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Ever wondered which NFL-affiliated athlete has propagated the most on Planet Earth? You are not the only one. In this article, we will acknowledge the fathers who have written their name on more birth certificates than NFL contracts. This is not a critique. Fatherhood means different things to different people, and some people feel far more equipped to have more kids than others. This, however, is an article that could help you answer that one bonus trivia question at the bar next week.
Anthony Cromartie – 14 Kids
Some former NFL players plan on retirement being a relaxing endeavor; the full-time dad of 14 children, Anthony Cromartie, had no such expectations. We’ll ignore the time when he struggled to name all of his then-eight children in a 2010 episode of Hard Knocks and chalk it up to stage fright.
“The Cromarties” came out in 2017 and allowed America to see how much of a hands-on parent Anthony was to his last six children. In 2016, it was estimated that Anthony was paying over $300,000 a year in child support for his first eight children with seven different women. Cromartie is so fertile that he had multiple children after his vasectomy. It’s unclear but likely that the former NFL player did not attend the follow-up appointment to make sure the procedure worked. There are a few reasons why the vasectomy might not immediately work.
Anthony Cromartie may have the most kids out of any NFL player (so far), but he works hard to financially support all 14. He is doing his best to be a loving, present father, which was apparent in his 2017 show. Keep up the good work, Cromartie!
Current NFL Player Tyreek Hill – 8-12 Kids
Some say 8, 10, 12, and some say possibly even more kids. What we do know is that Tyreek Hill has a passel of children. There are a lot of guesses as to who all of the mothers of his children are and exactly how many kids there are. Hill is good at one thing: keeping at least some of his life out of the public eye, and we can’t get mad at that.
When talking about his unique fatherhood situation, he seemed to explain his prolific ways of being raised in the South. Take from that what you will. Every NFL player on this list was born in the South, so maybe he’s on to something. The hardest thing for the wide receiver? Being an active father to his children during football season. A lot of other football players and parents in other occupations can resonate with that experience.
Hill was also quoted as saying, “You see what it is, you see my boys running around here. It don’t matter how many kids I have, a lot of people won’t be able to say Tyreek don’t take care of his kids though.” We hear you, Hill.
Philip Rivers – 10 Kids
Rivers has a river of swimmers. He and his wife, Tiffany, have had 10 children throughout their 23-year marriage. In a video he did for the Chastity Project, he explained the concept of natural family planning and his religious commitment to having as many kids as the deity he worships wants. In other words, no contraceptives of any kind. Large families are common among people who are more fundamental in their religious beliefs. This is a part of the Quiverfull Movement. It’s unclear if the couple is done yet. Many women who subscribe to this belief have children well into their 40s.
While discussing fatherhood, Philip Rivers had this to say: “”I think it’s a challenge, and I’m by no means perfect at it, nor is anybody, but I think what I would always tell other dads is to try to be present. Just try to be there. I think from a dad standpoint, children want our time. Sometimes it might just be five minutes, and sometimes it can be a lot more, but I think they want our time and to be engaged with them and present.” Sound advice from Daddy Rivers.
One benefit for all of these NFL gentlemen is that if money is invested correctly, fiscally supporting many kids would be doable. Something most Americans don’t have the benefit of experiencing. NFL players can also only play for so long, so there tends to be room for large amounts of time dedicated to fatherhood post-retirement, like with Mr. Cromartie spending his days as a full-time dad. It’s not everyone’s calling, but these men have chosen this unique path.
