Sports' Worn-Out Welcome: 10 Late-Career Team Changes That Didn't Work

When an athlete is great, you remember them for life.

You remember where you were when they made the big play or when they finished their career on a high note.

Some athletes on the other hand, don’t know when it’s time to hang it up.

Brett Favre is a good example, but he did well with the Vikings his first year.

The following players are the players who were dreadful at their last stop and utterly exhausted at the end.

If I missed any or you can come up with more, let me know!  There were a few that didn’t make the list but could have (Patrick Ewing, Babe Ruth, O.J. Simpson, etc.).

Enjoy!

Michael Jordan

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PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 16: Michael Jordan #23 of the Washington Wizards on the court during the final NBA game of his career, played against the Philadelphia 76ers at First Union Center on March 30, 2003 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Sixers won 107-8

Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.

That is pretty certain.

What is not certain is why Jordan decided to come out of retirement for a third time in 2001.

Jordan was a member of the Washington Wizard front office and he decided to lace the sneakers up one more time.

Jordan spent two seasons with the Wizards but never had much success.

I never thought it was a good move, and the rift that Jordan’s comments left with his teammates was probably at the core of the reason he was let go from the organization.

Reggie White

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CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive end Reggie White #92 of the Carolina Panthers points to the sky after pulling off his helmet at Ericsson Sadium on September 17, 2000 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Craig Jones/Getty Images)

As a Philadelphia Eagles fan, I was sad to see Reggie White leave, but I was glad he won a super bowl before he retired.

I was angry when he came back to join the Carolina Panthers.

White did as good as he could, recording 16 tackles and six sacks before finally retiring for good at the end of the season.

Bobby Hull

Bobby Hull was a great offensive player in the NHL with a knack for scoring goals.

Hull played many great seasons for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Jets before retiring.

At the age of 40, Hull returned to the ice with the Hartford Whalers for just nine games before he realized he couldn’t stand the hockey grind any longer.

Tony Dorsett

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LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 4: Running back Tony Dorsett #33 of the Denver Broncos runs away from defensive end Mike Wise #90 of the Los Angeles Raiders during a game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 4, 1988 in Los Angeles, California. The Ra

Tony Dorsett was one of the best running backs in the history of the NFL, and another Cowboy running back who overstayed his welcome in the NFL.

Dorsett rushed for 12,033 yards during 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and was a key to their five NFC title games and two Super Bowl appearances (one a win).

At 34, Dallas decided to trade Dorsett to the Denver Broncos and move on from their great runner.

Dorsett led Denver in rushing with 703 yards but the pounding he absorbed led to his retirement after the season.

Karl Malone

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AUBURN HILLS, MI - JUNE 10: Karl Malone #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a play against the Detroit Pistons during the second quarter of game three of the 2004 NBA Finals June 10, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. N

I was not a fan of the Utah Jazz, but it hurt even me to see Karl Malone leave the team.  Malone spent 18 seasons with the Jazz and was the face of the franchise.

I understand he wanted to win a championship, but I couldn’t stand him in Lakers yellow.

Malone went to the Finals with the Lakers in 2004, but didn’t play much because of knee troubles.

After that season, Malone retired for good.

Emmitt Smith

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TEMPE, AZ - JANUARY 2: Emmitt Smith #22 of the Arizona Cardinals sweeps around Dexter Jackson #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter at Sun Devil Stadium on January 2, 2005 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

After getting released by the struggling Dallas Cowboys on February 27, 2003, Emmitt Smith signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

In two seasons with the Cardinals, Smith only managed under 1000 years total rushing and retired soon after.

Smith signed with the Cowboys at the end of his career to retire as a Cowboy but he would have been smart to retire in 2003.

Hakeem Olajuwon

It always hurts when a star that spends his whole career with a team leaves at the very end.

Hakeem Olajuwon was one of the best centers the NBA ever had and after 17 seasons playing with the Houston Rockets.

Olajuwon went to the Toronto Raptors and struggled before retiring after the Raptors lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Bobby Orr

Bobby Orr was the best defender to play in the NHL, and is one of the top five players in the history of the NHL.

In my mind, Orr will always be a Boston Bruin, but on June 9, 1976, he broke Boston’s collective heart.

Orr signed a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks and managed to only play 26 games for the team.

Bobby Orr was forced to retire because of severely damaged knees, but he was still one of the most dominant players in NHL history.

Willy Mays

Willie Mays was, and always will be, a San Francisco Giant.

On a fateful day in 1972, a 41 year old Willie Mays was dealt to the New York Mets for a pitcher and some cash.

Mays hit pretty well but was a shell of his former self before finally calling it quits a year later.

Certain players just taint their legacy by stretching their careers beyond its limit.

Jerry Rice

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 7: Jerry Rice #80 of the Seattle Seahawks smiles at fans during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Monster Park on November 7, 2004 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Jerry Rice was the greatest receiver of all time.

The NFL needed Jerry Rice for years, but they didn’t need the end of his career.

After leaving San Francisco, Rice played in Oakland and had some success.

After that, he travelled to Seattle and played poorly.  That was the end of his career even though it came three years too late.