10 Wrestlers Who Played Professional Football
There are plenty of well-known professional athletes -- namely football and wrestlers -- who found major success in the movie industry.
But many wrestling fans don't know how their favorite superstars got to this point. Some of them, including a handful of Hall of Famers, first started out playing professional football.
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For various reasons, their careers on the gridiron didn't go as hoped. These athletes were then forced to take up another line of work, and they eventually found their landing in the professional wrestling business.
Here are 10 notable wrestlers who played football at the professional level before they entered the squared circle.
11 10. King Corbin
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Well before he graced the square circle, King Corbin (real name Thomas Pestock) was an offensive lineman for the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats. He went undrafted in 2009 and eventually signed with the Indianapolis Colts, but Corbin was released without playing a game.
He then signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2010, but he never actually suited up in a game for them. After he was released, Corbin found a steady backup career in another sports industry -- the WWE.
And he hasn't looked back.
9 9. Brian Pillman
The late Brian Pillman was a standout defensive tackle during his days at Miami (Ohio). He was even a second-team All-American in college. He spent one season for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals in 1984, appearing in six games.
Pillman had a brief stint with the Buffalo Bills as well, though he never played a game for them. Afterward, he wound up playing for the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, but Pillman ultimately decided to take up professional wrestling during the mid-80s.
8 8. Ron Simmons
Ron Simmons played for the Florida State Seminoles from 1977 to 1980, and simply put, he was one of the most dominant defensive players in NCAA history. Simmons was a consensus All-American in 1979 and 1980, and he is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
The former WCW Champion appeared briefly for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL, and he later had spots in the CFL and USFL. But of course, Simmons enjoyed far more success in the squared circle -- earning a WWE Hall of Fame induction in 2012.
7 7. Verne Gagne
One of the most decorated, accomplished, beloved and iconic wrestlers of all-time, Gagne's professional athletic career actually started on the gridiron.
Gagne played for the University of Minnesota Gophers, and he was later drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1947 (145th overall). However, legendary owner George Halas told Gagne to choose between football and wrestling
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The all-around athlete opted for a career in wrestling, and judging by his success in the ring, it's safe to believe that Gagne never regretted his decision. He won 10 AWA World Heavyweight Championships, and Gagne was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.
6 6. Vader
Vader (real name Leon White) played college football at the University of Colorado before getting drafted in the third round by the Los Angeles Rams in 1978. He was on the club that reached Super Bowl XIV, where they fell to Terry Bradshaw's dynastic Pittsburgh Steelers.
Unfortunately, a patella rupture ended his football career early. But Vader eventually landed in the wrestling business, and he got his big break after joining New Japan-Pro Wrestling in 1987.
He became a main event draw in WCW, winning the company's World Heavyweight Championship three times.
5 5. Lex Luger
Lex Luger (real name Lawrence Pfohl) played on one of the NCAA's most prestigious football programs, the Miami Hurricanes. He was a standout offensive lineman who eventually made the jump to the CFL, making stops with the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos.
In fact, Pfhol's Alouettes reached the 1979 Grey Cup game, where they fell to the Eskimos. He then spent the 1982 and '83 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, though Pfohl never actually played a game for then.
Following brief stints in the USFL, Luger decided to take up professional wrestling -- and he eventually became a big money draw in both WWE and WCW.
4 4. Goldberg
Bill Goldberg played at the University of Georgia before he was drafted 301st overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 1990. Goldberg, a 6-foot-2, 272-pound defensive linemen, never actually played for the Rams.
He appeared in 14 games for the Atlanta Falcons from 1992 to '94. Injuries cut his career short, but Goldberg would finally become a household name in the sports entertainment industry after he joined WCW in 1997.
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Goldberg quickly became the new No. 1 babyface in WCW, thanks to his historic undefeated streak. He enjoyed some success in WWE as well, earning a 2018 Hall of Fame induction.
3 3. Roman Reigns
Before he became Roman Reigns, a future WWE Champion and perennial main event talent, Joe Anoa'i was a star defensive lineman for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets -- who were coached by future Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey.
Anoa'i recorded 6.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for a loss during his two years of college football. He later signed with the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007, though Anoa'i never played a game for either.
Reigns played one season for Edmonton in the CFL before getting released. He joined WWE in 2010 and has enjoyed, simply put, a far greater career in the ring than on the gridiron.
2 2. Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar was one of WWE's elite superstars during his first tenure with the company 2002 to '04, even winning the WWE Championship when he was only 25. The future looked more than bright for the national wrestling champion.
But Lesnar left WWE in 2004, after his poorly-received match with Goldberg at WrestleMania XXX. The former decided to pursue his dreams by trying out in the NFL, for his hometown Minnesota Vikings.
Lesnar signed with the Vikings and appeared in some 2004 preseason games as a defensive tackle. However, he was let go shortly before the regular season began, and he eventually joined UFC before working his way back to WWE in 2012.
By the way, you can catch highlights of Lesnar's very brief NFL career on YouTube.
1 1.The Rock
There are only so many professional athletes who got to play in both the NFL and the squared circle. But how many folks have enjoyed life as an NFLer, a professional wrestler, and a major Hollywood actor?
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson played defensive tackle for the Miami Hurricanes, even winning a national championship with them in 1991. He never made it to the NFL, however, and Johnson settled on an opportunity in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders in 1995.
Johnson was only on the practice roster, however, making just $300 weekly. He was eventually released by the Stampeders, but it paved the way for him to eventually enter the professional wrestling business -- and Hollywood. There's no way this guy has any regrets about his failed football player.
He only became an all-time great in wrestling, and perhaps the most beloved and respected actor in the world.
