Note: This post is updated as of the 2023 NFL Season
Every NFL franchise has had at least one player on their roster that just seemed out of place — much like Michael Jordan with the Washington Wizards.
When we think of Jordan, we don’t think of him wearing the Wizards uniform late in his career. Instead, we remember him winning NBA titles for the Chicago Bulls. That could end up being the same with Brady, as time will tell if he’ll be remembered more for the dynasty he built with the Patriots or being the ageless wonder that won another championship on a brand new team.
Having said that, it’s time we now look at all 32 teams and identify their most popular player of all-time, that you might not have remembered even suited up for anyone outside of the team they are known to be a member of.
Arizona Cardinals – Emmitt Smith
The NFL’s all-time rushing leader, Emmitt Smith, finished his 15-year career with 18,355 yards on the ground. He also won three Super Bowls as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, who drafted him in the first round back in 1990.
Smith played in Dallas for 13 seasons and to this day, he’s a Cowboy. He went into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Cowboys and he’s always referred to as a former Cowboys great. There are few people in the league who are more tied to their franchise than Emmitt Smith — much like the aforementioned Tom Brady and the Patriots.
All of that is true, but Smith didn’t finish his career with Dallas. The former NFL MVP was released ahead of the 2003 season as new head coach Bill Parcells decided he wanted to go younger at the position.
Fans had a hard time saying goodbye to Smith, who made eight Pro Bowls in his Dallas career, but Parcells had enough clout to get away with such a move. Although, there were some fans who were happy with where Smith ended up.
The Cowboys had a huge following in the Phoenix area and Smith wound up signing with the Arizona Cardinals on a two-year deal. Smith was injured in his first season with Arizona, while playing in Dallas, but had one final decent campaign in 2004.
That year, the 35-year-old Smith had 937 yards rushing and nine touchdowns — and he added a 21-yard touchdown pass as well. It was a short stint and easy to forget, but Smith added to his league-leading totals by 1,193 yards by heading to the desert to close out his career.
Atlanta Falcons – Brett Favre
Atlanta Falcons fans surely don’t want to remember this one because it has to be painful. There are times when a pro franchise just doesn’t see what they have and they let that star player go, only to see him become a star elsewhere. The Charlotte Hornets drafting Kobe Bryant comes to mind (and yes there were other factors involved but how do you let him go).
Another instance came in the NFL when the Falcons decided to give up on Brett Favre after just one season. Taken at No. 33 overall out of Southern Miss, Favre was never a favorite of former Atlanta head coach Jerry Glanville. He was also incredibly open about his dislike for the gunslinger’s style and Favre ended up attempting just four passes in his Atlanta career — he had no completions and two picks.
The Falcons then traded Favre to Green Bay for the No. 19 pick in the 1992 NFL Draft, which they used to get running back Tony Smith — who happened to be Favre’s old teammate at Southern Miss. Smith played for just three seasons in Atlanta and has 329 yards rushing, all of which came in his rookie campaign.
As for Favre, he was the starting quarterback for the next 16 seasons in Green Bay and threw 442 career touchdowns and leading them to a mark of 160-93 in his career. Favre also won a Super Bowl with the Packers and is mentioned as one of the best to ever play the game. Glanville surely made an error on this one.
Baltimore Ravens – Ricky Williams
It was hard to find another running back with as much talent as what Ricky Williams came into the NFL with back in 1999. The Texas product was so loved by New Orleans Saints head coach Mike Ditka that he traded every pick the team had left that season to move up for Williams.
New Orleans had already traded away their second-round pick for Eddie Kennison, and in the end, Williams was their only selection that season — something that had never taken place before.
At first, it seemed to be worth it. Williams was able to record 884 yards as a rookie in 12 games. He then started to get rolling as he had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the Saints and was getting better by the game. He was then traded away as the Miami Dolphins sent a huge package to New Orleans for Williams.
Once in South Beach, his career really took off. Williams had 1,853 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground for Miami and added another 363 yards and a score as a receiver. However, after two seasons with the team, Williams retired as he was facing suspension from the NFL for failing drug tests.
He eventually returned and while suspended from the NFL, he played for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. Eventually, he returned to Miami and even had another 1,000-yard season in 2009 at the age of 32.
Williams’ final season in the NFL came in 2011 as the 34-year-old running back joined the Baltimore Ravens. As a backup to Ray Rice and he played well, recording 444 yards while averaging 4.1 per attempt. He retired for good following that season but it still seems weird to think of him outside of New Orleans or Miami.
Buffalo Bills – Terrell Owens
One of the most talented receivers to ever play in the NFL, Terrell Owens always had his share of drama follow him while in the league. Originally a third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers back in 1996, Owens spent the first eight seasons of his career in the bay area.
When he left following the 2003 season, Owens was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles — although even that move had its share of drama. The 49ers originally thought they had a deal to send Owens to the Baltimore Ravens but he challenged that and in the end, he won.
