Hard Hitters: Five Best Wrestlers Who Played in the NFL

There have been some football players that have come for a one night stand in a WWE ring like Lawrence Taylor or William “The Refrigerator” Perry. Also, there have been some players who have entered a WCW ring, like Reggie White.

However, there have been some people who have been able to do both in their careers. These are the five who I think did the best with their careers in football and in wrestling.

Honorable Mentions

Bronko Nagurski

Ed “Wahoo” McDaniel

5) Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart

Although he didn’t have the most luxurious or longest lasting time in the NFL, he played with the Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys and joined the league straight out of high school. With Bret Hart, he was a two-time WWF Tag Team Champion and will always be known as one of the members of the Hart Foundation.

4) Ron Simmons

In 1981, Faarooq was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. He was a defensive tackle and had his number retired at FSU, being only the third number to be retired there. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and was a 1979 All-American.

He was the first African American to hold the WCW World Heavyweight title. He also held the WWF Tag Team titles three times with Bradshaw.

3) Bill Goldberg

Goldberg was drafted out of the University of Georgia by the Los Angeles Rams, as a defensive end. He later had a stint with the Atlanta Falcons, and was picked up by the Panthers at the end of his career. In wrestling, he was a two-time World Heavyweight Champion (once in the WWE, once in the WCW).

2) Ernie Ladd

The “Big Cat” played with the most teams out of anyone on this list. He played with the Chiefs, Oilers, and the Chargers. Ladd was a four-time AFL All-Star and led the Chargers to an AFL championship is 1963.

During the '70s Ernie became the first African American heel, and one of the most hated heels during that time period. He is still remembered today by being in the Chargers, WCW, and WWE Hall of Fames.

1) Vader

Big Van Vader, also known as Leon White, was an All-American at the University of Colorado. He was then drafted by his hometown Los Angeles Rams and helped them get to Super Bowl XIV.

Although he did not have that much success in the WWE, he was a three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion and a one-time WCW United States Heavyweight champion.