From The Gridiron To Iron Maiden Fans, Trace NFL Football's Heavy Metal Connection

Nick_Mangold

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Both take place in stadiums and send their crowds into rabid frenzies. Both rely on equal parts emotional intensity, pinpoint accuracy and brute force. With it's aggressive physicality and full contact fandom, NFL Football is the heavy metal of professional sports.With its agressive riffing and full contact live performances, heavy metal is the NFL football of music (though you could make a case it's the MMA of music as well). And while there's a world of difference between the rebellious nature and rock n' roll lifestyle of a heavy metal musician, and the rigorous discipline demanded of a professional NFL player, both share a dedication to their craft and the fanatical love of their followers. This Sunday game-day we're tracing the connective tissue between gridiron football and heavy metal music, whether it be football players that are dedicted metalheads, metal musicians that are football fanatics or teams whose supporters go to the same lengths as metal fans to show their love of the team. So crank up your favorite metal tracks, get that tailgate party happening and see what the world's most extreme team sport and music genre's have in common.