This is the second installment of my "Worst to Best" series.
This time around, I am going to run down the top three players in the last 10 years whose careers were made with their second NFL team.
Like I always say: Let's get started.
No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers/St. Louis Rams RB Jerome Bettis
After being picked by the L.A. Rams in the 1993 draft, and playing three seasons with them, Bettis headed cross country to play for the Steelers.
During his time with the Rams, Jerome rushed for 2,454 yards and 13 touchdowns, most of it coming in his first two seasons. In his last season with St. Louis, he only rushed for 637 yards.
Once he arrived in Pittsburgh, history was in the making.
In 1996—his first season as a Steeler—"The Bus" had one of the best seasons of his 13-year career. He rushed for 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns and helped lead the Steelers to the playoffs.
Jerome ended his career with 13,662 yards rushing, 91 touchdowns and a Super Bowl win—in his hometown of Detroit—during his final NFL season.
- B/R Ticket Guide
"It's been an incredible ride. I played this game to win a championship. I'm a champion, and I think the Bus' last stop is here in Detroit."
No. 2 St. Louis Rams/Indianapolis Colts RB Marshall Faulk
The 13-year pro out of San Diego State began his career as a second overall pick and 16-game starter with the Colts in 1994.
Faulk did put up pretty good numbers with the Colts, rushing for over 5,000 yards with 42 touchdowns in five season. But he did not start making a name for himself until he joined the Rams and the "Greatest Show on Turf" in 1999.
That same year, he joined Kurt Warner and Isaac Bruce as the St. Louis Rams went on to win Super Bowl XXXIV.
Marshall retired in 2006 with 19,154 total yards from scrimmage and 136 touchdowns. Faulk will go down as one of the most electrifying players in NFL History.
The Rams retired Faulk's No. 28 Jersey during the 2007 season.
And the No. 1 Player Is....
Green Bay Packers/Atlanta Falcons QB Brett Favre
It was obvious, right? Favre has retired once already, so that's why he is on the list.
Favre was selected 33rd-overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1991 NFL Draft. In his time with the Falcons—only one season—Favre threw only four passes and completed none of them—at least to his team.
His first career NFL pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. In 1992, he was traded to the Packers for the 19th-overall pick in the draft. We all know who got the best of that deal.
In his 16 seasons with the Pack, Favre became the only three-time AP MVP, won Super Bowl XXXI, and has started every game from September 1992 to December 2008. He did all this on his way to becoming the best QB in the history of the NFL, statistically that is.
Brett Favre currently holds 10 NFL records, the most notable being his 282 career starts, including the playoffs. A couple others are his 63,266 passing yards and 457 touchdown passes.
“I know I can play but I don’t think I want to. It’s been a great career for me, but it’s over.”
At least that's how he felt at the time, following the 2007 NFL Season. Favre is now the starting QB for the New York Jets.
That's it for this one. Hopefully you enjoyed this and will be looking for the next installment in my "Worst to Best" series.
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about 1 month ago
Cool series. Faulk was pretty good in Indy though.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah he was, but he would not be who he is with out the Greatest Show on Turf.
about 1 month ago
The most famous is Johnny Unitas who was released by the Steelers before catching on with Colts. His Hall of Fame team mate DT Fatso Donovan was a New York Football Yankee first...
If the Bears keep Bobby Layne they dominate the 1950's.
Jim Plunkett left new England to win Super Bowls in Oakland..Al Davis used to be master at that. Ted Hendricks, Alzado, Tooz, and more migrated to the Raiders.
Steve Young was a failure as a Buc and now he's in the Hall as a Niner.
Who says there's no second acts in America?
from about 1 month ago
Yeah Dan, I had to limit it to the last 10 years because I could have gone with so many players. Thanks for the read. Keep looking for my follow up piece of the Best to Worst, Guys whose careers suffered with a second team.
about 1 month ago
another good one could be Curtis my favorite Martin. He was pretty good in NE but not like he was in NY.
and Dan -- Yeah, Steve Young is a good one. he had slipped my mind. ya start taking these guys for granted after a while.
another thing, T.W., just an idea.
do a think where ya highlight guys who had a great career somewhere, then once they left it suffers.
Joe Montana pops into mind.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the read Bob, and yeah thats coming next week. Another guy would be Moss who suffered in Oakland, but he was able to get back on track in NE
about 1 month ago
No Steve Young?
At least he should be ahead of Jerome Bettis.
Good Article Though.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah he could have gotten in there but I was trying to go with guys who that retired more recently. If I had the time to do like an all time list he would be top 3. Thanks for the read.
from about 1 month ago
Oooo I see. Good calls then. Once again good article.
about 1 month ago
T.W. If you want to do an all time list then you better put Johnny Unitas at no. 1. He was originally cut by the Steelers then he went to the Colts and made history. Good source of history, but Favre was truly great in Green Bay while the Jets thing is not done with the test of time.
If Favre wins the SB then you are totally correct, but I would put another player at no. 1 like Reggie White or Jim Plunkett at no. 1
about 1 month ago
How would you categorize T.O. as of now?
from about 1 month ago
Well thats a hard one, because he spent a lot of time in San Fran, but you can't say his career stalled in Philly because he was the missing piece that got them to the Super Bowl. Now he does put up decent numbers with the Boys', so he is in limbo, some where between both ends of the spectrum.
about 1 month ago
Any list, albeit positive list, that has Brett at number one is good in my book!
from about 1 month ago
Yeah, thanks for the comment Zach. Favre is ok I guess ;)
about 1 month ago
hey tom, fun list. so muh different criteria could be introduced, i think you were wise to keep it to within the last few years and just two teams.
and what makes this most interesting is that for 2 of these guy, faulk and bettis, their play with their first time wasn't exactly poor. but you're still right, they became hofers with their second team. favre on the other hand, well....atlanta will never live that one down.
on an all-time list i don't see how you could put reggie white on there. his career was not even close to being made in green bay. he was incredible as well during his time in philly.
good series...
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Daniel, just trying to start a series that will take off like your letters to the league, I have this one and the Black and blue Wrap Up, but have not had much success.
about 1 month ago
No love for the Edge?
Edgerrin James, that is. LOLOLOLOLOL
nice work man, Go Favre
from about 1 month ago
Edge, na he is no good, plus not retired yet, at least once like Favre. Thanks for the read.
about 1 month ago
good article very creative idea!!! sure are lots of players who got better with a new awakening on another team. the most recent i guess curt warner! this years frontrunner for comeback player of the year and mvp! thomas
from about 1 month ago
Yeah, I was looking at him Thomas, but his second team was the Giants, so thats why I did not use him. Thanks for the read, and I am still your fan:)
about 1 month ago
Good article, but Favre has 282 consecutive starts in his career, not just 282....DUH!!!
from about 1 month ago
What!? I said that was his most notable record. You confuse me sometimes E, but your still my best friend:)
about 1 month ago
technically bettis would have been 12 years ago but that doesnt really matter. good article
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Scott, but I was doing on guys who have retired within the last 10 years, so its all good.
from about 1 month ago
oh my bad... he definitely counts then
from about 1 month ago
its all good dude.
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