T.O. landed in Philly and was phenomenal working alongside Donovan McNabb. Unfortunately, the two never saw eye to eye, and as if often the case, the quarterback won that battle. Owens, who made a remarkable comeback from a broken leg to play in the Super Bowl for the Eagles was gone after just two drama-filled seasons and then had a dominant stretch from 2006 through 2008 with the Dallas Cowboys.
In those three seasons, T.O. racked up 235 receptions for 3,587 yards and 38 touchdowns. Again, it was the locker room that proved to be his demise as the Cowboys released him not long after giving him a new contract.
Following his release, Owens signed with the Buffalo Bills. A struggling franchise at the time, Owens was a bright spot for them with 829 yards on 55 receptions. He played only one more season, with the Cincinnati Bengals, another team that we forget Owens played for.
He did try to come back in 2012 with the Seattle Seahawks — which came after a brief stint with the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor League. He didn’t make that roster but Owens continued to assert he can still play in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers – Reggie White
One of the final members of a USFL roster, Reggie White played for the Memphis Showboats in 1984. He was happy to play in Memphis after being a star collegiately in the same state for the Tennessee Volunteers. The USFL didn’t last much longer though as it folded in 1985 and White ended up joining the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played from 1985 through 1992.
White then entered free agency and was one of the more prized free-agent acquisitions in the league’s history at the time. He had several suitors lined up for his services, but the “minister of defense” chose the Green Bay Packers.
The hall of fame defensive end spent six seasons in Green Bay and made the Pro Bowl every season for them — he did so seven times in his eight seasons with the Eagles. White recorded 68.5 sacks for the Packers but his best days were with the Eagles which included a stretch where he had 18 sacks in 1986, 21 in 1987 and then 18 again in 1988.
He was great late into his 30s, even recording 16 sacks in 1998 at the age of 37. White then retired from football but he got the itch to come back after one season away from the game. The star defender decided not to return to either of the teams he played with in the past though as he signed with the young Carolina Panthers franchise.
At the age of 39, White started 16 games for the Panthers and had 16 tackles with 5.5 sacks. He wasn’t bad by any means, but it wasn’t the Reggie White we all remember. And the Reggie White we all remember doesn’t include a Panthers jersey.
Chicago Bears – Doug Flutie
There was no player doubted as much as Doug Flutie back in the mid-1980s. After a great career at Boston College, Flutie entered the NFL Draft but ad just 5-foot-9 and roughly 180-pounds, there were many questions about whether or not he could play at the pro level.
Those questions led to him falling to the 11th round of the NFL Draft, where the Los Angeles Rams took him at No. 285 overall. Flutie ended up taking a different route as he played for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL in 1985. His career there ended after one season as the league folded ahead of 1986.
That offseason, the Chicago Bears made a trade for Flutie and he played four games for them with just one start. He had another start in 1987 for the Bears and while he was 2-0 in relief for Chicago, he never finished his second season with the team.
New England ended up coming along and landing Flutie who crossed the picket line during a strike to play. He continued to be a journeyman as he spent time with New England, San Diego, and Buffalo while also heading back to the CFL in the 1990 campaign.
Flutie is one of the more popular players in NFL history and he had some success with Buffalo which is where most fans remember him from. Others might remember him playing into his 40s with the Chargers or his final stint in New England in 2005 where he even had some fun in the kicking game.
What most people don’t remember is him playing for the Bears.
Cincinnati Bengals – Garrison Hearst
Taken at No. 3 overall out of Georgia, Garrison Hearst was expected to be a star in the NFL. However, knee injuries slowed him down early in his career with the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals. After running for 264 yards as a rookie in six games and 169 in eight the following season, Hearst broke out in year three.
Arizona’s running back had 1,070 yards on the ground but just one touchdown rush. The Cardinals decided to go in a different direction after that season as he was let go in favor of Leeland McElroy. That was a bad choice as Hearst would go on to have a lot of success for the San Francisco 49ers.
Before that, he took a one-year detour in Cincinnati as the Bengals claimed him following the release by Arizona. Hearst played well for in Cincy, rushing for 847 yards for them but they allowed the speedy back to get away after just one season.
Hearst missed two years in 1999 and 2000 following complications from surgery but returned to run another 1,206 yards in 2001 and earn the Comeback Player of the Year Award.
James Harrison is another player to consider here as the Bengals also had the former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker on the team in 2013, but it seems more people would remember him being there than they would Hearst.
Cleveland Browns – Len Dawson
The Cleveland Browns have never won a Super Bowl, but they have had their share of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks come to town. One of those is Mark Rypien, who joined them in 1994, just two seasons after winning the title with the Washington Football Team.
Rypien started just three games and was 2-1 for Cleveland, which also happened to be his final two winning games as a starter. He was a journeyman after that and played for the St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, and Indianapolis Colts after leaving Cleveland.
