract extension with the Falcons in 2015.
Although he doesn’t seem to have owned quite as long a list of cars as some other NFL players, he has been known to have owned a white Ferrari 458 Spider, dressed up with red decals and red accents on the wheels as a tip of the hat to the Falcons’ team colours.
Malcom Butler – Chevrolet Colorado
Back in 2015, Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler turned a certain Super Bowl defeat into a stunning victory for his team with a stunning interception on the one-yard line with only 20 seconds left in the game.
To reward him for his hard work, Chevrolet decided to give Butler a brand-new Colorado truck, which was presented to him by Tom Brady. Not the most prestigious or expensive car on this list, but definitely one well earned.
Larry Fitzgerald - 1968 Dodge Charger
He won’t be playing in the Super Bowl this year, but Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is still a winner in our eyes, not least due to his taste in cars.
Fitzgerald has a Ranger Rover and Mercedes SL 550, but it’s his interest in American muscle cars we like most: pride of place in his car collection is an original 1968 Shelby Mustang, along with an original Dodge Charger from the same year.
Rob Gronkowski - Mercedes-AMG S63
A legend in his own right, the indestructible Rob ‘Gronk’ Gronkowski has been a key part of the Pats’ game in the last seven seasons, and so it’ll come as no surprise to many that the team has made it to yet another Super Bowl.
Football’s renaissance man, Gronkowski is known as much for his larger-than-life personality and antics as much as his ability to throw a pigskin. He also happens to be the owner of some sweet four-wheeled machinery, including a Nissan GT-R and a Mercedes-AMG S63.
Devin Hester – Custom Chevrolet Caprice
And finally, well, there’s always got to be one hasn’t there? Seahawks wide receiver Devin Hester seriously bucks the trend for flash supercars with this donked out Chevy Caprice.
For those not in the know, donk culture revolves around taking a classic American car, respraying it wild colours and then fitting it with the largest wheels you can afford. Which, for a guy like Hester who has an estimated net worth of $3 million, are very big indeed.
