10 NFL Stars Who Finished Their Careers in Strange Places
May 8th 2013 17:17
Not every great NFL player gets to end their careers playing for one team. In the age of free agency it rarely happens. All one has to do is look at quarterback Peyton Manning for proof. As recent as two years ago, very few people thought that he would not end his career with the Indianapolis Colts. Due to uncertainty after he had neck surgery in 2011, the Colts released him and now Manning is a member of the Denver Broncos.
Manning is just one case of a star player finishing his career in a strange uniform. Here are 10 NFL stars from my lifetime that finished their careers in uniforms no one expected to see them in. Only players who played for two teams make the list.
10 Carl Eller Minnesota Vikings to Seattle Seahawks
Eller did not finish his career with the Vikings. The team's number one pick in 1964, teamed with Alan Page and Jim Marshall to help form the 'Purple People Eater' defensive line of the 1960's and 1970's. In 1979, Eller was traded to Seattle. In an ironic twist, Eller and Page joined the Vikings after Marshall and were gone before Marshall retired in 1979.
9. Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys to Arizona Cardinals
Even in the age of free agency, this one seems strange. The all-time leading rusher may have hung around too long, but no one thought he would be the only member of the triplets, quarterback Troy Aikman and wide receiver Michael Irvin were the other two, that did not finish his career in Dallas.
Smith signed as a free agent with the Cardinals in 2003 and spent two nondescript seasons with them. He was bad and they were worse.
8. Lance Alworth San Diego Chargers to Dallas Cowboys
In nine seasons with the Chargers, Alworth dominated so thoroughly that he became the first player from the AFL enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During the 1960's, Alworth was the face of the league as he sped down field in his powder blue number 19 Chargers jersey and beat every defensive back in the league.
In 1971, Dallas coach Tom Landry traded for him. Alworth said Landry told him he made the trade, because Dallas needed a wide receiver to block down field. Heck, Landry could have found anyone to do that. A talent like Alworth had to be maximized in the passing game. Unfortunately, Landry did not do this and we never found out how good a combination Alworth and his hall of fame teammate Bob Hayes could have been together.
7. Tony Dorsett Dallas Cowboys to Denver Broncos
You have to really think to remember that Dorsett played for Denver. After Dallas brought in Herschel Walker in 1986, Dorsett's days were numbered. The 1976 Heisman Trophy winner out of Pitt was traded to Denver in 1988. He played one year for the Broncos and was actually on their roster when they went to Super Bowl XXIV in 1989. Unfortunately, Dorsett was hurt and did not play that season.
6. Alan Page Minnesota Vikings to Chicago Bears
I have a football card of Page with the Bears. He has a beard and is wearing number 82. It is the only thing that reminds me that Page played for them at all. Page played with Minnesota from 1968 to 1978. For whatever reason, he was cut midway through the '78 season. The Chicago Bears signed him and Page played his final three and a half years with them.
Page retired after the 1981 season and the Bears sent him out in style by beating the Broncos in his final game and knocking them out of the playoffs.
5. Franco Harris: Pittsburgh Steelers to Seattle Seahawks
Harris scored the winning touchdown in Pittsburgh's first ever playoff victory on the famous 'Immaculate Reception.' From 1972 to 1982, he was the Steelers workhorse. Going into the 1984 season, Harris was ranked second all-time in rushing yards to legendary Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown. It was thought, he would get a chance to break the record with Pittsburgh.
This was not to be the case as Franco and Steelers management could not come to an agreement on a contract. Unbelievably, the man who helped Pittsburgh become one of the greatest teams ever and is still their all-time leading rusher ended up in Seattle. There, he played in only eight games and never surpassed Brown.
4. O.J. Simpson Buffalo Bills to San Francisco 49ers
During the 1970's O.J. Simpson was the Buffalo Bills. The entire team revolved around him. He set a single season rushing record in 1973 by becoming the first man to run for over 2,000 yards in a season with 2,003. When Simpson retired in 1979, he was the second leading rusher of all-time.
In 1978, O.J. was traded to San Francisco. It was believed Simpson wanted to finish his career in the city where he grew up. He did it on one leg as a bum knee made him a shell of the man selected player of the decade by NFL Films.
3. Joe Namath New York Jets to Los Angeles Rams
With Simpson, Namath was the other icon of the 1970's. From signing with the Jets for $400,000 in 1964 to guaranteeing a Super Bowl win in 1968, Namath was front page news throughout his career. But by 1977, he was a quarterback with two bad knees playing for a team with no future. So the Jets sent him to Hollywood where he started the season for the Rams before giving way to Pat Haden.
Namath's career ended standing on the sidelines in the rain while Los Angeles lost a playoff game to the Vikings. Ironically, Simpson was in the crowd that day.
2. Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers to Kansas City Chiefs
How many quarterbacks lead their teams to four championships and end up finishing their careers somewhere else? Only Montana.
After 13 seasons with San Francisco, he was traded to the Chiefs. Many forget that Montana sat out the 1991 season and did not start his last year with the Niners, 1992 due to an elbow injury. He watched from the bench as the Steve Young led Niners lost to Dallas in the NFC championship game. Montana played two seasons with Kansas City before retiring after the 1994 season.
1. John Unitas Baltimore Colts to San Diego Chargers
Unitas was the first legend that I was really aware of that did not finish his career with his first team. Sure, he was drafted by the Steelers, but cut before ever playing a game. This means, he started his pro career with the Colts in 1956.