While he’s a candidate to be the most forgotten star player the Browns once had, there was another name that they had who is an even bigger star — Len Dawson. The MVP of Super Bowl IV, Dawson was a three-time AFL Champion and one-time AFL MVP. He also led the league in passing yardage four times for the Kansas City Chiefs.
None of that would have been the case had the Browns hung onto Dawson, who was there from 1960 through 1961. Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dawson was traded to Cleveland when Pittsburgh added Bobby Layne but he couldn’t beat out Milt Plum.
Dawson threw for just 108 yards in his Cleveland career, making him one of their least memorable star players.
Dallas Cowboys – Randall Cunningham
For years, the Dallas Cowboys had to figure out how to slow down one of the more dynamic weapons in the NFL. Randall Cunningham was a Philadelphia Eagles quarterback for 11 seasons and during that time, he proved to be one of the biggest dual-threats in the game.
Cunningham possessed a strong arm and could fit the ball into some tight windows. He was also a sensational runner when he decided to take off with the ball. After taking over as the starter in Philly, he had three-straight Pro Bowl seasons from 1988 through 1990 and was even selected as the MVP by the PFWA — although the official award went to Joe Montana.
Following his tenure in Philadelphia, Cunningham went to Minnesota and was 13-1 in the 1998 season as the starter there. That was one of the better passing seasons of his career as the 35-year-old had 3,704 yards with 34 touchdowns against just 10 picks.
He’s fondly remembered for that season as well, but it’s still the days of wearing the kelly green that stands out when thinking of Randall Cunningham. What doesn’t stick out is wearing the Dallas Cowboys star on his helmet, which he did in the year 2000.
Signed as a backup to Troy Aikman, Cunningham was called into action when Aikman suffered a concussion. He just 1-2 as the starter but had some good numbers as he threw for 849 yards with a 6-to-4 touchdown to interception ratio.
Dallas moved on the following season from both Aikman and Cunningham and sent themselves into a long stint into quarterback purgatory.
Denver Broncos – Tony Dorsett
From an unknown Dallas Cowboys player to a superstar from the Cowboys golden era. Tony Dorsett was the big-name running back in Big D before Emmitt Smith and until Smith broke all his team records, he was the name every back was compared to.
Dorsett spent 11 seasons in Dallas and was a workhorse for them right out of the gates. As a rookie, he had 1,007 yards and 12 touchdowns. It was the first of five-straight 1,000-yard seasons and the first of eight in his first nine years in the league. The only exception was in 1982 when he missed seven games due to the season being shortened by a strike.
In 1986, the Cowboys signed Herschel Walker, which signified the beginning of the end for Dorsett in Dallas. Walker eventually took the starting job but Dorsett wasn’t done playing. This led to him being traded to the Denver Broncos ahead of the 1988 season.
Reunited with Dan Reeves, his former offensive coordinator in Dallas, Dorsett managed to run for 703 yards and five touchdowns. That performance moved him into second place all-time behind Walter Payton, although Emmitt Smith ended up passing them both up.
The veteran running back tried to return for another season but during the 1989 training camp, he tore a ligament in his knee and ended up retiring.
Another Hall of Famer that nearly spent a season in Denver was Jerry Rice who signed in 2005, but he retired before the start of the season.
Detroit Lions – Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Culpepper is remembered for two things from his NFL career. One is being a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings, a team he spent seven seasons with. From 1999 through 2005, Culpepper was with the Vikings and he led them to a 48-42 record. He had his share of success there including an 11-win season in 2000, which was his first year as the starter.
His best statistical season came in 2004 when he threw for 4,717 yards which led the NFL. He also set the team record with 39 passing touchdowns and just 11 picks — Minnesota even made the playoffs despite going just 8-8. The following season, Culpepper suffered a knee injury and then grew tired of being with the Vikings and forced his way out.
As for the second thing Culpepper is known for, he was the player the Miami Dolphins took over Drew Brees. Their head coach at the time was Nick Saban and he famously wanted Brees but the medical staff wasn’t going to clear him. Instead, they cleared Culpepper who lasted one season in Miami and was 2-4 as the starter. As for Brees, he’s still playing in the NFL and winning for the New Orleans Saints.
What Culpepper isn’t remembered for is his final two seasons in the NFL, which came with the Detroit Lions. After one season with the Oakland Raiders, Culpepper signed with Detroit and was 0-5 as a starter in 2008 before being injured. The team was no better without him as they went 0-16, the first team to do so in NFL history.
He returned in 2009 and was again 0-5 as the starter, making him 3-17 after his tenure in Minnesota. That’s rather forgetful.
Green Bay Packers – Jim McMahon
Jim McMahon was a Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Chicago Bears which gives him a lot of clout. He was under center for their 1985 championship run and while it’s generally understood that he’s an ultimate game-manager, he did lead them to an 11-0 mark that season. He followed that up with a 6-0 run in 1986.
