The NFL Stars Who Had Restricted Vision
The NFL is a fast-paced, high-intensity league where athletic ability and quick decision-making are key to success. So, it may come as a surprise that some players have needed more than just their physical strength on the field—they’ve relied on prescription eyewear. Despite the sport’s demanding nature, these athletes have embraced eyewear solutions to tackle various vision problems, showing that even in the most competitive environments, clear sight is essential.
Recently, innovations like Oakley’s Prizm technology have emerged, helping players enhance clarity by highlighting certain colors during gameplay. Oakley has previously teamed up with the NFL on safety visors, but for a few stars, these visors wouldn’t have been enough—some players struggled to even read the jersey numbers of opponents!
Clear vision is critical in the NFL, where players must quickly analyze plays, read defenses, and execute precise movements. Standard prescription glasses aren’t suitable for the rough and fast-paced environment of football. While Oakley produces eyewear for other athletes like cyclists and climbers, traditional glasses simply don’t hold up in contact sports—they need a different approach.
Though many of the players featured here may have worn prescription glasses off the field, they relied on specialized solutions while playing. Let’s take a closer look at some of these players, starting with Rodrigo Blankenship.
Rodrigo Blankenship
Rodrigo Blankenship, famous for his signature thick-rimmed glasses and precise field goal kicking, made his NFL debut in 2020 with the Indianapolis Colts. Despite initial skepticism about his unique appearance, he quickly became a fan favorite. His glasses have become his trademark, distinguishing him as one of the league’s most recognizable players. However, Blankenship doesn’t just wear any pair of glasses—his are custom-designed for football, featuring high-impact-resistant lenses and a strap, similar in style to the popular Oakley Valve models.
After stints with the Colts and Cardinals, Blankenship recently signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has been outspoken about the importance of not being ashamed of wearing glasses and is one of the NFL’s most likely stars to raise awareness of goggles in the sport—unlike our next featured player.
Eddie Lacy
Eddie Lacy, a former running back for the Green Bay Packers, was known for his powerful running and sharp vision on the field. Despite his exceptional athleticism, Lacy struggled with poor eyesight. In 2013, he earned a spot in the Pro Bowl, but by 2014, he found himself sidelined due to eye irritation caused by wearing the same contact lenses for over 30 days.
At the time, Lacy was hesitant to switch to goggles, famously admitting he was “very blind” and refusing to wear them. However, later in his career, he was seen sporting a pair of goggles. In today’s NFL, goggles have become much more accepted, and it’s possible Lacy’s career might have been even more successful if he had embraced the eyewear earlier.
Tony Jefferson
Tony Jefferson, a safety who played for both the Arizona Cardinals and the Baltimore Ravens, was known for his tough defensive play. However, he struggled with poor eyesight, a challenge he initially didn’t address. In August 2022, he admitted, “I can’t even lie — I stopped wearing my glasses years ago, and that might’ve been the dumbest thing I’ve done. I can see so much clearer and further with my glasses. It’s wild.”
This realization helped extend his NFL career, leading to a season with the New York Giants before he retired in May 2023. Following his retirement, Jefferson transitioned into a scouting role for the Ravens, with whom he had two stints as a player.
Rich Ohrnberger
Ohrnberger, who played for the Patriots, Cardinals, and Chargers during his NFL career, was known for his playful, prankster persona, which later paved the way for a career as a satirist after football. However, in 2022, he got serious when he revealed that he too had struggled with eyesight issues and turned to contact lenses during his playing days.
“Not joking, I played 7 seasons through college and in the league blurry as hell… in 2012, I got glasses and contacts. Mind Blown. I could read safeties’ numbers for the first time instead of guessing. Total game changer.”
Source: https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/the-nfl-stars-who-had-restricted-vision/
