Many NFL players consider themselves fans of pro wrestling and wide receivers Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu of the Atlanta Falcons are paying tribute to WWE legend Ric Flair with special shoes.
The Atlanta Falcons will be rocking throwback uniforms Sunday when they host the Buffalo Bills at their new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and wide receivers Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu are using the throwback Sunday to give a shout out to pro wrestling legend Ric Flair.
Both Jones and Sanu will be wearing custom Ric Flair cleats in Sunday’s game.
Flair, a huge star of the ring in the 1980s and 1990s who won 16 world championships, recently revealed a major health scare in an interview with People magazine.
The impromptu tributes from the Falcons receivers come a couple of days after Flair sent T-shirts to the Jacksonville Jaguars bearing his signature catchphrase:
The two sports are more closely linked than some fans realize. The list of former pro football players who at least dipped their toes into the world of pro wrestling is long, perhaps best highlighted by Ernie Ladd, a former defensive lineman for the San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs who earned induction into the AFL and WWE halls of fame.
Brock Lesnar and Bill Goldberg are other NFL players who went on to fame in the wrestling ring.
The link between the sports is actually a natural one, given the physical nature and athleticism necessary for both endeavors.
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And if Jones or Sanu find their way into the end zone on Sunday, they’ll have even more reason to let out with a serious “Woooooooooo!”