In 1973, he was traded to the Chargers and Baltimore fans were crushed. My cousin was a big Colts fan. After they lost to the Washington Redskins 38-0 on opening day, I remember him saying over and over, "That's not the Unitas I know."
By the end of the season, Johnny U was on the bench an old warrior unable to play anymore.
Manning is just one case of a star player finishing his career in a strange uniform. Here are 10 NFL stars from my lifetime that finished their careers in uniforms no one expected to see them in. Only players who played for two teams make the list.
10 Carl Eller Minnesota Vikings to Seattle Seahawks
Eller did not finish his career with the Vikings. The team's number one pick in 1964, teamed with Alan Page and Jim Marshall to help form the 'Purple People Eater' defensive line of the 1960's and 1970's. In 1979, Eller was traded to Seattle. In an ironic twist, Eller and Page joined the Vikings after Marshall and were gone before Marshall retired in 1979.
9. Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys to Arizona Cardinals
Even in the age of free agency, this one seems strange. The all-time leading rusher may have hung around too long, but no one thought he would be the only member of the triplets, quarterback Troy Aikman and wide receiver Michael Irvin were the other two, that did not finish his career in Dallas.
Smith signed as a free agent with the Cardinals in 2003 and spent two nondescript seasons with them. He was bad and they were worse.
8. Lance Alworth San Diego Chargers to Dallas Cowboys
In nine seasons with the Chargers, Alworth dominated so thoroughly that he became the first player from the AFL enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During the 1960's, Alworth was the face of the league as he sped down field in his powder blue number 19 Chargers jersey and beat every defensive back in the league.
In 1971, Dallas coach Tom Landry traded for him. Alworth said Landry told him he made the trade, because Dallas needed a wide receiver to block down field. Heck, Landry could have found anyone to do that. A talent like Alworth had to be maximized in the passing game. Unfortunately, Landry did not do this and we never found out how good a combination Alworth and his hall of fame teammate Bob Hayes could have been together.
7. Tony Dorsett Dallas Cowboys to Denver Broncos
You have to really think to remember that Dorsett played for Denver. After Dallas brought in Herschel Walker in 1986, Dorsett's days were numbered. The 1976 Heisman Trophy winner out of Pitt was traded to Denver in 1988. He played one year for the Broncos and was actually on their roster when they went to Super Bowl XXIV in 1989. Unfortunately, Dorsett was hurt and did not play that season.
6. Alan Page Minnesota Vikings to Chicago Bears
I have a football card of Page with the Bears. He has a beard and is wearing number 82. It is the only thing that reminds me that Page played for them at all. Page played with Minnesota from 1968 to 1978. For whatever reason, he was cut midway through the '78 season. The Chicago Bears signed him and Page played his final three and a half years with them.
Page retired after the 1981 season and the Bears sent him out in style by beating the Broncos in his final game and knocking them out of the playoffs.
5. Franco Harris: Pittsburgh Steelers to Seattle Seahawks
Harris scored the winning touchdown in Pittsburgh's first ever playoff victory on the famous 'Immaculate Reception.' From 1972 to 1982, he was the Steelers workhorse. Going into the 1984 season, Harris was ranked second all-time in rushing yards to legendary Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown. It was thought, he would get a chance to break the record with Pittsburgh.
This was not to be the case as Franco and Steelers management could not come to an agreement on a contract. Unbelievably, the man who helped Pittsburgh become one of the greatest teams ever and is still their all-time leading rusher ended up in Seattle. There, he played in only eight games and never surpassed Brown.
4. O.J. Simpson Buffalo Bills to San Francisco 49ers
During the 1970's O.J. Simpson was the Buffalo Bills. The entire team revolved around him. He set a single season rushing record in 1973 by becoming the first man to run for over 2,000 yards in a season with 2,003. When Simpson retired in 1979, he was the second leading rusher of all-time.
In 1978, O.J. was traded to San Francisco. It was believed Simpson wanted to finish his career in the city where he grew up. He did it on one leg as a bum knee made him a shell of the man selected player of the decade by NFL Films.
3. Joe Namath New York Jets to Los Angeles Rams
With Simpson, Namath was the other icon of the 1970's. From signing with the Jets for $400,000 in 1964 to guaranteeing a Super Bowl win in 1968, Namath was front page news throughout his career. But by 1977, he was a quarterback with two bad knees playing for a team with no future. So the Jets sent him to Hollywood where he started the season for the Rams before giving way to Pat Haden.
Namath's career ended standing on the sidelines in the rain while Los Angeles lost a playoff game to the Vikings. Ironically, Simpson was in the crowd that day.
2. Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers to Kansas City Chiefs
How many quarterbacks lead their teams to four championships and end up finishing their careers somewhere else? Only Montana.
After 13 seasons with San Francisco, he was traded to the Chiefs. Many forget that Montana sat out the 1991 season and did not start his last year with the Niners, 1992 due to an elbow injury. He watched from the bench as the Steve Young led Niners lost to Dallas in the NFC championship game. Montana played two seasons with Kansas City before retiring after the 1994 season.
1. John Unitas Baltimore Colts to San Diego Chargers
Unitas was the first legend that I was really aware of that did not finish his career with his first team. Sure, he was drafted by the Steelers, but cut before ever playing a game. This means, he started his pro career with the Colts in 1956.
In 1973, he was traded to the Chargers and Baltimore fans were crushed. My cousin was a big Colts fan. After they lost to the Washington Redskins 38-0 on opening day, I remember him saying over and over, "That's not the Unitas I know."
By the end of the season, Johnny U was on the bench an old warrior unable to play anymore.
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