10 Retired NFL Players Who Had Great Final Games

NFL players tend to decline once they are past their prime, but the rate of their downfall varies significantly. While most are a shell of themselves in the waning moments of their career, others closed out their final chapter with a performance that proved they could still play at a high level.

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It should come as no surprise that many of these competitors hung up their cleats relatively early compared to their peers, as the fact that they were still in the prime of their careers contributed to their impressive closing act. At the same time, there have also been countless instances where older players were motivated to turn back the clock and performed admirably in their final showing.

10 Calvin Johnson Jr.

It should come as no surprise to see Calvin Johnson on this list, as he was one of the most dominant receivers in NFL history and was still at the top of his game when he announced his retirement in the 2016 offseason. The 30-year-old had a lot of confidence going into the Lions' Week 17 matchup against Tracy Porter and the Bears, as he had his best game of the season in their previous matchup.

Nevertheless, he arguably had an even more impressive performance in their second meeting, as the Bears had no answer for Megatron. The dominant receiver lit up their porous defense for ten grabs, 137 yards, and an incredible diving touchdown catch that broke a 10-10 tie late in the third quarter. He had over 100 yards more than the next Lions pass-catcher and helped Detroit come away with a 24-20 win. Johnson willing Detroit to victory in his final game with the team was somewhat poetic, as he had done that so many times.

9 Tiki Barber

Tiki Barber was another player who retired with a lot left in the tank, as he finished his final season with over 2100 yards from scrimmage. Calling the versatile running back a late bloomer would be an understatement, as he was considered nothing more than a change-of-pace option before establishing himself as one of the league's top dual-threats in his fourth season.

Barber helped the Giants book their ticket to the postseason with an incredible 234-yard (the highest mark for a player over the age of 30), three-touchdown performance in the game of the 2006 regular season, and he kept the momentum going in the Wild Card matchup against the Eagles the following week. Philly might have come out on top with a 23-20 victory, but Barber was arguably (Brian Westbrook might have something to say about it, but he will get his flowers later on the list) the best player on the field, as he finished with the contest with 137 yards on the ground and 15 more through the air.

8 Sterling Sharpe

Sterling Sharpe was at the top of his game before suffering a freak neck injury during a game against the Falcons in Week 16 of the 1994 season. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old still was able to suit up against the Falcons the following week, and he put on a show in his final game as a pro.

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The savvy pass-catcher had nine catches for 132 yards and caught all three of Brett Favre's passing touchdowns during the 34-19 victory. He led the league with 18 receiving touchdowns in his final season, and there is no telling where he would have wound up on the all-time list if his career did not get cut short.

7 Joe Montana

Joe Montana's final two years in Kansas City may have been less memorable than his prior 14 in San Francisco, but he still achieved relative success with the team. The signal-caller might have been in the twilight of his career with the Chiefs, but he was still capable of playing at an elite level (which is more than other all-time great quarterbacks can say).

Montana led the Chiefs to the playoffs in 1994, when he lost to Dan Marino's Dolphins 27-17 in the Wild Card round. While he may have come up short on the scoreboard, he still played inspired football (minus one ill-advised red-zone interception) and finished the contest with 314 yards, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 102.8.

6 Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson was (supposedly) capable of some incredible feats of athleticism, and there is no telling how much success he would have achieved if a freak hip injury did not cut his career short after only four seasons. While his on-field success might have never caught up to the hype surrounding his name, Jackson still could take any touch to the house in a heartbeat, and his efficiency numbers were through the roof.

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The uber-talented running back only needed six carries to gain 77 yards against the Bengals in the Wild Card round of the 1990 playoffs, and he helped Oakland come away with a 20-10 victory in the process. There is no telling how much better his performance would have been if he wasn't knocked out of the contest in the third quarter after suffering the dislocated hip injury that ultimately ended his career.

5 Kam Chancellor

Kam Chancellor was an intimidating force on the back end of the Seahawk's famous Legion of Boom defense, as he regularly imposed his will on opposing ball-carriers and wide receivers who were brave enough to run up the seam. His playing style made him one of the most feared defenders in the league, and he would probably still be playing if a freak neck injury had not ended his career at the age of 29.

Chancellor was slowed by injuries later in his career, but he was still capable of playing at an extremely high level, which he proved during a Week 10 matchup against the Cardinals in 2017. He set the game's tempo early when he stripped Adrian Peterson on Arizona's first drive. That was just the start for the bruising safety, as he finished the contest, which Seattle won 22-16, with a season-high ten tackles (including two behind the line of scrimmage).

4 Brian Westbrook

Brian Westbrook’s impact in the passing game was almost as impressive as the one he made on the ground, and he was one of the NFL's most dynamic dual-threats throughout his career. While the Eagles seemed reluctant to hand him a full workload early in his career, they still utilized him as their offensive centerpiece.

Many thought his best days were behind him when he signed with the 49ers in 2010, but he showed that he still possessed game-breaking ability (at least against the Cardinals). He had over 130 yards on the ground in their 27-6 win over Arizona in Week 12, the first game he was featured as the lead back. His performance in this second game against the Cardinals, which occurred in the final week of the regular season, was arguably even more impressive, as he found the end zone twice and finished the contest with 94 total yards on only 14 touches.

3 Philip Rivers

Despite flying well under the radar throughout his career, Philip Rivers was one of the most productive quarterbacks in the league throughout his 17-year (one year for each of his children) career. He spent 16 seasons with the Chargers before joining the Colts in 2020. Indianapolis featured a talented roster, and many believed Rivers could be the missing piece they needed to get over the hump.

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Rivers may have fallen short of the lofty expectations going into the season, but he still led the squad to an 11-5 record and played relatively well. He looked especially sharp in his final contest when he completed 27 of 46 attempts for 309 yards and two touchdowns. Nevertheless, that was not enough to beat the Bills, who came away with a 27-24 victory in the Wild Card Round. While he might not have come out on top in the contest, he still performed well enough to make all of his children proud, and that's all that matters in the end, right?

2 NaVorro Bowman

Opposing running backs knew they were in for a long day when they faced off against the 49ers in the early 2010s, as Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman were one of the most formidable linebacking duos the NFL has ever seen. While Willis may have been the headliner, one could argue that Bowman was just as integral to the defense's success, as he stuffed the stat sheets like no other and was named a First-team All-Pro in each of his first three years as the full-time starter.

Injuries began to take a toll on Bowman, as he missed nearly two full seasons after suffering multiple severe leg injuries. Nevertheless, he did not let that stop him from making sideline-to-sideline plays on the gridiron. The linebacker was still playing at a high level after joining the Raiders midway through the 2017 season. He saved the best performance for last and racked up a season-high 13 tackles (including eight solo ones) and a half-sack in their 30-10 loss to the Chargers in the final regular season contest.

1 Brian Urlacher

Brian Urlacher's rare blend of size, speed, and athleticism made him one of the freakiest athletes in NFL history, and he was one of the most intimidating players at the position throughout his career. The 2018 Hall of Fame inductee was just as dominant against the pass as he was against the run in the middle of Chicago's Tampa 2 defense.

While Urlacher may have lost a step (or a few of them) late in his career, he was still capable of playing at an elite level, which he showed before going down with a hamstring injury against the rookie Russell Wilson-led Seahawks in Week 13 of the 2012 season. He forced Marshawn Lynch to fumble on the first drive and was all over the field throughout the contest, finishing with eight solo tackles and a pass deflection in the 23-17 overtime loss.