In all, McMahon spent seven seasons with the Chicago Bears and was an unbelievable 46-15 for them. Sure, the reason they won was their defense but he deserves the credit for doing what was asked of him on offense.
Once he left the Bears, he was a journeyman that joined five different teams. His longest tenure following his Chicago days came from 1990 through 1992 when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. Unsurprisingly, he won again there as he was 9-3 when called into action. McMahon also spent a season with the Minnesota Vikings where he was 8-4. In all, he was a winner in 67 of 90 games started, meaning he ain’t ever knew success.
As icing on the cake, McMahon spent his final two seasons in the league as a backup to Brett Favre with the Green Bay Packers. As a member of the Bears biggest rivals, McMahon won another title in his final season as he was on the sidelines when Favre won his title in January of 1997.
The only real memory of McMahon in Green Bay was him wearing his Bears jersey to the White House when they visited. Later he admitted this wasn’t done to poke fun at the Packers but actually due to him being unable to visit after the Bears won it all due to the Challenger crash that shocked the nation.
Houston Texans – Ed Reed
Ed Reed was one of the most explosive safeties in NFL history for one of the more dominant defenses in NFL history. Reed was the 24th overall pick out of Miami and spent 11 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. During that time, he and Ray Lewis worked together to form one of the nastiest, and most charismatic defenses the league has ever seen.
Reed was known for his incredible instincts that always placed him around the football. In all, he played 13 seasons in the NFL and only once finished a season without multiple interceptions — which was in 2005 when he played in just 10 games and had one pick.
Three times in his career, Reed led the league in interceptions as he recorded nine in both 2004 and 2008 as well as eight in 2010. He finished his time in Baltimore with 608 tackles, 61 interceptions, seven defensive touchdowns, 135 pass defenses, and 11 forced fumbles. Simply put, this dude was a bad man.
Reed finally won a Super Bowl in 2012 with Baltimore and then played one more season in the NFL. He split time between the Houston Texans and New York Jets as he was traded to New York after playing seven games for Houston.
He wasn’t really a fit there but latched on with the Jets and had three picks in his final seven games before deciding to call it a career.
Indianapolis Colts – Marshall Faulk
Entering the 1994 NFL Draft, Marshall Faulk was one of the elite players and considered by many to be a can’t-miss prospect. He then ran a 4.28 at the Scouting Combine which solidified the San Diego State University running back as the most explosive player in the class.
Faulk ended up being taken second overall as the Indianapolis Colts were thrilled to add him to their team. He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after recording 1,804 yards from scrimmage and scoring 12 touchdowns.
What really made him special was his ability to destroy defenses as a receiver just as he could running the ball. In five seasons for the Colts, he had at least 1,000-yards on the ground four times (only missing the mark in 1996 when he was dealing with a nagging foot injury). He also topped 2,000-yards from scrimmage in 1998, which was his final season with the Colts.
In the middle of contract negotiations, there was a threat that Faulk could hold out. Indianapolis ended up moving on as they traded him to the St. Louis Rams in 1999. That was a great move for Faulk who joined the “Greatest Show on Turf” with the Rams.
He won a Super Bowl and an NFL MVP with the Rams as he was great alongside Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce, and Tory Holt. He’s a Hall of Famer who is known more for his seven years with the Rams than his start with the Colts.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Torry Holt
From one member of the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ to another, Torry Holt was the No. 6 overall pick for the St. Louis Rams in 1999. The North Carolina State star was an instant hit, catching 52 passes for 788 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. He was a part of the Rams Super Bowl run that season and he was the game-breaker that the offense really needed to round things out with Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, and Kurt Warner.
They didn’t win another Super Bowl, but Holt only got better as a player. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and twice led the league in receiving yards — which was in 2000 when he had 1,635 yards and 2003 when he had 1,696. He was also the receptions leader in 2003 when he had 117 catches on the year.
Holt finished second to Isaac Bruce in Rams history with 869 receptions for 12,660 yards, and 74 touchdowns. After 10 seasons with St. Louis, Holt hit free agency and signed a three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He had a rough season, catching just 51 of 103 targets for 722 yards with no touchdowns. He was released following the season and never played in the NFL again. Holt did try to play one more season though, signing with the New England Patriots in 2010 — but a knee injury ended that campaign before it began.
Kansas City Chiefs – Warren Moon
Warren Moon played professional football in four different decades. He began his career in the CFL back in 1978, where he played for six seasons. He finally retired following the 2000 campaign, which gave him a total of 23 seasons of pro ball.
Moon was a collegiate star but was undrafted and went the CFL route, where he played for the Edmonton Eskimos before joining the NFL in 194. He rose to fame with the Houston Oilers, who signed him after his successful run up north, although he had his share of bidders by then. For the Oilers, he threw for 33,685 yards with 196 touchdowns and 166 picks.
