Ranking The NFL x CFDA Footballs By How Difficult It Would Be to Actually Play Football With Them

Some of these might actually rip your hands off

By 
Jan 23, 2016
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The 50th Super Bowl is just on the horizon and to celebrate the occasion, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) teamed up with the NFL to have 50 designers craft custom footballs to be auctioned off for charity, with all proceeds going towards the NFL Foundation. They're all available for bidding now through February 14th. 

Some designers went with basic modifications like swapping out materials or changing the color scheme, leaving the ball itself in roughly the same shape it started, while others really explored, adding decorative gemstones, metal studs and a bunch of other fashion-y details. Which led us to ask, "Which ones would we actually be able to play football with?" and "Which ones would rip our hands off if we attempted to catch them?"

We went through all 50 and picked out the 10 best and 10 worst CFDA NFL footballs based solely on how difficult (or easy) they would make an actual game of football. Because obviously fashion is supposed to be practical, right?

BEST: Vince Camuto

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The tassel on the end basically makes this a much classier Vortex football. So it probably flies super far—and hopefully whistles, too.

BEST: Carlos Campos

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Head-to-head competition takes on a whole new meaning. See what we did there?

BEST: Eva Fehren

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It's literally just a football painted, so you can presumably throw it just as well as you do an unpainted football (which is probably not all that well).

BEST: Lisa Perry

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The only football here that's perfect for pros and preschoolers alike.

BEST: Mark McNairy

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When you want to brag about how fast you can throw this football, all you need is another red marker.

BEST: Miansai

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When your football comes laced with a friendship bracelet, you don't ever have to tell your best bros how much you love them. They'll just know.

BEST: Shinola

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Shinola didn't customize the ball too much, but it did make that SICK football-carrying bag. They should probably be disqualified for not following the rules.

BEST: Tim Coppens

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Stash secret plays right inside the ball. Or, if you're The Patriots, a deflation pin. (Burn.)

BEST: Todd Snyder

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It's a football wearing chinos. What's not to love?

BEST: Billy Reid

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For when you like your football to vaguely look like a soccer ball.

WORST: Siki Im

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If you think stepping on a Lego hurts, try catching a football covered in them, hurtling through the air toward your face.

WORST: Rebecca Minkoff

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“You've just won the Super Bowl! What are you doing next?” “I'm going straight to the E.R.”

WORST: David Hart

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This is what happens when you let your nerdy uncle's table football league loose in a craft store.

WORST: Tiffany & Co.

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Can you imagine trying to catch this ball with any trace of sweat on your hands?

WORST: Betsey Johnson

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There's a reason this is the only time "manicures" and "football" have come together.

WORST: Sam Edelman

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Not even sure there's actually a football under there, tbh.

WORST: Illesteva

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The Vince Lombardi trophy has more championship potential than this guy. 

WORST: Alice & Olivia

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Nope. Not gonna happen.

WORST: Cushnie Et Ochs

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I don't think those wide receiver gloves will be enough to protect your hands from this one.

WORST: WHIT

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So…do you unwrap this ball to play with it...?

WORST: Vita Fede

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I don't know what game you can play with this one, but it's definitely not football.

NFLSportsFootballMichael BastianTim CoppensBilly ReidSiki-ImTodd SnyderCFDA

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