It’s almost that time of year that a lot of people look forward to. Housewives become fantasy wide receiver stat junkies, jersey sales creep upward, and the dog days start turning into the occasional chilly night, teasing you into thinking fall has arrived. And even though preseason is really just time to experiment, we warm up our arguing muscles with discussions about whether it matters if your starting quarterback beat up on my third string. Clear your Sunday schedules football fans, it’s almost time for the 2012 NFL season. 
Part of what makes professional athletes, especially NFL players, so interesting to us is their larger-than-life personalities. Players are not judged by their on-field behavior alone; they are now constantly scrutinized in their everyday life. And that includes their fashion choices. What they wear becomes a source of criticism, praise, debate, and means to imitate.
Interestingly, hats have always played a part in the wardrobes of NFL players and coaches. The popular sports blog Bleacherreport.com compiled a list of the Fifteen Best Dressed Head Coaches in NFL History. It’s no surprise that several of these striking figures were known for the hats that adorned their X and O filled heads. Check out some of these great hat-wearing coaches that made the best-dressed list.
Former Packers coach Vince Lombardi, known for his grit and determination to succeed, is almost as well known for his ever-present dark fedora.
Tom Landry had a similar reputation in the league. Well respected for his coaching talent, he also carried himself like a gentleman at all times. Part of the way he built that persona was by always dressing in sharp clothes and donning a fedora.
So you want some hats like these great coaches but they just don’t make ‘em like that anymore, right? Wrong. Baileys of Hollywood has a long history of setting standards in the fashion and hat industry. Their new fall and winter collection has several quality fedoras that sustain the legacy of these coaches. And they can be found at hats.com. See below for some fedoras that look like they came right out of Lombardi and Landry’s collection:
Or some that marry traditional styling with some current-day flavor:
Maybe fo
rmer coach and commentator Bum Phillips is more your style. If you don’t know Bum Phillps or need a refresher on this always-entertaining fellow, he is absolutely worthy of a Google search. These hilarious quotes and this short video are a good place to start. His signature cowboy hats were an excellent symbol of his spirit, especially when he wore them during games.
Bailey doesn’t just make fedoras, they also have Bailey Western hats. Browse through these western hats featured on hats.com to replicate Bum’s style. For once, if someone says you look like a bum you can take it as a compliment!
The influence of these coaches can still be seen around the league today. Keep an eye out for a future blog post showcasing what hats players like to wear when they’re off the gridiron. In the meantime, start picking out your own favorites from Bailey of Hollywood’s fall and winter 2012 lines on hats.com!