At the age of 38, he again began a new chapter as he joined the Minnesota Vikings. He wasn’t there nearly as long as he was in Houston, but his three seasons in Minnesota were impressive. Moon was 21-18 as a starter for them and threw for at least 4,000-yards in each of his first two seasons there. Eventually, he was replaced by Brad Johnson and Moon had another strong campaign after that.
In 1997, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks and made the Pro Bowl that year. He started 10 more games in 1998 at the age of 42 but that wasn’t the end. Moon had one more act as he spent 1999 and 2000 as the backup for the Kansas City Chiefs. He started just one game for them and in his career there, Moon had 228 yards with a touchdown and one pick.
Las Vegas Raiders – Eric Dickerson
Drafted second overall out of SMU in 1983, Eric Dickerson was a huge star for the Los Angeles Rams. It could be argued that he remains the biggest star they ever had as he was dominant during his five-year stretch with the Rams. He started out hot as he had 1,808 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground as a rookie. He followed that up with a great 1984 campaign, which saw him run for 2,105 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Dickerson was just the second player in NFL history to run for more than 2,000-yards in a season as he topped O.J. Simpson’s 1973 record of 2,003 yards. He also earned his second of three NFC Offensive Player of the Year awards that year.
Eventually, Dickerson was sent to the Indianapolis Colts in one of the biggest trades in league history. He was there for just nine games in 1987 but still had 1,011 yards in that time frame. Dickerson ended up crossing the 1,000-yard mark the next two seasons but then started to decline some.
In 1992, he was traded from the Colts to the Los Angeles Raiders, bringing him back to the city where he was a star. At 32-years old, Dickerson ran for 729 yards and two touchdowns. He had one last year after that with the Falcons but played in only four games.
Los Angeles Chargers – Johnny Unitas
The most recognizable quarterback in Indianapolis Colts history is Peyton Manning, there’s really no debate there. As for their time as the Baltimore Colts, it’s just as easy to select the most popular gun-slinger they have ever had — Johnny Unitas.
For 17 seasons, he was the quarterback in Baltimore and led them to a record of 117-60-4 during that span whole also winning three titles as he was 6-2 in the postseason for the Colts. A three-time MVP (in 1959, 1954, and 1967), Unitas was named to 10 Pro Bowls while also leading the NFL in passing yardage and touchdowns four times.
He’s also been honored as a member of the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team as well as being on the All-Time Team for the NFL’s 50th. 75th, and 100th anniversary. Simply put, ‘Johnny U’ was one of the biggest stars the game has ever seen.
What isn’t remembered too often though is that Unitas spent time with two other teams. First was the Pittsburgh Steelers, although he never played a down for them. Instead, he was released and played semi-pro ball until the Colts signed him the following season. He also played one season for the San Diego Chargers, which was his final year in the league.
In 1973, Unitas was traded to San Diego but he was no longer the player he once was. At 40-years of age, Unitas threw just 76 passes for the Chargers, completing 34 of them. He was 1-3 as their starter and had more interceptions (7) than touchdowns (3).
Los Angeles Rams – Joe Namath
Johnny Unitas wasn’t the only star quarterback to finish his career far from home for a California-based franchise. The same happened with Joe Namath, who is so synonymous with the New York Jets that he earned the nickname ‘Broadway Joe’.
The funny thing about Namath is, his stats while with the Jets don’t jump out as spectacular. He completed just a shade more than 50 percent of his passes and had 215 interceptions which was much more than the 170 touchdowns he threw for Gang Green. Even so, he was a star who was larger than life, and that helped his legend grow.
What Namath is most well-known for was his bold guarantee that his underdog AFL franchise could actually beat the NFL’s entrants, the Baltimore Colts. He faced none other than Johnny Unitas in that game and while Namath didn’t throw any touchdowns, he did just enough to get the win as he and the Jets walked out with a 17-6 victory.
After 12 seasons, Namath’s time in New York came to an end and he signed with the Los Angeles Rams. He spent the 1977 campaign with L.A. and was just 2-2 as the starter with only 606 yards passing. He added another three touchdowns and five picks to his NFL totals, but it’s hard to picture him in the blue and yellow of the Rams when Namath is all about the Gang Green.
Miami Dolphins – Thurman Thomas
One of the most exciting teams of the early 1990s was the Buffalo Bills. Led by Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Andre Reed, they went to four-straight Super Bowls — but lost all of them. Ironically enough, it was a trio of NFC East teams that knocked them off over and over as the New York Giants, Washington Football Team, and then Dallas Cowboys — twice — were all victorious over Buffalo in that span.
To the common fan, that could lead to the misconception that the Bills were failures at the time. While it’s true they never won it all, they were a great team with an incredible offense that led to some copycats popping up around the league.
