From: Details
Over the past decade we've seen a startling number of athletes drop trou to model underwear for brands like Calvin Klein, Emporio Armani, and Lacoste, but the athlete-turned-model phenomenon dates back further than you might expect. Here, we round up the hottest jocks in Jockeys from the last 40 years in reverse chronological order.
Athlete: Thom Evans, Rugby
Models for: D.Hedral
2013-present
In January, retired Scottish rugby player Thom Evans, who is now pursuing an acting career, launched his first modeling campaign as the new face of Italian underwear brand, D.Hedral. However, he has been in front of the camera lens before. Recent cover appearances include U.K. Men's Health, as well as the Olympic special issue of the British gay men's magazine Attitude.
Athlete: Rafael Nadal, Tennis
Models for: Emporio Armani
2011-present
Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal is the third hot athlete to model Armani underwear and denim, following David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. You may have also seen him on the covers of New York Magazine, and the Spainish editions of Men's Journal and GQ.
Athlete: Cameron Newton, Football
Models for: Under Armour
2011-present
Last year Under Armour brought on rookie quarterback Cam Newton as the face—and body—of its new collection of boxer briefs.
Athlete: Hidetoshi Nakata, Soccer
Modeled for: Calvin Klein
2010
Japanese soccer player and fashion trendsetter Hidetoshi Nakata became the first Asian model for Calvin Klein in 2010. The campaign also included Spanish tennis player Fernando Verdasco, who is up next on our list.
Athlete: Fernando Verdasco, Tennis
Modeled for: Calvin Klein
2010
Tennis pro Fernando Verdasco (a.k.a. the Spanish David Beckham of tennis) graced the cover of Spain's Men's Health in February 2009, just before his modeling gig with Calvin Klein.
Athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo, Soccer
Models for: Emporio Armani
2010-present
The 2009 trade from Manchester United to Real Madrid made Cristiano Ronaldo the highest-paid soccer player in history and, shortly thereafter, the face of Emporio Armani. In 2010, the Portuguese athlete modeled for the company's underwear and denim lines, and he appeared on the covers of Vanity Fair and British GQ.
Ronaldo still shows skin for Armani. His latest ad involves a maid who hides his shirt while cleaning so she can sneak peeks at his sculpted abs. Can you blame her?
Athlete: Tim Tebow, Football
Models for: Jockey
2010-present
According to Jockey's chief marketing officer, Tebow's endorsement has been the most successful in the brand's history. However, the Heisman winner has yet to shoot an ad in his underwear.
Athlete: Mitchell Johnson, Cricket
Models for: Jockey
2009-present
Unlike Tebow, hotshot Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnston has been revealing his toned and tattooed physique in body-baring ads for Jockey Australia for over three years.
Athlete: Michael Clarke, Cricket
Modeled for: Bonds
2008-2011
Ranked one of the "top ten highest paid cricketers" by Forbes, Australian cricket star Michael Clarke used to model underwear for the Aussie brand Bonds. Reportedly, he decided to drop the company to be taken more seriously as a team captain, but you can still see his Bonds ad with fellow Australian athlete turned model Pat Rafter.
Athlete: Thierry Henry, Soccer
Modeled for: Tommy Hilfiger
2007-2009
French-born soccer player Thierry Henry modeled and designed a 2007 Tommy Hilfiger charity line, and was the face of the Hilfiger brand in France. Currently, the New York Red Bulls team member is a brand ambassador for Puma.
Athlete: Tom Brady, Football
Models for: UGG Australia, Under Armour
2007-present
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady joined forces with UGG in 2011 to launch its new men's line, but it wasn't his first modeling gig. In 2007, he did a campaign for Stetson cologne, and in 2010 he became the face of Under Armour. Brady may have caught the modeling bug from his fashion model wife, Giselle Bundchen; he's appeared on multiple magazine covers, including GQ, Esquire, VMan, and Details in 2007 and 2009.
Athlete: Andy Roddick, Tennis
Models for: Lacoste
2005-present
After cutting ties with Reebok in 2005, Andy Roddick moved to Lacoste when the French company was ready to relaunch in America. Roddick has since been an integral part of the brand, becoming the face of its Challenge fragrance and launching his own lines within Lacoste.
Athlete: Fredrik Ljungberg, Soccer
Modeled for: Calvin Klein
2003-2007
Swedish import Fredrik Ljungberg lent his sculpted physique to one of Calvin Klein's most successful worldwide campaigns, but the attention he got from the gig wasn't always to his liking. "I'd go to a nightclub and girls would come up and grab my willy, just like that," he told Huffington Post UK.
Athlete: Pat Rafter, Tennis
Models for: Bonds
2001-present
Pat Rafter won the U.S. Open in 1997, becoming the first Aussie to win it since 1973. Just four years later he retired, and emerged as the face of the Australian clothing brand Bonds.
Athlete: David Beckham, Soccer
Models for: Emporio Armani, H&M, Breitling, Adidas
1999-present
English soccer star David Beckham kicked off 1999 with a much-publicized marriage to Victoria Adams (a.k.a. Posh Spice) and a contract with Adidas, but it wasn't until 2007, when he landed his first major modeling gig with Armani, that he transformed from athlete to model to full-blown style icon.
David followed this up with an H&M collaboration and ads for Breitling luxury watches. He's also passed the modeling gene on to his son Romeo, who, at age 10, is already a Burberry brand ambassador.
Athlete: Dan O'Brien, Decathlon
Modeled for: Versace, Ray Ban, Ralph Lauren
1990s
After winning the 1996 Olympic gold medal for the decathlon, American athlete Dan O'Brien celebrated by upping his modeling cachet with a Versace campaign that showed off his gold-medal assets. After his prior ad campaign with Reebok helped make him a household name, he went on to model for Ray Ban and Ralph Lauren Polo.
Athlete: Michael Jordan, Basketball
Models for: Hanes, Nike
1990s-present
His Airness became a brand ambassador for Hanes in 1989, back when he was an up-and-coming player fresh out of UNC Chapel Hill, and he continues to model the company's T-shirts. Can't remember any of his 30+ commercials? Check out the game of underwear copy-catting in this oldie-but-goodie.
Athlete: Tom Hintnaus, Pole Vaulting
Modeled for: Calvin Klein, Banana Republic, Abercrombie + Fitch
1980s-1990s
When Brazilian Tom Hintnaus sported nothing but his Calvins in a 1983 Times Square ad that ran for seven months, the Olympic pole-vaulter was transformed into a cultural icon. American Photographer even named it one of the "10 Pictures That Changed America" (by sexualizing men in advertising).
Hintnaus later told the Los Angeles Times, "I worked so hard to be the best pole-vaulter in the world, and I ended up being more well-known for putting on a pair of briefs."
Athlete: Jim Palmer, Baseball
Modeled for: Jockey
1970s-1990s
One of the first professional athletes to strip down to his skivvies was Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, who pitched for the Baltimore Orioles in the sixties and seventies. Most famously, he modeled the Elance bikini brief, the most provocative of the Jockey fashion line. Women went crazy over Palmer at the time, lining up at his in-store appearances to get his signature on their poster-size glossies (and on their own undergarments).
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