The Yankees just shaved off their bizarre rule—quite literally. For a very long time, the Yankees’ clean-shaven rule was as sacred as their pinstripes. According to their appearance policy, no beards or long hair were allowed. But taking a break from tradition, in a shocking turn of events, the Bronx Bombers have finally let go of the rule. The decision sent a tsunami through the Yankees’ universe, shaking up fans and players alike. When something this big happens with the Yankees, who better than the OG Yankee—Derek Jeter to weigh in?

On Friday, Hal Steinbrenner, the chairman and managing general partner of the Yankees, announced a major change in appearance policy—players, coaches, and uniformed personnel are now allowed to carry “well-groomed beards.” Now, none of the new members has to let go of their precious beards after arriving at the Yankees clubhouse. This rule had been in place since the 1970s and required all Yankees players to be clean-shaven, and the only exception allowed was a mustache. 

Hal Steinbrenner told the media that he had consulted with many players, including team captain Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, and Giancarlo Stanton, before finalizing the change. Many players were in favor of the shift, especially after the Devin Williams controversy at the 2025 spring training. Cole stated that this change still retains some of the Yankees’ unique identity while making some room for individual freedom and “a few less razor burns.” 

The Jeter post that broke the Internet

Just when fans were processing this news, Derek Jeter dropped a bomb. He decided to have some fun with his historic rule change. The Hall of Famer posted a photoshopped image of himself in a Yankees jersey with a full beard on Instagram. With the caption, “New rules!” However, Jeter usually carries a signature clean-shaved look. So another unexpected change on Saturday—some loved it, and others? Not so much.

CC Sabathia, a fellow Yankees legend and the OG hype man, wasted no time in commenting on his former captain’s post: 🫡 ‘MY CAPTAIN!! While Sabathia got a kick out of Photoshop, he still kept it respectful. Sabathia himself has played under the rigid, clean-shaven rule. And now that the rule’s gone, he thinks Derek Jeter could totally rock a beard. 

On the other hand, Sharlee Jeter, Derek’s sister, had something more personal to say. “😂 You look like Dad! Hahaha.” Jeter has often been compared to their father, Dr. Charles Jeter. And we think that with a beard, Sharlee isn’t the only one who can spot the resemblance. 

But not everyone was ready for this new look, not just on Jeter but on the Yankees. A fan who was deeply attached to Jeter’s clean-shaved look said, “This doesn’t look right. Jeet will forever be immortalized with a baby face.” Not going to lie, Jeter’s clean-cut look was a defining part of his brand.

Then came the critics. A fan made it clear that he wasn’t on board with the Yankees’ new direction, commenting, “🔥 Way to fold to the pressure. Everyone who wasn’t good on this team last year left, signed one-year deals, and grew a beard. Didn’t help them much. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it❤️.” For those who value traditions, this isn’t just about facial hair but about the Yankees’ identity. 

Another fan added his reaction of disapproval: “🤮 I don’t like this change. I was always proud that our players looked clean-shaven and classy. When I see other players with beards, I want to throw up.”  This rule had been in place for almost 50 years. While it may have been over the line, it was a signature of the Yankees and highlighted their franchise’s professionalism. And just like that, it vanished. For a team that prides itself on history, even the smallest changes can completely shift how fans look at them. 

But love it or hate it, this is happening. The bearded era of the Yankees has begun, and Derek Jeter has a head start. 

But what truly drove this change? According to Steinbrenner, it was the possibility of missing out on free agents because of the rigid grooming policy. Yankees manager Aaron Boone shared similar concerns: “We never want to miss out on one player. If we miss out on one player because of that [policy], that’s too many.” Steinbrenner’s statement described the grooming policy as “outdated” and “somewhat unreasonable.” 

He added, “Ultimately, the final decision rests with me, and after great consideration, we will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward. It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy.” And with that, an iconic yet annoying Yankees tradition came to an end. Some see it as the loss of a signature Yankee tradition, and others simply view it as keeping up with changing times by allowing self-expression and removing overbearing restrictions.

Devin Williams’ beard didn’t last, but the rule didn’t either

Devin Williams’ controversy is the main example of how the Yankees’ grooming policy could be overbearing. In the final days of the no-beard rule, the team had been discussing changes to the appearance policy. However, it didn’t come in time for the new closer to keep his beard. 

In December 2024, the Yankees acquired the two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers. Williams dominates as a reliever and showcases his signature “Airbender” change-up. Now, in 2025, when Williams arrived at the Yankees’ spring training camp, he came in with his beard. But the appearance policy erased it within a day. Replaced by nothing but a light mustache. Williams’ response to this was simple: “It is what it is.” 

While Williams was good about the whole thing, his fans weren’t as forgiving. Many called the rule “outdated” that forcing a player to shave had nothing to do with winning games. Others called it the “stupidest f—ing rule in all of sports,” and asked team leaders like Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole to convince Hal Steinbrenner to end this tradition. 

The Yankee fans didn’t realize that someone was actually listening to their wishes. Just a few weeks later, Steinbrenner announced the allowance of “well-groomed beards.” Giving the players and fans what they had hoped for—the Yankees were finally letting go of their no-beard rule.