Robert Hunt, a guard for the Carolina Panthers, has developed a personal pregame and weekly ritual of walking barefoot on the practice fields. For Hunt, these moments are less about physical benefits and more about expressing gratitude for his current place in life.
“It’s literally a routine that I’ve been doing; it’s just gratitude, honestly, just like me being grateful that God put me where I am today,” Hunt said.
Hunt joined the Panthers after signing a $100 million contract last year. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl following a strong season with the team and also celebrated the birth of his son during this period.
The act of walking barefoot serves as a quiet time for Hunt to reflect on what matters most to him. “Sometimes you get emotional,” he said. “I remember back in my day, sometimes it’s reminded me, and I’ll call my sisters, my brothers afterward, and let them know I love them. Like, it’s just literally whatever comes into my mind in that moment, it’s kind of what I feel.
“So it’s literally a moment for me to just get within myself and to see how I feel and what I feel. Walking here last year, I remember myself looking at the city and being like, ‘Wow, this is beautiful.'”
For many football players, routines help provide structure or meaning beyond their physical actions. Some choose activities such as lifting weights at set times or practicing yoga; for Hunt, it is taking off his shoes on Tuesdays and before games.
While some players believe in scientific reasons behind going barefoot—such as wide receiver Mack Hollins from Hunt’s time in Miami who credits “grounding” or “Earthing” with helping foot health—Hunt says his motivation is different. “I was with him my rookie year in Miami, I asked him some questions about it, and he explained it,” Hunt said. “I don’t know. I haven’t done as much research on it, so I can’t really speak on it, but I definitely enjoy it on my off days and just going out, getting on the grass. I just like to go out there and just feel it and just walk around.”
Teammates have mixed reactions to seeing bare feet around the facility due to hygiene concerns. Defensive tackle Derrick Brown commented: “Yeah, that’s gross… Too far.” However, Hunt clarified he uses shower shoes when appropriate.
Hunt connects this habit to his upbringing in Jasper, Texas: “I just ran around with no shoes on when I was a kid, we’d walk outside, we’d play football on the rocks,” he said. “I’m a country boy and I never had shoes on, so now when I go out and walk, it helps me stay grounded.”
His teammates accept his routine as part of who he is. Center Austin Corbett said: “I mean, that’s Rob… If it works for him, it works for him.”
Hunt’s presence has become notable both for his performance on the field and his positive influence off it. Earlier this summer during OTAs (organized team activities), Hunt helped defuse tensions between teammates by dancing instead of letting arguments escalate.
“That’s what I do,” he said. “That was just for me to let them know, for me it’s not that serious… It’s too hot out here, we’re working too hard… made some people laugh…”
Corbett praised Hunt’s approach: “Everything that we do is extremely hard… This game is hard… Let’s go have fun… There’s that ability… you can only develop over time…”
Brown described competing against Hunt: “Rob is a big-ass man… he’s a great dude on and off the field… He’s big as hell but he moves like a dancing bear…”
Despite all this camaraderie and impact among teammates throughout practices and games, Hunt finds time alone important before competition begins.
“It’s gratitude man honestly just gratitude,” Hunt said. “So I try to put myself in the spot with this because nobody’s out there… remembering all I have to be thankful for so that’s what I do.”
