No Shave November now a tradition with NFL officials

Since 2020, the NFL has allowed NFL officials to put their razors away for the month of November.

Some officials are growing beards for “No Shave November” or “Movember.” It is totally voluntary for officials to participate.

This cause raises awareness for men’s health issues – especially men’s cancer education, detection, awareness, and for suicide prevention. Some organizations have men grow a beard for the month to raise funds for charity.

In the first 100 years of NFL officiating, facial hair was mostly frowned upon. The people running the NFL thought beards looked sloppy or officials wearing beards appeared suspicious.

In 2020, I just about fell off my chair when I saw officials looking scruffy the first Sunday of November. I grew increasingly surprised when I saw those beards fill in through Thanksgiving. Then I learned about No Shave November.

The world stayed firmly on its axis while bearded officials made calls, each year since it has grown into more of a tradition.

So, if you see a normally clean-shaven NFL official making calls this month with beard, mustache, or goatee, know they are doing it for a worthy cause and now is an established NFL officiating tradition.