20 Unexpected Facts Casual Fans May Not Know About NFL Players

Junior Seau, Hall of Fame NFL linebacker, killed himself by shooting himself in the chest as opposed to the head so that scientists could research his brain. The National Institute of Health later confirmed his depression symptoms were caused by Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

2. Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor would hire prostitutes and send them to his opponents' hotel rooms the night before a game to try to tire them out.

3. Jerry Rice (one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history) started playing football in his sophomore year of high school after his principal caught him skipping class. The principal noted how fast Rice sprinted away from him, which led him to recommend Rice to the football coach.

4. Terrell Owens is the only NFL player to score a touchdown against all 32 NFL teams (actually he has scored at least 2 touchdowns against each team).

5. Rob Gronkowski lives off of his endorsement money and hasn’t spent a dime of his NFL Contract.

NFL player Tyrann Mathieu filmed a PSA on the dangers of leaving a dog in a hot car. It was 90 degrees outside and Tyrann gave up after 8 minutes when the inside temperature reached 120 degrees.

7. Dallas Cowboys Receiver and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin once stabbed a teammate in the neck with scissors for not getting out of "his" chair.

8. Kurt Warner was cut from the NFL and got a job at a grocery store in Iowa. Four years later, at 27, Warner would lead the St. Louis Rams to their only Super Bowl Championship, setting several league records, as well as being the only player in history to win the NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP.

9. Tom Brady asked Bill Belichick for permission to visit Disney World after winning their first Super Bowl. "Of course you can go," Belichick said. "How many times do you win the Super Bowl?"

10. Joe Montana helped cement his nickname "Joe Cool" after calming his team down in Super Bowl XXIII by pointing out John Candy sitting in the stands.

In 2002, hall-of-fame running back Jim Brown was convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. Rather than go to court-ordered counseling, he served the maximum jail term that could be imposed.

12. Reggie Jackson could have played college football at Oklahoma if he would have stopped dating white girls.

13. After a tightening of athletic aid, famed NFL quarterback Johnny Unitas maintained his scholarship at the University of Louisville by taking square dancing instead.

14. In 1985, Ronnie Lott, a 49ers Cornerback, crushed his pinky finger in a game and in the off-season faced the choice of intricate finger surgery and possibly missed playing time, or amputation of the tip of his finger. He chose amputation and played on for six more years.

15. During NFL great Dan Marino's career, he passed for over 43 miles (61,361 yards) but only ran 87 yards.

Former NFL player and Hall-of-Famer Alan Page received his Juris Doctor while still playing for the Minnesota Vikings. In 1992, Page was elected to an open seat as an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, becoming the first African-American to serve on that court.

17. NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez once saved a San Diego Charger fan's life by performing the Heimlich Maneuver.

18. Charles Woodson, a former Heisman winner, and super bowl winner was born with severe clubfeet.

19. Former NFL player Eugene Robinson was arrested in a prostitution sting the night before his team the Atlanta Falcons were going to play in the Super Bowl. Earlier on the day of his arrest, he was awarded the Bart Starr Award which is given to the player who best exemplifies outstanding character.

20. 2007 #1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell had such a bad NFL career that some years later when another player requested the same number Russell used to wear, the coach told him "no."