Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu's locks were cut for the first time in a decade for a good cause on Veterans Day. Polamalu, who insured his trademark hair for $1 million back in 2010, let four snippets of his hair go for a Veterans Day charity event at the Steelers home of Heinz Field on Monday.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation, Head & Shoulders and Polamalu teamed up to raise money and awareness for veterans in an event dubbed as "The Mane Event" and all four of the locks that were cut from Polamalu's hair will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the VFW.
"I understand the issues that veterans and their families face while serving our country, and I am honored to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars Mane Event, encouraging the nation to unite for veterans for a second year," Polamalu said at the event, according to UPI.com. "By getting my hair cut on Veterans Day, I am showing my commitment to the men and women who served our country, the real heroes."
Polamalu, 32, told GQ that his hair meant a lot to him, and that he wouldn't be cutting it if wasn't for a good cause.
"My hair is more like an appendage that's been growing and I don't want to lose it," Polamalu said via GQ. "I definitely wouldn't be cutting my hair if it weren't to help raise awareness and support the cause."
On the field, Polamalu and the Steelers are 3-6 and sit in dead last in the AFC North while the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns are 4-3 and the Cincinnati Bengals lead the way with a 6-4 record, but Monday went beyond the game of football.
Polamalu, who has one of the most famous heads of hair in football, noted how surprised he was as each lock was taken off.
"Every time a piece of my hair comes out, and I look at a 20-inch strand, I'm like, 'Wow, what happened when this first started growing?'" he said per Fox Sports. "You think about all the life experience that you've had, and my hair's been a part of me. It's kind of become my fifth appendage and my identity."
Polamalu noted via Fox Sports that he chose the VFW as his charity to donate his hair to because he feels that soldiers and their emotional well-beings are often neglected once they return home.
"Troy Polamalu has one of the most famous heads of hair in America," John Hamilton, VFW Adjutant General, explained to TribLive.com. "To have him take a role in our efforts is appreciated. We hope this event will help bring public awareness to the vital work the VFW is doing on behalf of those who deserve it most - our nation's veterans, military and their families."
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