Wrestlers Who Played For PROFESSIONAL Sports Teams

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

There is a lot of talk about guys amateur/college careers, but what about guys who actually made it all the way to leagues like the NFL, NBA, maybe even MLB and other professional top tier sports promotions?

Some I know

Darren Drozdov-Played for the NFL with the Denver Broncos for the 1993-1994 season

Vader-Played for the NFL briefly and actually has a Super Bowl ring (though I don't think he actually played in the big game). I think he was with the Broncos too, but I could be wrong

Fritz Von Erich-Played for the NFL with the ill fated Dallas Texans team, which lasted for exactly one season.

Then of course there are big name athletes who had brief wrestling careers like Dennis Rodman, Lawrence Taylor, etc.

[SOR]

Goldberg of course, Monty Brown and Steve McMichael also.

Bob Sapp played I believe 1 game in the NFL for the Bears. Lesnar did the training camp as most know, Luger made the training camps I believe. Heidenreich made a few NFL Training Camps but didn't get anywhere.

[Deleted]

Brock Lesnar briefly played for the Minnesota Vikings. Got cut just before regular season.

[Citizen Snips]

Wahoo McDaniel and Ernie Ladd actually had successful careers in the NFL before becoming wrestlers.

[Vice honcho room temperature]

Flyin' Brian Pillman played in the NFL for the Bengals for a season or two

[molson5]

Giant Gonzalez was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, and may have played for their rookie summer league team, but he never actually played a game in the NBA.

I believe Manny Fernandez played in the NFL. Ron Simmons did as well.

Brian Pillman played in the preseason with the Bengals but was cut before the regular season started

[molson5]

I think back in the 50s and 60s it was a lot more common - pro athletes needed a second job in the offseason and a lot of them would wrestle, like Alex Karras and Bronko Nagurski

[A Platypus Rave is Correct]

Didn't Macho man play for the cardinals? Or did he only make it to the minors?

[Ganon83]

Jim Neidhart played for the Raiders and the Cowboys according to Bret, but never saw any playing time on the field during the regular season.

[Hawk Hart]

Didn't Randy Savage play for the Cardinals, White Sox, and Reds? Well not really play for all of them but he was signed to all three teams.

[turkeysandwich]

Roman Reigns was with the Vikings and Jaguars, but I don't know if he ever played or not.

[Stone Coke Miami Watson 🥃]

Tito Santana was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs and played one season in the Canadian Football League....

[dav]

What about that sport Sid played? Was he a professional in that?

[Deleted]

Mongo actually had a very successful NFL career

Stacy Keibler was a cheerleader for the Baltimore Ravens if that counts.

Bradshaw was with the Raiders for at least a preseason.

Kurt Angle had a tryout with the Steelers despite not playing college football.

Bruiser Brody played for the Redskins but I'm not sure for how long.

[A Platypus Rave is Correct]

Layla was a Miami Heat cheerleader if we're counting those... (and I don't particularly see why we wouldn't be)

[Deleted]

May 22, 2013 10:58:34 GMT -5 Hawk Hart said:

Didn't Randy Savage play for the Cardinals, White Sox, and Reds? Well not really play for all of them but he was signed to all three teams.

Savage was signed to the three teams mentioned, but never made it out of the minors. From what I understand, that's in part, why he didn't use the Poffo name, even though it was known that he was Angelo's son and Lanny's brother when he worked for his father's promotion. Apparently, Ole Anderson suggested that he use, and keep the last name Savage, as it fit his style.

Verne Gagne was a Chicago Bear, and I want to say that he also played for the Green Bay Packers, but that may be my memory playing tricks on me.

[Deleted]

May 22, 2013 9:00:19 GMT -5 molson5 said:

I believe Manny Fernandez played in the NFL.

I'm unsure about this one. There was a Manny Fernandez that played for the Miami Dolphins. This is not the same person as the wrestler known as "The Ragin' Bull". However, I remember hearing in a shoot interview(With Terry Funk, maybe?)that wrestler Manny liked to tell a lot of tall tales, and would tell people that he was the same Manny Fernandez that played for the Dolphins. His Wikipedia page states that he played in the NFL, but sites no teams or years. It's possible that this info was taken from one of Manny's tall tales.

[NOwave]

Here's all I know of, not counting those who have already been mentioned, or those who did wrestling as a "Special Event" only, like a Wrestlemania

Most interesting: Billy Gunn-PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association)

Lex Luger-CFL/USFL/NFL(briefly)

The Rock-CFL

Blackjack Mulligan-NFL(Jets)

Junkyard Dog-NFL(Packers)

Rocky Johnson-Professional boxing

Kevin Nash-Europe basketball

Monty Brown-NFL (Bills, Patriots)

Kevin Greene-NFL(Jaguars)

Tito Santana-NFL (Chiefs)

Ahmed Johnson-NFL(Cowboys)

Hacksaw Jim Duggan-NFL(Falcons)

Paul Orndorff-WFL


Going back in years:

Danny Hodge-CFL

Leo "The Lion" Nomellini-NFL (49ers)

Bronco Nagurski-NFL (Bears)(NFL Hall of Fame)

[Manute Bol]

If cheerleaders count, do NBA dancers? Weren't Layla and Naomi dancers?

[Dat Dude]

May 22, 2013 21:10:38 GMT -5 Manute Bol said:

If cheerleaders count, do NBA dancers? Weren't Layla and Naomi dancers?

Yep Layla for Miami Heat and Naomi for Orlando Magic. Eve danced for the LA Clippers.