NFL Players Who Went on to Become Actors

Dean Cain

After attending Princeton, Cain signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills. However, a knee injury he sustained during training camp derailed his pro-football career before it took off. Subsequently, he took to screenwriting before becoming an actor. His most iconic role came as Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Additionally, he starred in The Broken Hearts Club, Rat Race, Out of Time, and Bailey's Billions amongst other films.

Jim Brown

Arguably deemed one of the greatest running backs of all time, Brown lived a great life. The three-time MVP made a shocking decision by retiring in his prime to pursue acting. His decision paid off as Brown secured multiple leading roles throughout his career with his most memorable appearance coming on 'The Dirty Dozen'.

Merlin Olsen

The star of The Undefeated enjoyed a 15-year NFL career as a defensive tackle for the St.Louis Rams. He made it to 14-straight Pro Bowls, an unprecedented feat at the time, and subsequently became a Hall of Famer. Olsen made the switch to acting after his football career ended and starred in the NBC Drama, 'Father Murphy'.

Terry Bradshaw

A Steelers legend, Bradshaw is a four-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer. Following his NFL career, he made appearances on 'Father Figures', 'The Cannonball Run', and 'Failure to Launch'. Bradshaw is the only NFL player to have received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

John Matuszak

A two-time Super Bowl champion, Matuszak bounced around in the NFL before walking away from the game. He became notorious for his love of partying, and was widely regarded as a bad-boy figure in the NFL. He made the jump to acting in the 80s with roles in 'North Dallas Forty', 'Caveman', and 'The Ice Pirates'.

Nnamdi Asomugha

A Raiders legend, Asomugha haunted wideouts for 11 years in the NFL and gained a reputation as one of the best shutdown corners to play. A four-time All-Pro, he was part of the NFL All-Decade Team 2000-09. His Hollywood stint began with a role on The Game, however, his best role came as Carl King on 'Crown Heights'. He has since featured in multiple roles in Hollywood and on Broadway. Asomugha has since become a producer on several film and theatre projects.

Mike Henry

Henry was drafted in 1958 as a linebacker by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played professionally for three years before seeking a trade to the Rams in hopes of playing football and pursuing acting. His physique made him the poster boy of the 'Tarzan' movie series, the role that turned him into a Hollywood star. He worked on many projects down the road such as 'The Longest Yard', 'Smokey' and the 'Bandit', and 'The Green Berets'.

Bob Golic

Golic played linebacker for the Patriots, Browns, and the Raiders. A three-time Pro Bowler, he retired from football to pursue acting. Some of his prominent roles came in 'Saved by the Bell: The College Years' and 'Home and Family'.

Ed Marinaro

A star running back for six seasons in the NFL, Marinaro played for the Vikings, Jets, and Seahawks with two Super Bowl appearances. He then made his foray into Hollywood appearing in 'Laverne & Shirley', 'Sisters', and 'Blue Mountain State'.

John David Washington

The son of Denzel Washington, acting runs in his genes. He signed with the Rams in 2006 as an UFA but never took a snap in an NFL game. He played football for four years in the UFL before shifting to acting. His prominent representation of a fictional NFL player named Ricky Jerret in HBO's 'Ballers' made him a household name, and his subsequent appearances in 'BlacKkKlansman' earned him a Golden Globe Award. Washington has since continued to grow and earn more roles.

Brett Favre

Revered as one of the smartest quarterbacks to play the game, Favre is an icon in Green Bay. The Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer dabbled in acting briefly but his best work remains on the turf. His appearance on 'There's Something About Mary,' was his biggest on-screen hit.

Brian Bosworth

After a three-year football career with the Seattle Seahawks, Bosworth made the switch to acting. His unorthodox style choices made him an interesting casting choice. He featured in multiple roles on 'Stone Cold', 'One Man's Justice', 'The Longest Yard', and 'Lawless'. Unfortunately, none of his movies ever took off.

Alex Karras

A four-time Pro Bowler and a Hall of Famer, Karras spent 12 seasons playing for the Lions. His sense of humor earned him a shot to appear on screen with roles in 'Hardcase,' 'Blazing Saddles,' and subsequently he got his own show, 'The Alex Karras Football Show.'

Bill Goldberg

Before wrestling found him, Goldberg was a defensive tackle for the Rams but never played a snap for them. He then signed with the Canadian Football League before returning to the NFL and signed with the Falcons, and then the Carolina Panthers. His fame began when he made the switch to wrestling. He became a five-time world champion in WCW and WWE while becoming one of the top entertainers. He has made a few appearances in movies such as 'Santa's Slay' and 'The Longest Yard.'

Carl Weathers

Before he was Apollo Creed, Weathers was a linebacker that spent two seasons with the Raiders. He had begun to lay the groundwork for a Hollywood transition while playing football with roles in 'Bucktown' and 'Friday Foster.' However, the role which immortalized him as an icon came in the 'Rocky' series where Weathers teamed up with Sylvester Stallone to make the greatest boxing movies. He continued to portray Creed in the subsequent sequels of the hit film.

O.J. Simpson

Before he gained notoriety for his crimes, O.J. Simpson retired as an all-time great running back in Bills franchise history. The Hall of Famer subsequently made appearances in many films and series such as 'Naked Gun.' He was in contention to play the 'Terminator' but the events which followed disqualified him.

Joe Namath

There's a reason Namath goes by 'Broadway Joe.' After leading the Jets to an AFL Championship win and a Super Bowl win, he played for Rams before walking away as a Hall of Famer. His foray into acting came with 'The Joe Namath Show,' and subsequently, he was featured on movies such as 'C.C. and Company,' and many television shows. He has appeared on 18 television shows and 11 movies throughout his career. Namath is one of the few examples that was successful on the gridiron and on the big screen.

Bubba Smith

The first overall pick of the 1967 draft, Smith played defensive end for nine years in the NFL. Following football, he made a name for himself in acting through his witty roles. His most notable role came as Moses Hightower in the Police Academy series. Additionally, he featured on 'Blue Thunder' and 'Stroker Ace.' Interestingly, his advertisements were more popular than his portrayal of movie characters.

Lyle Alzado

Alzado was known to be one of the more intense and intimidating players on the football field. He played for the Broncos, the Browns, and the Raiders where he won a Super Bowl. After his 15-year football career, Alzado switched to acting. His most prominent roles came in 'Ernest Goes to Camp,' 'Destroyer,' and 'Mike Hammer: Murder Takes All.'

Terry Crews

A prominent linebacker in the NFL, Crews played for the Rams, Chargers, and Redskins, Crews was one of the more physically gifted players in the league. He did get much success in the NFL but his physique made him a top casting choice in Hollywood. Crews became a huge personality with his most notable roles in 'Everybody Hates Chris,' 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine,' 'The Family Crews,' 'Friday After Next', 'White Chicks,' amongst others. He has made a big name for himself in Hollywood and achieved immense success.