Sports and beards aren’t usually comfortable bedfellows. But something deep inside thousands of star players across a spectrum of sports compels them to go bearded until they win or lose a title every season. It’s the phenomenon they call the Playoff Beard, and it’s catching. 

It all started in the world of pro hockey back in the 1980s: a superstition that spread across the leagues, and even internationally. Players would let their chins sprout glorious fuzz for luck, and only shave it off when they reached the end of their title bids. 

Since then it’s famously been picked up by baseball and football, with Brett Keisel of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Brian Wilson of the San Francisco Giants being hugely influential in its progress. A great beard intimidates the opposition, and connects the fans to the goal of winning – many grow their own beards out in support. It’s even emerged in the squeaky-clean world of pro soccer too, with the LA Galaxy team wearing theirs in 2005 and 2010. 

The satisfaction of knowing that you can help your team by growing a beard like theirs is intense – and it gives you a good base to work with when it comes to trimming time, too.