NFL players find comfort in slippers, slides and bare feet
ESPN reports that casual footwear has become part comfort move, part body-care habit inside NFL facilities.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
The footwear buzz inside NFL buildings is not only about cleats. According to ESPN's Michael DiRocco, plenty of players care just as much about what goes on their feet after the field work is done.
In meetings, cafeterias and locker rooms, ESPN reported, some players choose a softer route: slippers and slides. The reason can be comfort, routine or a belief that taking care of the feet helps the rest of the body hold up.
New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins goes further than most. ESPN reported that Hollins likes to be barefoot whenever he can, including at practice, because he believes it can strengthen his lower body, improve how his feet move and help him feel more connected to the ground.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is firmly in the casual-footwear camp. “Slippers and slides, baby!” Witherspoon told ESPN. He said the habit began in college, where he learned to think of the body as one linked system, from the feet through the shins and hamstrings.
Why the feet get special treatment
ESPN described the toll NFL life can take on players’ feet: they are stepped on, kicked, jammed into tight cleats and pounded through practices and games. That makes what players wear away from game action more than a throwaway choice.
The report noted that informal footwear has become part of the daily rhythm around teams. Players may be all business during practice, but the walk back to meetings or the locker room can bring out slides, slippers and other relaxed options.
The trend also sits next to a different approach from Hollins, whose preference for going without shoes stands out in a league where footwear is usually treated as gear, fashion and protection all at once.
ESPN also pointed to the playful side of the subject. A Minnesota Vikings post on X from Jan. 4, 2026, tagged Isaiah Rodgers and said he was “cookin up something special,” alongside an image shared by the team.
The takeaway from ESPN’s report is straightforward: NFL players may spend Sundays in tightly fitted cleats, but away from the field, the foot game gets looser. For some, it is about feeling good. For others, it is part of how they think about keeping the body ready.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.