Yes, NFL players do wear contact lenses. Von Miller has worn them during games, while Justin Herbert and Geno Smith have discussed trying tinted contacts at training camp to make bright conditions easier on their eyes. Some players need vision correction; others use tinted lenses to help manage sunlight and glare.1, 2, 3
A helmet, shoulder pads, and cleats are easy to spot. The contact lenses doing their job underneath all that equipment usually get less attention. Occasionally, though, a missing lens or a quarterback with suddenly red eyes brings them into the spotlight.
Which NFL players have worn contact lenses?
From modern quarterbacks to a running back who played before the Super Bowl existed, these players have some memorable contact lens stories.
Von Miller, a missing contact meant a trip to the sideline
For Von Miller, contacts have been part of the practical business of seeing clearly on the field.
In October 2014, the Denver Broncos reported that Miller had missed part of a game after losing a contact lens. He went through a precautionary concussion evaluation and needed help inserting a replacement lens to restore his vision.1
The same report described how much Miller relied on his glasses away from football, too. His experience helped explain the personal motivation behind Von’s Vision, his foundation supporting eye care and eyewear for children from low-income families.1It’s a relatable problem on a much bigger stage that even an NFL player can have his day interrupted by one tiny missing lens.
Justin Herbert is the quarterback with red eyes
Justin Herbert’s contact lenses were much harder to miss.
At Chargers training camp in July 2025, the quarterback wore red-tinted contacts that changed the appearance of his normally blue eyes. According to the team, the lenses had UV protection, and Herbert said they helped him see in bright surroundings.2
“I didn’t have to squint nearly as much,” he explained.
He had previously tried a tinted helmet visor but disliked having to clean it so frequently. The contacts gave him another option to try. His teammates noticed the new look when he stepped into the huddle.2
Herbert was still awaiting league approval for game use at that point.
Geno Smith: Red contacts, a yellow-tinted view
Geno Smith added another chapter to the story at Jets training camp in August 2026.
The Jets reported that Smith was wearing red-tinted contacts to reduce glare from the sun. He said eye specialists had suggested them and that he liked the results. The view through them had a yellow tint, even though the lenses looked red to everyone else.3 Smith also recalled seeing former teammate Santonio Holmes wear similar lenses back in 2013. For Jets fans, the look had a little history behind it.
Santonio Holmes, tinted contacts before the recent headlines
Holmes was using tinted game lenses more than a decade before Herbert’s red eyes became a training camp talking point.
A September 2013 article on the Jets’ website noted that the wide receiver wore his orange-tinted game contacts into the interview room. The same report covered his game-winning, 69-yard touchdown reception from a rookie Geno Smith.4
The catch belonged to Holmes. The unusual eye color gave reporters something extra to write about afterward.
Elmer Angsman: Contact lenses with a place in football history
Contacts in professional football go back much further than you might expect.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame includes Elmer Angsman’s contact lenses among its unusual artifacts. Angsman, a Chicago Cardinals running back from 1946 to 1952, wore hard plastic lenses, a very different proposition from today’s soft contacts.5
He was part of the Cardinals’ “Million Dollar” backfield and helped the team win the 1947 NFL championship. His lenses are a reminder that players were finding ways to correct their vision on the field long before modern sports eyewear arrived.
Why would a football player choose contacts over glasses?
Contacts provide vision correction without eyeglass frames in the way. The American Optometric Association notes that they move with the eyes and allow a natural field of view. They also avoid the fogging associated with glasses.6
Those are useful qualities in a sport that involves tracking a moving ball, watching other players, and turning your head quickly. There are also no eyeglass arms to fit beneath a helmet.
The right choice still depends on the player. Prescription needs, comfort, and how a lens fits all matter. A famous athlete’s lens choice isn’t a substitute for a contact lens fitting.
Are those red contacts the same as colored contacts?
The tinted lenses described by Herbert and Smith were being used to make bright conditions more manageable. That is a different purpose from choosing cosmetic colored contacts simply to change your appearance. A red-looking lens alone doesn’t tell you its function or whether it corrects the wearer’s vision.
All contact lenses require a prescription and proper fitting in the United States, including lenses worn only to change eye color.7 And even UV-blocking contacts leave parts of the eyes and surrounding skin uncovered, so they don’t replace UV-protective sunglasses for everyday outdoor use.8
Can contact lenses fall out during football?
Yes. Miller’s experience is an example of a lost lens interrupting play. It’s a good reason to keep spare lenses available if you wear contacts for sports.
If a lens comes out, step away from play before handling your eyes. Wash and dry your hands, and use a fresh replacement if needed. Don’t rinse a lens with water or put a dirty lens straight back in. The CDC recommends proper lens care and keeping backup glasses available.9 If you develop eye pain, redness, light sensitivity, or sudden blurry vision, remove your contacts and seek advice from your eye care professional.10
What should you know before wearing contacts for football?
Start with an in-person examination and a contact lens fitting. Tell your eye doctor that you play football so you can discuss vision, comfort, and suitable eye protection together.
Daily disposable contacts may be a convenient option because you use each pair once and discard it. Reusable lenses need cleaning and disinfection according to their instructions. Your eye doctor can help decide which schedule suits your eyes and routine.11 Our guide to daily disposable contact lenses explains the practical differences.
Contacts also don’t protect your eyes from sports injuries. The National Eye Institute recommends protective eyewear designed for the sport, so ask about protection that works with your football equipment.12
You don’t need an NFL contract to benefit from clear vision. You need lenses that fit, a routine you can follow, and the right protection for your activity. Once your prescription is in place, Lens.com can help you replenish the contact lenses your eye doctor prescribed.
Sources
- Denver Broncos: Miller hosts charity night for Von’s Vision (October 14, 2014).
- Los Angeles Chargers: Why Justin Herbert is Wearing Red-Tinted Contact Lenses at Training Camp (July 18, 2025).
- New York Jets: Jets QB Geno Smith: ‘I’ve Always Been Aggressive in My Approach’ (August 6, 2026).
- New York Jets: Greenberg: No Way Jets Can’t Get Better (September 23, 2013).
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: HOF 16 Most Unusual Artifacts: Elmer Angsman’s Contact Lenses.
- American Optometric Association: Types of Contact Lenses.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About Decorative Contact Lenses.
- National Eye Institute: Protecting your eyes from the sun’s UV light (July 5, 2022).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Preventing Eye Infections When Wearing Contacts.
- National Eye Institute: Contact Lenses.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About Contact Lens Types (May 27, 2025).
- National Eye Institute: Sports and Your Eyes.
