Minnesota Vikings

Why a black line under the eyes of a gridiron player?

I have always wondered why some of the gridiron players have a black line under each eye. I have also noticed that not all the players have this, so it makes me wonder if it a medical thing or just a fashion fad.

Public Comments

1. stops the relfection from the lights or the sun. i play. but sometimes its for intimidation
2. It started as an absorber from the sun during games, now it is just a fashion fad!
3. it was first used to keep the sun out of the players eyes but more recently it has been used as a fasion statement(writing messages and such)
4. It's Eye Black. It's a grease applied under the eyes to reduce glare. It is often used by baseball and American football players, where sunlight or stadium lights can impair vision of an airborne ball. Eyeblack has been used for centuries to help reduce the glare of the sun. It serves a good purpose on the field but for the players who write little sayings/numbers on them, It's a fashion fad for them. Thank Reggie Bush for making it a fashion fad.
5. it keeps the sun out of the players eyes. plus, it looks badass!
6. It was meant to cut down on sun and light glare, but has recently turned into a fashion and intimdation thing.