In the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday, the Seattle Seahawks selected Alabama tight end Robbie Ouzts as part of a package deal. However, the package did not include Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe, who joined Seattle in the third round on Friday, but rather Ouzts’ moustache.

When the Seattle Seahawks announced their fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday, the pick seemed routine on paper: Alabama tight end Robbie Ouzts, a hard-nosed, blocking specialist with underrated hands and SEC pedigree. But the way Seattle framed it made waves across social media and stirred smiles across war rooms and locker rooms alike.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Robbie Ouzts—and his mustache—to the Seahawks family,” Seahawks GM John Schneider said during a post-draft press conference. “We think it’s a package deal. We had to make sure we got both.”

Cue the headlines.

While most draftees bring talent, drive, and hopes of stardom to their new teams, Ouzts brought something else: a thick, glorious mustache that has become iconic among Alabama fans. What began as an inside joke among teammates grew into a defining part of his identity—and somehow, it found its way into the Seahawks’ war room as a legitimate draft-day consideration.

“We weren’t just drafting a tight end,” said head coach Mike Macdonald. “We were drafting attitude, grit, and follicular excellence.”

This, mind you, came a day after Seattle had already dipped into the Alabama pipeline, selecting dynamic quarterback Jalen Milroe in the third round. Rumors swirled briefly that the Ouzts pick was meant to reunite the two in a full offensive package. But in an unexpected twist, Macdonald clarified with a chuckle: “This wasn’t about Milroe. This was about the mustache.”

It started innocently enough.

Ouzts, a native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, began sporting a mustache during fall camp his sophomore year at Alabama. What began as a grooming experiment evolved into a full-on statement.

“I just wanted to do something different,” Ouzts once said. “Then my teammates started calling it ‘The Wall.’ It stuck.”

The Wall quickly became a locker room legend in Tuscaloosa. Nick Saban, usually tight-lipped on matters of fashion, once cracked a rare joke during a press conference: “If that thing grows any more, we’ll have to list it separately on the injury report.”

Saban wasn’t wrong. The mustache wasn’t just facial hair—it was a force of nature. Ouzts leaned into the persona. He rocked cowboy boots to press events, chomped on sunflower seeds on the sideline, and earned comparisons to 70s NFL icons like Conrad Dobler and Jack Lambert.

By the time Alabama hit the postseason in 2024, “The Stache” had its own Instagram account, a parody Twitter handle, and dozens of bootleg T-shirts in campus stores. One design even read: “Blocking with the Power of the ’Stache.”

For all the flair, Ouzts brought plenty of substance to the table. A rugged 6-foot-4, 258-pound tight end, he carved out a role in Alabama’s run-heavy sets as a relentless blocker and unsung hero in short-yardage situations. Though he caught just 18 passes in his final two seasons, several went for first downs, and nearly all were memorable.

His most iconic play? A third-and-goal pancake block against LSU that cleared a path for Milroe’s go-ahead touchdown—an effort that earned Ouzts Alabama’s weekly “Savage of the Week” honor.

“He’s the kind of guy who’s willing to do the dirty work,” said former Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. “He might not fill the stat sheet, but he fills the culture sheet.”

NFL scouts noticed. Though Ouzts wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, he impressed at Alabama’s pro day with solid 40-yard dash times, crisp positional drills, and—of course—a perfectly groomed mustache that drew as much camera time as his routes.

“It’s a tone-setter,” Seahawks scout Pete Gregg joked. “You see that thing coming across the field, you know a crackback block is coming.”

Seattle’s war room has long been known for its unpredictable flair—remember when they picked a long snapper in the sixth round in 2022 and threw a mini pizza party? This year, the Seahawks decided to bring a little levity to the table when day three of the draft arrived.

“We had Robbie on our radar for weeks,” Schneider said. “But one of our interns photoshopped a Seahawks helmet on him with the mustache highlighted in neon. It got passed around, and next thing you know, it was on the whiteboard under ‘intangibles.’”

