TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie linebacker and "Hard Knocks" breakout star Riley Bullough is a new man today. His long wavy hair that earned him the nickname "Joe Dirt" from teammates is no more.

He's replaced his 90s grunge hairstyle with something a little more GQ, and looks like a totally different person.

"[It was the] first time I've been to a salon, I think, in my whole life," Bullough said. "I usually go to barber shops because it was always buzzed before. I never got like actual haircuts. It was good."

What prompted the decision?

"I don't know, honestly," Bullough said with a chuckle. "I just woke up one day last week and I was tired of it. I thought it was time for a change."

Click on the embed below for before and after pictures.

Man.. The flow has treated me right for the past 4 years but it was time for a change 😅 Lookin' forward to not having to clean out my shower drain or wear a hat everytime I roll my windows down in my truck 👻. I'm officially a new man. #NEXTTT

A post shared by Riley Bullough (@rileybullough) on Oct 14, 2017 at 8:07am PDT

He'd been growing his hair out since 2013. The Florida heat played a role in his decision. He also didn't want to have to clean hair out of his shower drain or wear a hat every time he rolled the windows down of his truck.

His mother, Lee Ann, was a little sad. His long hair reminded her of Italian-American actor Fabio Lanzoni.

"She wanted me to keep it long," Bullough said. "Obviously my dad wanted it short because he's bald."

He's now totally sold on the whole salon experience.

"Just to make sure it's right," Bullough said with a smile. "Unless I start shaving it again. Then I'll do barber shop."

As for the nickname? "Joe Dirt" doesn't really fit anymore. His suggestion? "Joe Clean."