For decades, baseball has been called “America’s Game”. But over the past decade, the situation has surely changed. The National Football League has surpassed baseball as the national sport in the US, and the NFL is starting to conquer other countries, too, with games now regularly being played in Canada, Mexico, the UK and more. Add to that the increasing number of foreign athletes playing in the NFL, and the NFL is definitely on a growth track.

This weekend, the 56th Super Bowl is to be contested between the Cincinnati Bengals and the LA Rams, and accessories are on every football player’s mind. One of the perks of winning the Super Bowl is not only being able to call themselves the World Champions, but a diamond-studded precious metal champions’ ring is always part of the package. These rings, however, are pretty garish and hardly meant for everyday wear – in fact, most players with a ring keep them in the safe, breaking them out only for special occasions.

Since so many NFL players are watch lovers, it would make much more sense to be given Super Bowl watches instead of Super Bowl rings. Here is just a sampling of the high-profile players, both current and former, who are sporting watch collections to make us all envious.

It’s an over-used phrase, but you really can make the case for Mr Tom Brady as the Greatest of All Time. With an incredible seven Super Bowls to his name after 22 seasons, his recently announced retirement sees him bow out as one of the most celebrated players in history.

Brady is currently an IWC Schaffhausen ambassador, but before that he was sponsored by TAG Heuer. “Tom Terrific”, as he’s known, owns a number of watches, including the IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 150 Years Edition he is wearing here at the Met Gala in 2019. Released the year before as IWC celebrated its 150th anniversary, the dressy perpetual calendar is recognisable for the double moonphase indicator at 12 o’clock. Only 250 pieces were made, each with a rare lacquered dial.

After living a super healthy and almost Spartan-like existence while playing, it’s about time for Brady to let loose. Although in a recent appearance on the Let’s Go! podcast he was asked if he would ever play again. His reply? “Never say never.” So, maybe we haven’t seen the last of him after all.

This wide receiver has some of the best hands in the entire league (just look for his highlights on YouTube if you don't believe me). He’s also such a watch hound that he famously wore a Richard Mille in a game – one of only a few players to ever attempt such a thing and without doubt the only one who chose a watch truly capable of surviving the experience. Now playing for the Rams, he should be featured heavily in the Super Bowl against the Bengals, but it’s doubtful he’ll be wearing a timepiece this year.

The Richard Mille of choice was the RM 11-03, a perfect match for the orange and black kit of his then team, the Cleveland Browns. Produced as part of its partnership with McLaren Automotive, the RM 11-03 is a flyback chronograph cased in an eye-catching tiger-stripe of carbon TPT – a polymer of carbon fibre and quartz that’s notable for its light weight and durability.

Mr Peyton Manning won Super Bowls with the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos, and he is the face of the NFL today. Humble and approachable despite his accomplishments, Manning is a huge star both on and off the field. Known for his self-deprecating sense of humour, he loves his watches, including the Panerai Luminor Base 8 Days he is wearing here.

Peyton’s little brother, Mr Eli Manning was the ambassador for Citizen Watches for many years while he was playing. Eli won two Super Bowls for the New York Giants, but he never faced off with his super-competitive brother. Though they never met on the field, they do compete with their wrist hardware – Eli is pictured here wearing his Cartier Santos, a dressier alternative to his usual sturdy choices, be they Citizen, Hublot or something else.

Peyton and Eli Manning are considered almost royalty in the NFL, having had very long and very successful careers (and their father, Archie, was a famous NFL player for the Saints). This year, they hosted _Monday Night Football _and it was one of the real highlights of the season.

One-time league MVP (and Super Bowl runner up), Newton is famous for his expressive style, and timepieces are certainly a large part of his overall look. Newton had several NFL careers – one with the Carolina Panthers, then a second act with the New England Patriots, before returning to the Panthers.

The past five years have also seen him really build a reputation for big, bold looks, with colourful twists on classic tailoring and preppy style mixed with streetwear, and of course his trademark hats at the centre of the outfit. Pictured here at the 2018 Met Gala, the watch – a skeletonised five-day tourbillon from Hublot, stacked with bracelets – almost flies under the radar.

The Kansas City Chief’s signal-caller has appeared in the Super Bowl twice, winning once. One of the most electrifying players in the NFL, Mahomes is a throw-first QB who is unafraid to use his legs if the play breaks down. Mahomes has the league’s biggest contract (averaging $45m a year in 2022 and beyond), so he can afford to amass a significant timepiece collection. He plays with real flair, which is reflected in the Rolex Yacht-Master with diamond dial he sports here, courtside at the Dallas Mavericks against New Orleans Pelicans in 2020. Mahomes’ collection skews heavily towards Rolex, with various Daytonas, a “Batman” GMT and the rare sight of a Yacht-Master II all making an appearance.

Deebo, a nickname given to him by his father (after the bully character in the film Friday), has emerged as a true game-breaking star for the San Francisco 49ers. He entered this season as a wide receiver, but with his incredible speed, his coach stayed up late at night thinking up new ways of using him, including lining him up in the backfield as a running back, and even having him throw the ball. This season, he set an NFL record for the most rushing TDs (eight) by a wide receiver. Samuel missed the Super Bowl by one game when the 49ers were beaten by the Los Angeles Rams, but not for lack of his trying. Samuel’s taste in timepieces is equally flamboyant, as you can see by the fully diamond-set Audemars Piguet Royal Oak on his wrist.

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