NFL Stars Who Are Horse Racing Fans

Horse racing is one of the most versatile sports with the most diverse fanbase. Yes, even professional athletes from different sports often attend big events like the Kentucky Derby, which speaks a lot about the thrills and excitement of the sport.

After all, events like the Kentucky Derby attract more than 150,000 spectators and many of them are celebrities and sports athletes, including people from the NFL.

When you think about it, the NFL and horse racing don’t have much in common. Maybe the only surface on turf races, but that’s about it. And yet, many football athletes enjoy watching horse racing events, and some even became racehorse owners or transitioned to horse racing after their retirement from the NFL.

Big Names and Their Racing Stories

1. Tom Brady

Even off the field, Tom Brady finds ways to stay competitive. The legendary quarterback is a frequent guest at the Kentucky Derby, the crown jewel of horse racing. While he doesn’t own a stable (yet), his appearances in Churchill Downs' premium boxes underscore his appreciation for the sport .

Despite the fact that he isn’t involved professionally with horse racing, he is a big fan of the sport, and he used to take most of his teammates on a private jet to the Kentucky Derby, his treat!

He is probably there just to have fun and place some bets. If you also like horse racing betting, make sure to get your horse racing bonus before you place a bet, unless you have a lot of money to spare like Tom Brady.

2. Wes Welker

Brady’s former teammate Wes Welker took his love for horses to the next level. Welker co-owns Undrafted, a gelding that won the prestigious Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2015 and the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Undrafted’s racing career earned over $1.3 million, proving Welker’s investments are no fluke .

The name of this horse is quite funny, which shows the involvement of Wes Welker and his love for both sports. It’s kind of saying that even if you are undrafted, that doesn’t mean that you are untalented.

3. Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski, the charismatic tight end, bought a stake in a racehorse hilariously named after himself. "Gronkowski" the horse had a standout moment in the 2018 Belmont Stakes, finishing a remarkable second. Watching Gronk cheer wildly as the horse surged forward? Priceless .

4. Bill Parcells

Bill Parcells, the two-time Super Bowl-winning coach, is deeply immersed in horse racing. Operating under August Dawn Farm, Parcells’ horses, including Saratoga Snacks, have claimed significant victories. Parcells’ Saratoga box neighbors Giants executive Chris Mara, whose horse Justify won the Triple Crown in 2018 .

5. Jacob Tamme

Here we have another professional football player who also managed to achieve success in the world of horse racing. We are talking about a football player who was drafted fourth in the 2008 draft by the Indianapolis Colts and stayed there for three years after moving to the Denver Broncos.

But what’s interesting about Jacob is that he is a big horse racing fan to the point where he is professionally involved with sport. He got involved with the Hat Creek Racing team, and their biggest achievement was the Con Te Partiro who gave them a night to remember at the Royal Ascot in 2017 after winning the Sandringham Handicap with 20-1 odds.

And this is the trick with horse racing. If you get into horse racing and your horse wins, then you are trapped there forever!

Jacob continued with its involvement in horse racing, and they had some quite fast horses that achieved success, such as Chelsea Cloisters, Averly Jane, and Regal Smile.

6. Vince Wilfork

Vince is without a doubt one of the greatest defensive tackles in American Football history, and it is a name that is going to be remembered forever in the NFL since he was named Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams from 2007 to 2012 every single season!

After retiring from professional football in 2016, he decided to pursue his horse racing passion and can be regularly spotted at Lone Star. He also got into racehorse ownership, and the same year that he retired, managed to achieve great success with Great Minds, a horse that won the G3 Texas Mile.

It is also worth mentioning that he also has a connection to history after being seated next to the Zeyat family when their horse, American Pharoah, won the Kentucky Derby.

7. Sean Payton and Drew Brees

I don’t think that these two people need any introduction, especially if you are an NFL fan. Legendary players from the sport decided to team up with other celebrities like Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden and funded the Last Mango Racing Stable.

This might not be one of the most dominant racing stables, and they might not have achieved such success in the sport of kings, but it is definitely an interesting project that shows that NFL players also have a passion for horse racing.