NFL Star Will Blackmon -- If Football Doesn't Work Out, I'll Just Model

Defensive back Will Blackmon just won a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants ... but he's already planning for his life after football ... as a fashion model.

Blackmon, who is currently a free agent, recently set up a photo shoot so he can build a portfolio as a model. It's clear being in football shape has the 27-year-old ready for his new profession.

And he's off to a good start ... TMZ has learned Blackmon just signed a deal to become a spokesman for an athletic protective cup company called Nutty Buddy -- which has been featured on ESPN's "Sports Science" series and was recently parodied by "Saturday Night Live."

Being in the modeling world takes cojones ... Blackmon's making sure his are protected.