Peyton Manning and 10 Players Who Should Have Finished Careers Where They Began

It's unfortunate that it happened, but Peyton Manning's departure from the Indianapolis Colts does mean one thing: He's in good company.

Manning's legacy in the Circle City will last forever, just like those of other great players in their respective cities.

Here are 10 players who made their names with one team but retired with another.

Johnny Unitas

From 1956 through 1972, Johnny Unitas put together arguably the greatest NFL career of all time.

He won three NFL MVP awards, two NFL championships, played in two Super Bowls (won one) and had 10 Pro Bowl selections with the Baltimore Colts.

Then his career ended all the way across the country with the San Diego Chargers after the 1973 season.

Unitas barely played for the Chargers, and needless to say, it was a year to forget.

Joe Montana

Considered by most to be the greatest quarterback to ever step foot on the football field, Joe Montana won four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers during his career in the Bay Area from 1979 through 1990.

After missing all of the 1991 season and acting as the backup to Steve Young in 1992, Montana played his final two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993 and 1994.

The good news was that Montana had great success in K.C. despite only spending a brief amount of time there. He compiled over 5,400 passing yards and had 29 touchdowns to 16 picks during that span.

The Chiefs made the postseason each year, including an appearance in the 1993 AFC title game. This was great for closure on Montana's career, but what this man accomplished in San Francisco cannot be quantified in words.

Emmitt Smith

The NFL's all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith spent 13 illustrious seasons with the Dallas Cowboys from 1990-2002 and was part of three Super Bowl teams.

An eight-time Pro-Bowler, Smith was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. He finished his career in 2004 after two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, typically a division rival throughout Smith's career.

It was definitely strange watching the man play in a red uniform and a helmet without a star on the side. However, it was not strange when, at the age of 35, Smith gained 937 yards and scored nine touchdowns, while adding 105 receiving yards on 15 receptions.

Gaining over 1,000 total yards at that age was a very impressive feat—it's just too bad that it wasn't done in Big D.

Bruce Smith

The NFL's all-time sacks leader with 200 in 19 seasons, defensive end Bruce Smith began his career with the Buffalo Bills in 1985 and finished with the Washington Redskins in 2003.

Before heading to our nation's capital, Smith had played in four Super Bowls with Buffalo, earned 11 All-Pro selections and was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

In Washington, Smith became the NFL's sack leader, but failed to make a Pro Bowl with the Redskins. If Smith had remained in Buffalo, his legacy would be so much more memorable.

Jerry Rice

The look on Jerry Rice's face in this picture looks like defeat.

After all, when Rice moved across the Bay to play with the Oakland Raiders in 2001, he made just one more Pro Bowl (2002).

The NFL's all-time leading receiver did make another Super Bowl appearance and was effective for a little bit upon his arrive in Oakland. Still, Rice was never near his usual self and was traded out of the silver and black during the 2004 season.

Finishing his career with San Francisco's NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks, Rice scored only five touchdowns between 2003 and 2004. His years from 1985-2000 in a 49ers uniform will never be forgotten, but Rice's career didn't end where it should have.

Peyton Manning

Regardless of how much success Peyton Manning achieves for the remainder of his career, that success won't be as legendary with another franchise.

Only a Super Bowl victory will prove that moving on from Indianapolis was the best of decisions, because that's what the NFL is all about—putting yourself in the best possible position to become a champion.

As previously mentioned, Joe Montana came close with the Chiefs in 1993. Manning is on that level of greatness, so he has a chance to go even further than Montana.

Still, Peyton's career will forever be tied Colts, much like with Johnny Unitas. It's unfortunate that this story has to end elsewhere.

Joe Namath

Joe Namath's guaranteed victory in Super Bowl III over the Baltimore Colts is arguably the biggest upset in the history of sports.

Upon winning the game, though, Namath's career was never the same. Injuries plagued three of the next four seasons. After those injuries, Namath never threw more touchdowns than interceptions from 1970 through 1977.

His final eight years consisted of 71 games played, 76 touchdowns to 116 interceptions and just one more Pro Bowl selection (1972).

With the Rams in 1977, Namath barely played and then retired despite being only 34 years old (not old quite yet for a QB, at least in the current era).

Ronnie Lott

Ronnie Lott was one of a few San Francisco 49ers to be a part of all four Super Bowl teams in the 1980s. He finished his career with the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets from 1991-1994.

He was in Kansas City in 1995, but didn't play during the regular season after injury issues.

During his time in the Bay Area, Lott went to nine Pro Bowls in 10 seasons and left for Oakland after 1990. Despite earning a Pro Bowl berth in 1991, Lott was never the same thereafter.

Lott finished his career across the country from his original city, as did many of the aforementioned players. He played in 31 games while in New York, but couldn't help lead the Jets to the playoffs.

Franco Harris

From 1972 to 1980, Franco Harris went to nine consecutive Pro Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was part of their four Super Bowls in the 1970s and scored a touchdown on one of the most awkward plays in NFL history: The Immaculate Reception.

After 1980, Harris' production gradually declined despite being reliable. He then played with Steve Largent and the Seattle Seahawks in 1984, a season that ended in the AFC Divisional Round.

Once again, we see another cross-country retirement.

Brett Favre

No ending to an NFL career has been as disappointing, weird, seemingly controversial, egomaniacal and impressive as Brett Favre's.

And I include with impressive because of his 2009 campaign of 33 touchdowns to just seven picks with the Minnesota Vikings at age 40. Not to mention, the Vikings should have defeated the New Orleans Saints in the NFC championship that year, but three fumbles by his teammates didn't help.

Despite being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, he never started a game for them and made his name with the Green Bay Packers. With the Packers, Favre was loved in Green Bay and throughout the sports universe. He was tough, down-to-earth, improvised better than anyone and won games.

Then came the retired, un-retired, re-retired, re-un-retired and finally retired saga that left everyone despising him. And here's your trivia question: Which player can be credited with ending Favre's consecutive games streak and ultimately his career?

Here's a hint.

John Rozum on Twitter.