As for Thomas, he was an integral piece to their success as he had 11,938 yards and 65 touchdowns for them on the ground and 4,341 yards and 22 touchdowns as a receiver. During that 12-year span, Thomas hit the 1,000-yard mark eight consecutive times.
Thomas was let go ahead of the 2000 season as the Bills made a salary cap savings move. At 34-years of age, Thomas still wanted to play and signed with the Miami Dolphins. He managed to play just nine games due to a knee injury and finished with only 136 yards on the ground and 117 as a receiver — with one total touchdown.
Minnesota Vikings – Archie Manning
One of the more recognizable names in the NFL, Archie Manning is famous for two things. One is being the patriarch of the most prominent football family in America. The other is being the biggest star for a struggling New Orleans Saints franchise during the 1970s.
Two of Manning’s sons, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, went on to become the No. 1 overall selections in their respective drafts. They also each won two Super Bowls as Peyton did so with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos while Eli defeated Tom Brady and the Patriots twice with the New York Giants.
Their father never got to taste that kind of success as he joined a very young, and inexperienced football program in 1971. The Saints were first introduced to the world in 1967 and they used the No. 2 overall pick on Manning in 1971. He never had a great cast around him and his best season was in 1979 when he led them to an 8-8 record.
Overall, Manning was 35-91-3 as the starter but was still highly thought of. A lot of the issue in New Orleans was the talent around him as Manning spent much of his career being harrassed by defenders. Eventually, his time with New Orleans came to an end as they traded the veteran to the Houston Oilers for Leon Gray. He played in just eight games for Houston and was 0-8 for them.
The Minnesota Vikings decided to trade for Manning in 1983 s they lost starting quarterback Tommy Kramer to an injury. Manning gave them an experienced option but again, he was unable to find success and was just 0-2 for the Vikings.
New England Patriots – Steven Jackson
In 2004, the St. Louis Rams drafted an absolute bruiser of a runner out of Oregon State in the first round. At pick No. 24, the Rams took Steven Jackson, who was a massive player for his position at 6-foot-2 and 240-pounds.
As a rookie, he started just three games as the backup to Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk. He proved quickly to be a solid option behind the legendary running back as Jackson had five-yards per attempt as a rookie with 673 total yards.
The following season, he took over for Faulk and never looked back. 2005 was the first of eight-straight seasons for Jackson with at least 1,000-yards on the ground. Unfortunately, the Rams weren’t a great team during that span and Jackson opted out of his contract in 2013 and went to a contender — this came after failed attempts to get traded the prior season.
Jackson signed with the Atlanta Falcons and while he wasn’t the same player, he still was good in spurts. In his two seasons with the Dirty Birds, Jackson had 1,250 yards and 12 touchdowns. He wasn’t brought back for the final season of his contract and would only play two more games in his career — which came as a member of the New England Patriots in 2015.
He did get to finally make some noise in the playoffs that season as he and the Pats made it to the AFC Championship game, where he even scored his first and only playoff touchdown. Still, it’s hard to remember him suiting up with Tom Brady and company in New England.
New Orleans Saints – Earl Campbell
Running backs can be some of the most exciting players to watch on an NFL team but they also have a hard time staying with one team. This has a lot to do with how quickly the players can decline once they near 30 — especially when they take a lot of abuse throughout their career.
That was the case with Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell who was one of the best players in the NFL while with the Houston Oilers. The Texas Longhorns product was drafted first overall in 1978 by Houston and he ran all over the league as a rookie with 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns.
His next two campaigns were even better as he had 1,697 yards and 19 touchdowns in 1979 and a career-high 1,934 yards in 1980 with 13 more touchdowns. Campbell was even named the NFL MVP for the work he did in 1979 — although he was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year (and rushing champion) for each of his first three NFL seasons.
During his seven seasons with the Oilers, Campbell was a monster but he was also hit an awful lot as he had 1,979 carries and there were five seasons where he had more than 300 carries. While that was taking its toll, even worse was the way the running back felt about his coaching staff and their struggles.
By midseason in 1984, Campbell was able to convince the team to trade him and they received a first-round pick for a 29-year-old running back. It was a smart move for them as Campbell played just the final eight games that season in New Orleans as well as the 1985 campaign before calling it a career.
Being reunited with his former coach Bum Phillps helped him personally, but on the field, he managed just 833 yards and one touchdown in the Big Easy.
New York Giants – Larry Csonka
It was hard to narrow this down for the New York Giants because they had two Hall of Fame players who are very well-known for being on different teams than the G-Men. They also each started with, and retired with their original franchise, but had a stop before their career was over in the Big Apple.
Fullback Larry Csonka was a member of the Miami Dolphins perfect team in 1972 and that was the best NFL season. Csonka rushed for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns that season, which was the middle of a three-year stretch of more than 1,000-yards on the ground.