In the hours leading up to their fifth-round selection, the Seahawks social media team prepped a video package that included Ouzts highlights—set to 80s rock and intercut with close-up shots of “The Wall.”

When the pick was made, the tweet read: “Toughness. Leadership. Lip Rug. Welcome to Seattle, Robbie Ouzts.”

NFL Twitter erupted. ESPN’s Pat McAfee nearly fell out of his chair in laughter.

“This dude just got drafted with a mustache clause,” McAfee howled. “I love it. Football is back!”

Even Jalen Milroe joined in on the fun, tweeting: “He’s bringing The Wall to the NFC West. Y’all better be ready.”

All jokes aside, Ouzts might be an ideal fit for what Seattle wants to build in its post-Pete Carroll era. New OC Ryan Grubb, who came from Washington, runs a system that favors versatility at the tight end spot. Though Seattle already features pass-catching options like Noah Fant and Colby Parkinson, they’ve lacked a reliable blocking presence—something Ouzts excels at.

“I think he’s the kind of guy who plays ten years, catches maybe 50 passes total, but becomes a fan favorite,” said former Seahawks fullback Mack Strong. “The kind of guy who runs down on special teams, levels somebody, and gets the whole sideline fired up.”

Indeed, Ouzts has already pledged to “bring some SEC toughness to every snap.”

And as for the mustache?

“It’s staying,” he said during his first press conference with Seattle. “They drafted it, so I’m not shaving it.”

In the age of NIL, personal brands, and digital personas, Ouzts might be one of the first draftees to bring a facial hair-based brand into the NFL.

His college NIL deals included partnerships with a Southern grooming company, a local chain of BBQ restaurants, and even a novelty hot sauce. Within hours of his Seattle selection, “Stache Mode” T-shirts popped up online with Seahawks colors. One featured a silhouette of Ouzts’ face—no eyes, no mouth, just a helmet and the stache.

“He’s marketable in a Paul Bunyan meets George Kittle kind of way,” said sports marketing expert Allen Birkus. “He may not be a star in the box score, but he’ll sell jerseys.”

Ouzts says he’s open to it, as long as it stays true to who he is.

“Look, man, I grew up hunting, grilling, and playing line-of-scrimmage football,” he said. “If the mustache helps me get on the field or connect with fans, I’m all for it.”

While Ouzts’ mustache stole the spotlight, his connection to fellow Alabama draftee Jalen Milroe shouldn’t be overlooked.

The two shared time in Tuscaloosa during multiple QB transitions, offensive overhauls, and the pressure of playing under Nick Saban. They built chemistry—on the field and off.

“Robbie’s one of those glue guys,” Milroe said. “He doesn’t talk a lot, but when he speaks, everyone listens. He’s about the team.”

Their reunion in Seattle, albeit coincidental, could help both players ease into NFL life. And in a league where familiarity can build early momentum, the presence of a known blocker might help Milroe, should he rise to a starting role.

Underneath the laughter and lighthearted commentary lies a deeper truth: players like Robbie Ouzts often get overlooked in the glitz of draft coverage. They’re not flashy. They’re not quote machines. They do the dirty work that helps franchises win.

By embracing the humor of the mustache, the Seahawks also embraced the heart of football: culture, chemistry, and characters.

And if Ouzts’ hairless upper lip ever returns?

“I don’t know, man,” he laughs. “Might get fined by the team.”

Every NFL team has its icons. Some wear gold jackets. Others wear handlebar mustaches and flatten linebackers on trap blocks.

In selecting Robbie Ouzts, the Seahawks added more than a developmental tight end—they added a cultural lightning rod, a potential cult hero, and a symbol of grit wrapped in Southern charm.

The mustache may have been the punchline on draft day, but make no mistake: Ouzts is here to do work.

And if he brings a few laughs along the way?

That’s just bonus content.