We’re going to take a bold stance here: Emoji is fun and useful, helping to convey messages without having to learn things like proper grammar and spelling. Some people say they’re quicker, but it’s rarely the case when you’re searching for the perfect emoji with which to express yourself — like a miniature version of the paralysis that comes from scrolling through Netflix, endlessly flipping through titles until you find the perfect movie or TV show for your mood at the time (before either running out of time completely or meekly settling upon a Parks and Recreation rewatch).
The NFL is becoming more acquainted with emoji these days, and with the help of a new program created by Eric Andrew Lewis, a “Network Architecture Cartographer” for the New York Times, we decided to see what some of the most recognizable faces in the NFL would look like when painted with thousands of tiny emoji. We had mixed results. Unlike most mosaics, this one gets less interesting the closer you look (or the bigger it is) because it’s filled with a bunch of emoji stacked on top of each other, and the colors can get wonky.
Up top is Odell Beckham, Jr., see below for more.
Marshawn Lynch
Pretty good.
J.J. Watt, and his bloody nose
Really good, love the blood effect.
Tom Brady
Pretty okay.
Courtroom Sketch Tom Brady
Renders his face even less accurate to the point where it doesn’t even resemble a face.
Rob Gronkowski
He’s sticking out his tongue, and the emoji make his face look like a bloody pulp. Pretty good.
Aaron Rodgers
This was the only action shot we used, and you can see why. The lack of face detail (and the facemask) makes this another no-face.
Dez Bryant
Pretty darn good.
Tony Romo
Amazing. This one approaches art. Damn your expressive smile, Romo!
Robert Griffin III
Pretty good.
Russell Wilson
Meh.
Peyton Manning
Pretty great. How about a couple of our favorite coaches, just for good measure?
Rex Ryan
Very good. Not as artful as Romo, but pretty. Smiles seem to help.
Bill Belichick
Not great, but hilarious.
That seems like enough for us — head over and make your own here.