Csonka spent eight seasons in Miami starting in 1968 and ending in 1979 but from 1976 through 1978, he was with the Giants. He had 1,344 yards and 15 touchdowns in that span which was respectable but not what he was capable of. He reminded everyone of this by running for 837 yards with 12 scores in 1979, which was his final season in the NFL.
His tenure was probably even less memorable than Fran Tarkenton’s who was in New York from 1967 through 1971. In those five seasons, Tarkenton made the Pro Bowl in all but one year. Like Csonka, he returned to his original team as the Giants, who traded for him in 1969 from the Minnesota Vikings, sent Tarkenton back to Minnesota in 1972.
When anyone thinks of Tarkenton, it’s as a member of the Vikings, much in the same way Larry Csonka is imagined as only wearing a Dolphins helmet during his NFL career.
New York Jets – Steve Atwater
One of the better safeties to ever play the game, Steve Atwater was a member of the Denver Broncos for 10 seasons. He played in 155 career games with Denver and started every single one of them. He was a ferocious hitter but could also cover as well as any cornerback.
For his career, Atwater had 1,188 tackles but also recorded 24 interceptions with one going back for a touchdown. He spent most of his career with John Elway on the other side of the ball as they struggled to get it done. That was, until their final two seasons in the Mile-High City.
In 1997 and 1998, the Broncos finally had their postseason success as they won back-to-back Super Bowls. Sadly, Elway and Atwater each left the team following the 1998 campaign — although Elway was done with playing, Atwater had one season left in him.
The Pro Bowl safety ended up with the New York Jets where he had 63 tackles for them in his final year. He re-signed with Denver on a ceremonial one-day contract the next offseason to retire as a Bronco.
Atwater followed in the footsteps of Ronnie Lott, who is another Hall of Fame safety that spent time with the Jets after having success elsewhere. Lott was on the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Raiders but his final two seasons in the league came in 1993 and 1994 as a New York Jet. Neither is remembered much at all for their time with Gang Green though.
Philadelphia Eagles – Mike Ditka
One possible name to mention here is Cris Carter, the Hall of Fame wide receiver who started his career with the Philadelphia Eagles. Carter showed flashes for the Eagles but was cut after just three seasons. In that time, he had 89 receptions for 1,450 yards and 19 touchdowns.
But it wasn’t his play that led to his releases. Instead, it was his off-field behavior which included alcohol and drug abuse. Carter got clean and became a great player for the Vikings. His story is so prevalent that while he’s known for his Vikings days, most remember he first failed to last in Philly due to his personal demons.
What isn’t as easy to remember is the fact that Mike Ditka was actually a tight end for the Eagles. Ditka is famous for his time with the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys where he was a player for each as well as later a coach. He won a Super Bowl as a player in Big D and later returned as an assistant head coach. He eventually returned to the Bears to be their head coach and again won a Super Bowl in 1985.
What’s easy to forget is in between his time as a Bears and Cowboys tight end was the two seasons he spent with the Eagles.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Michael Vick
There were three separate quarterbacks that nearly made this list. One was Len Dawson, who started his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers before being traded to the Cleveland Browns. Dawson wasn’t in Cleveland long either as he ended up joining the Kansas City Chiefs where he found his footing and had a great career.
There was also Johnny Unitas, who was a star for the Baltimore Colts, but was originally drafted by the Steelers. However, Unitas never actually played for Pittsburgh as they released him before the 1955 season began.
As for Dawson, he was covered in-depth on the Browns, so instead, we choose Michael Vick here. Vick is infamous for having his NFL career interrupted by the discovery of a dogfighting ring which ended with him serving time in prison. This brought to a halt one of the most exciting young careers we had ever seen as Vick was a superstar for the Atlanta Falcons.
Once he was free, he was given a second chance with the Philadelphia Eagles and made the most out of that. He spent five seasons in Philly and had an MVP-caliber season in 2010 at the age of 30. He then joined the New York Jets in 2014 before signing with the Steelers in 2015. At 35-years of age, he was there to back up Ben Roethlisberger and was 2-1 as a starter.
San Francisco 49ers – O.J. Simpson
O.J. Simpson ended up being accused of a vicious murder and there is pretty much no one who thinks justice was served when he was acquitted. However, this isn’t about him off the field but rather on it. And on the field, O.J. Simpson was masterful.
He spent nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills and was their biggest star — possibly ever — until the Jim Kelly era. Simpson was the first running back in league history to ever cross the 2,000-yard mark, which he did in 1973 when he had 2,003 yards and 12 touchdowns — which was even more impressive considering the league played just 14 games at the time. In all, he had 10,183 yards and 57 touchdowns for the Bills.
His final season in Western New York came in 1977 when he missed seven games due to an injury. He was traded the following season to the San Francisco 49ers, which was his hometown team. However, he wasn’t able to do much for them, which makes his stint with the Niners less than memorable.
