One of the most popular antagonists in the history of The Walking Dead, Negan was introduced in the season 6 finale cliffhanger, “Last Day On Earth.” Expertly played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Negan brought humor, swagger, and a whole lot of violence to the dystopian drama in that memorable first encounter. And though he has softened somewhat over the seasons, there are still glimpses of the “old” Negan that remain.
Continually one of the most entertaining yet polarizing characters in the series, part of what makes Negan so iconic is his signature look. While he no longer wields his bat Lucille, it remains one of the most iconic props from The Walking Dead, as does the leather jacket fans learned in the flashback episode has far more meaning than they ever could have expected. Indeed, despite his brutal introduction, Negan has undergone many physical and emotional transformations over the years, and there is more on the horizon as the series approaches its end following the two-part 11th and final season, which has already begun.
Updated on September 24th, 2021 by Christine Persaud: Negan might not be the same villainous, murderous terrorizing leader he once was, but despite his physical (and emotional) changes, the smart-aleck comments, quick wit, snarky attitude, and lack of filter remain. Still, Negan has transformed both physically and emotionally through the seasons. The fantastic flashback “Here’s Negan” also made fans view him differently, seeing the terrible trauma he went through right before deciding to go down the path he did. His adjusted physical look is partly to do with shedding his former self while also fitting in with a new crew. As the character with one of the most compelling arcs on the show, chances are Negan will undergo more transformations before the long-running series finally comes to an end.
7 Season 6
The shocking season 6 finale episode, “Last Day On Earth,” is one of the many episodes to watch for fans of Negan from The Walking Dead. It’s the episode that introduced fans to the character in his prime as the bat-wielding leader of the Saviors. His hair is slicked back and he has just a bit of stubble as he saunters out of the RV to meet the line-up.
Negan wears a classic men’s motorcycle jacket (which he bought for a whopping $600 as revealed in season 10 episode “Here’s Negan”), a deep red bandana, combat boots, a single black glove, and as always, he has his precious Lucille in hand.
6 Season 7
Due to the closeness in timelines, Negan’s season 7 look is very similar to his epic season 6 introduction. In some ways, Negan looks the same as in The Walking Dead comics. He is rarely seen without his leather jacket and a white T-shirt – though sometimes the jacket has to go in that sweltering Virginia heat (or at least be opened up). However, his signature red scarf is only on for “special occasions.”
Throughout the show’s exciting seventh season, the audience gets to learn more about the charismatic antagonist, the Saviors, and the Sanctuary. After killing Glenn and Abraham, everyone sees just how far Negan is willing to go in order to make sure that he gets what he believes is rightfully his – which is half of their stuff. Negan even gets to meet Ezekiel’s tiger. Shiva.
5 Season 8
Though Negan enjoys a leisurely shave and whips up a spaghetti dinner at Rick’s place in the season 7 episode “Hearts Still Beating,” by season 8, Negan has grown back his scruff. His look is mostly unchanged, other than his haircut – which is now shorter on the sides and longer and messier on the top.
In this rollercoaster ride of a season, the Saviors and the citizens of the Alexandria safe zone prepare to go to war, Carl meets his demise (which Negan mourns), and the big bad villain goes head-to-head with Rick in a “final” showdown. It is here that Negan is injured and about to go through one of his biggest changes yet.
4 Season 9
Dethroned from his role as leader of the Sanctuary, his people scattered, and his throat cut by Rick, the end of season 8 was not a good time for Negan. Viewers then learned in season 9 that Negan was banished to a life of solitude in the Alexandria jail cell. It is there that he goes through a few stark physical transformations, as well as mental ones.
Not only is he missing Lucille and his leather jacket, marking some of the saddest things about Negan on The Walking Dead, but he loses his swagger. He grows a thick, bushy beard for a time paired with his shaved head, and the stress shows as both have frosty white mixed in with the usual dark brown. Negan’s mental state changes in kind as he has become defeated, left to do nothing but reflect on his actions. He does receive some comfort, however, in the form of a sympathetic Judith who provides the highlights of his days, speaking with him through an open vent.
3 Season 10
Negan is finally free after cutting a deal with Carol to infiltrate the Whisperers and kill their leader, Alpha, solidifying Negan from The Walking Dead as Morgan’s most villainous role. Negan looks rougher around the edges this season – but that is no slight to Morgan. Negan has been in a jail cell for years, only occasionally allowed to see the sun for manual labor in the gardens, and (thanks to Carol) to traipse around in the mud and wear the dried out, rotted faces of Walkers.
His hair is showing signs of more gray, illustrating the years that have passed, and it is cut short on the sides while the top has now grown back in and looks unkempt and unwashed. His beard is also grayer, and the skin around his eyes is often darkened for when he dons his mask and walks in the horde alongside the Whisperers and their “guardians.”
2 BONUS: Here’s Negan (Flashbacks)
In the much-awaited episode that was based on the standalone comic of the same name, “Here’s Negan” shows a side of the villain that fans had never seen before and revealed tons of details about the backstory of Negan from The Walking Dead. Starring alongside real-life wife and talented actress, Hilarie Burton Morgan, fans watch him go through a striking transformation in a single episode as it explores the ups and downs of his marriage and the beginning days of the outbreak.
Those unfamiliar with the comics might not have expected Negan to be a video game-playing, ex-gym teacher who was having an affair, but as the episode progresses, viewers see him become a loving and protective husband. Covered in tattoos and distinctly softer than a post-apocalyptic Negan, the episode had many Negan fans hoping for more appearances of Negan and Lucille, whether in future episodes or in upcoming spin-offs.
1 Season 11
Negan went through so many ups and downs to get where he was. In season 11, he is finally (somewhat) redeemed yet still finds himself at the bottom of the totem pole among his community, particularly with Maggie now back and running the show. Despite everything he has done to help, Negan still can’t live down who he once was and what he had done back when he was wielding Lucille. He has cropped his hair again, interestingly with a similar look to when he was jailed in Alexandria. His beard is also longer, fuller, and more white.
Even though Negan has seemingly changed, he still shows glimpses of his former self, such as when he left Maggie to potentially fall into a pit of hungry walkers, or when he dared bring up Glenn’s name in an instant of frustration while trying to convince Maggie they needed to be on the same side. Negan’s appearance hasn’t changed so much beyond the head and facial hair, but he carries himself in a much different way. A meaningless crowbar has taken the place of the Lucille bat, which he burned as a symbolic gesture of the death of the old Negan.
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