The NFL thrives on talent, but sometimes, even the most gifted players have too much baggage. Whether it was off-field drama, locker room chaos, or just a vibe that didn’t sit right, some players found themselves subtly (or not-so-subtly) shown the door.
This list isn’t about the players who officially retired or had a graceful sendoff. These are the ones who suddenly disappeared, couldn’t get a second shot, or weren’t worth the headache, at least in the league’s eyes.
15. Ray Rice
Once a Pro Bowl running back, Rice was out of the league in a flash after his off-field incident went public. No team touched him again, no matter how many workout videos he posted.
14. Antonio Brown
Teams gave him chance after chance, but eventually the circus became too much for even the boldest franchises. The talent was still there, but the patience ran out fast.
13. Colin Kaepernick
His name is still debated over a decade later, but the league collectively shrugged and moved on. Teams claimed it was about football, but the silence said otherwise.
12. Josh Gordon
Every time it seemed like Gordon was back, something went wrong again. Eventually, the league stopped pretending like a comeback was in the cards.
11. Terrelle Pryor
He showed flashes as both a quarterback and receiver, but never stuck anywhere for long. It felt like teams didn’t want to invest the energy.
10. Martavis Bryant
Explosive on the field, but the off-field issues kept stacking up. The NFL gave him just enough rope before quietly moving on.
9. Greg Hardy
After a highly controversial signing with Dallas, the rest of the league wanted no part of the PR disaster. He was gone just as fast as he returned.
8. Johnny Manziel
The NFL loves a redemption story, but Johnny Football ran out of chapters fast. Teams seemed more interested in watching from afar than making a call.
7. Justin Blackmon
![Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon (14) is shoved out of bounds in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, FL on Sunday, September 30, 2012. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union] Spt 02bsjagsvsbengal](https://thequickreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-02T210216.978-1024x658.png)
The Jaguars had big hopes, but his career unraveled before it began. After multiple suspensions, the league washed its hands.
6. Richie Incognito (the first time)
He eventually made his way back, but there was a long stretch where nobody wanted to deal with the fallout. The bullying scandal made him untouchable for a while.
5. Aldon Smith
His talent was undeniable, but the red flags never stopped waving. After multiple chances, the NFL quietly stepped aside.
4. Titus Young
He had serious potential, but things spiraled quickly on and off the field. No team was willing to roll the dice a second time.
3. Rae Carruth
This one goes far beyond football. The NFL didn’t just move on—they acted like he never existed.
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2. Art Schlichter
A cautionary tale from the 1980s, Schlichter’s gambling problems were too much for the league to stomach. The silence around his exit said it all.
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1. Ray McDonald
He was once considered a rising defensive star, but his off-field issues caught up to him fast. After multiple run-ins with the law, teams wanted nothing to do with him, and they never looked back.
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