He played 23 games in two seasons for San Francisco and averaged less than four yards per attempt and had 1,053 yards total in the two campaigns. He wasn’t exactly terrible, but he wasn’t the Juice we all have seen in highlights.
Seattle Seahawks – Franco Harris
Franco Harris was a throwback football player. A 230-pound fullback, he ran for 11,950 yards and 91 touchdowns in his 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He added another 2,284 yards and nine touchdowns on 306 catches during that span as well. And he stayed strong until the end as he had 1,007 yards in his final season with the Steelers in 1983.
During that time, the Hall of Famer won four Super Bowls, was named to nine Pro Bowls and was the 1972 Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was also on the receiving end of one of the greatest plays in sports history, the “Immaculate Reception.”
On this play, Harris caught a deflected pass on a fourth-and-10, in a divisional playoff game against Oakland, and ran it 40-yards for the game-winning touchdown. The play was controversial as well as remarkable and stands out as Harris’ biggest play of all-time.
What doesn’t stand out is his final season in the NFL. After being released by Pittsburgh in 1984, Harris signed with the Seattle Seahawks. He ended up playing in just eight games for them with 170 yards on the ground.
Jerry Rice is another player who could be the most forgotten about superstar to play in Seattle. In 2004, Rice was traded from the Oakland Raiders to the Seahawks. At age 42, he still proved he could play as he had 25 receptions for 362 yards and three touchdowns.
Harris and Rice were two of the best at their respective positions, and each played their final games in the NFL for Seattle.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tim Brown
Tom Brady in a Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform is going to be weird. It could be just as weird as when Steve Young donned the creamsicle jersey before he was a star with the San Francisco 49ers even. And speaking of Young, he’s a player who was an option here for the Bucs, but it seems as though his tenure is remembered much more than that of Hall of Fame wide receiver Tim Brown.
Following 16 seasons with the Raiders — both in Los Angeles and Oakland — Brown ended up playing one final campaign in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After refusing to take a smaller role in the Raiders offense, Brown was released. Brown had just come off a 567-yard receiving season at the age of 37 and felt he had more to give,
His former coach, Jon Gruden, was in Tampa Bay at the time and he decided to give Brown a shot to prove he could still get it done at 38-years of age. Brown ended up with a season to forget, catching just 24 passes for 200 yards and a single touchdown. Still, that gave him his 100th career receiving touchdown.
Brown was one of those players that stayed strong late in his career as he had 1,165 yards in 2001 at the age of 35 and then had 930 the following season. However, he wasn’t the same with the Bucs which is why that season is easy to forget.
Tennessee Titans – Randy Moss
There could be two names here, one for each of the nicknames this franchise has been known as. Originally the Houston Oilers, the team once had Archie Manning under center for a forgettable eight games — he lost all eight of those contests.
However, Manning was already looked at as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, which is where he went following his unsuccessful stint with Houston.
That gives the tiebreaker to another star player who played for the team once they were known as the Tennessee Titans — Randy Moss. One of the best receivers to ever play the game, Moss had worn out his welcome in Minnesota and was sent to the Oakland Raiders.
Following two forgetful campaigns there, he went to the New England Patriots where he returned to the Hall of Fame form we all remember.
However, he eventually frustrated Bill Belichick when he went to the media about his contract and was sent back to the Vikings. Moss made it through four games there and after saying Brad Childress was unfit to coach, he was waived and claimed by the Tennessee Titans.
Moss played eight games for the Titans and had nearly no impact on the team whatsoever. He finished those eight games with six catches for 80 yards. It was the worst season of his career but who would expect anything different when you play for three teams in such a short span.
He would retire following that dreadful season but did return for one more year with the San Francisco 49ers. That wasn’t a great season but it was much more memorable than his time with the Titans.
Washington Football Team – Shaun Alexander
Another running back makes the list as we again see a player who took a huge drop incredibly fast. Shaun Alexander was on top of the league in 2005 as the Seattle Seahawks running back had just rushed for 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns for the Seahawks, and continued his hot streak into the postseason.
Alexander was named the NFL MVP for his work that year and he even led them to the Super Bowl. Seattle lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, in a game that had its share of questionable calls that hurt the Seahawks’ chances.
As for Alexander, he turned that fantastic run into an eight-year contract extension worth $62 million, which was the most any running back had ever received at that time. The Seahawks knew they were taking a chance considering how quickly running backs could decline but the 28-year-old was coming off his fifth-consecutive 1,000-yard season, so they felt it was a calculated risk.
It ended up backfiring on them as Alexander played just two more seasons and saw his numbers decline as he was unable to stay on the field. He had 896 yards in 2006 and 716 in 2007/ He was released ahead of the 2008 season and headed to D.C. to play for the Washington Football Team.
He didn’t make it through the season though, as Washington gave Alexander his walking papers after just four games and 11 carries. It was an unceremonious end to his career, which makes his time with Washington easy to forget.