They were once the faces of franchises, the heroes of Sundays, and the pride of fanbases across the league. But as time wore on, these NFL legends traded highlight reels for headlines—and not always the good kind.
From contract disputes and bizarre behavior to locker room feuds and awkward exits, these players didn’t exactly ride off into the sunset. Whether it was ego, injuries, or just not knowing when to call it quits, here are 17 NFL icons who became total headaches late in their careers.
17. Warren Sapp
Sapp was a force in the trenches and a surefire Hall of Famer, but his blunt attitude wore thin by the end. His time in Oakland was full of fines, sideline outbursts, and media squabbles.
16. Michael Strahan
Strahan is now Mr. Morning Show, but his last few years in the NFL included messy contract disputes and threats to retire every offseason. The Giants loved his talent, but not always the drama.
15. Brett Favre
Favre’s on-field greatness was matched only by his inability to retire with dignity. The constant will-he-or-won’t-he routine became an annual headache for multiple teams.
14. Richard Sherman
Once the mouthpiece of the Legion of Boom, Sherman’s late-career tenure included injuries, public call-outs, and off-field headlines that overshadowed his declining play. He went from elite corner to lightning rod fast.
13. Tiki Barber
Tiki walked away from the game at his peak, only to spend his retirement pot-stirring from the sidelines. His criticism of former teammates and a failed comeback attempt didn’t exactly endear him to fans.
12. Randy Moss
Moss was unstoppable in his prime, but his attitude shift in later years made things rocky. Whether it was dogging routes or being openly unhappy in interviews, he brought plenty of drama.
11. Antonio Brown
Brown went from All-Pro to all-problem in a matter of seasons. His late-career antics—ranging from frostbitten feet to helmet grievances—turned every locker room into a circus.
10. Jay Cutler
Cutler always had a polarizing personality, but his final NFL seasons were defined by apathy and a general “meh” vibe. His body language alone made fans and coaches lose their minds.
9. Donovan McNabb
McNabb’s fall from grace included ugly stints in Washington and Minnesota, plus some strange media takes post-retirement. It was a tough watch for a guy who once ran the NFC.
8. Le’Veon Bell
Bell’s standoff with the Steelers set the stage for a strange second act. He never regained his elite form and bounced between teams while calling out coaches and hinting at a boxing career.
7. Dez Bryant
Dez was a touchdown machine in his prime, but his sideline blowups and off-field noise became a major distraction. Late in his career, he struggled to land gigs while continuing to talk big.
6. Terrell Owens
Owens is one of the most talented wideouts ever, but his final years were a carousel of team drama, reality TV, and Twitter rants. He never quite stopped campaigning for one more shot.
5. Cam Newton
Newton brought swagger and an MVP trophy to Carolina, but his post-prime seasons were defined by cryptic social media posts, odd fashion statements, and subpar play. He stayed in the spotlight, just not always for the right reasons.
4. Albert Haynesworth
After cashing in with a monster contract, Haynesworth’s effort level plummeted. He clashed with coaches, ignored conditioning, and quickly became one of the league’s most expensive problems.
3. Odell Beckham Jr.
OBJ’s late-career image has been more about fashion shows, sideline tantrums, and cryptic tweets than consistent play. The hype stayed, but the production didn’t always follow.
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2. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben brought Pittsburgh two rings, but the final chapters of his career included passive-aggressive media comments, locker room leaks, and a refusal to admit when it was time to hang it up. The decline was tough to ignore.
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1. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers’ twilight years have included everything from vaccine controversy to offseason retreats and cryptic interviews. He’s still got talent, but the drama has started to outweigh the dimes.
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