What's your favorite football player's career/story/deal?

[jplarson]

I'm always amused when I run across Tom Tupa's career. A former The Ohio State quarterback and All-American punter in the mid-80s, he was drafted in the 3rd round (68th overall) by the St. Louis Phoenix Cardinals. He was the backup QB to Timm Rosenbach in the pivotal football game Tecmo Super Bowl.

He switched to become a full-time punter in 1994 and would earn All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, appear in a Super Bowl with the Patriots in 96 and win a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 02.

Imagine a QB drafted in the 3rd round, play the position for 5 years, be out of football a year, and come back the following year and enjoy 11 more years in the NFL as a full-time punter? That would be like if CJ Beathard suddenly reappeared as a punter this season then in 2029 was an All-Pro punter.




https://www.pro-football-reference.c...T/TupaTo20.htm

[glen87]

so there is hope JBL Rosen afterall

[49erRCCollector]

Not my favorite players but I love seeing where ex-players go (and I'm obsessed with the Niners all-time roster). Both Milt McColl (LB) and John Frank (who was in between Russ Francis and Brent Jones at TE in the Niners' dynasty run) went on to have physician careers of some kind.

Imagine playing pro football and being a doctor. I feel like an underachiever.

There's some others I could post who had weird paths to the NFL or lives after it - I always find that part fascinating.

[Grid]

I once heard a story about a grocery store bagger who was working at a Hyvee.

He was OK in college, and was a 4th string QB for the Packers, but they dumped him. He ended up playing in the Arena league, and did OK. That got him a spot in NFL Europe. And he was kinda good there.

Good enough to back up the back up for the Rams. Which moved him to 2nd string after training camp. The story goes, the starting QB got hurt. And he was thrust into the starting job. Some how he won the division, than the conference and even the Super Bowl.

Won league MVP and ended up in the Hall of Fame.

I dont know if I believe all that. But its a good story!

[packman80]

There was some guy who ran a dog fighting ring who played in the NFL went to jail over it for a couple years then came back and had a decent 2nd half to his career after that.

[lambeauleap87]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

Not my favorite players but I love seeing where ex-players go (and I'm obsessed with the Niners all-time roster). Both Milt McColl (LB) and John Frank (who was in between Russ Francis and Brent Jones at TE in the Niners' dynasty run) went on to have physician careers of some kind.

Imagine playing pro football and being a doctor. I feel like an underachiever.

There's some others I could post who had weird paths to the NFL or lives after it - I always find that part fascinating.

Samkon Gado is another fun example! His family came over from Nigeria, Green Bay lost like four RBs to injury, and then ran for 100+ yards and scored three TDs in his first start.

Bounced around a bit after the 2005 season, went to medical school, and now is Dr. Samkon Gado. His autographed cards still sell pretty well too, given he has less than 1k career rushing yards.

[foleylion08]

Myron Rolle is a cool one. Freshman All American safety at Florida State, graduates in 2.5 years, third-team All-American as a Junior. Becomes a Rhodes scholar. Foregoes senior year to study at Oxford University. Still drafted by the Titans. Never played in a regular season game, but hung around a couple years and tagged on with Pittsburgh for a hot second.

After leaving the NFL, goes back to FSU to get his medical degree, began a residency at Harvard medical school, and today at 36 years old is a Global Neurosurgery Fellow at Harvard.

Talk about having your cake and eating it too.

Oh and he's a published author now.

Odd side note, he has two sets of twins.

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by foleylion08

Myron Rolle is a cool one. Freshman All American safety at Florida State, graduates in 2.5 years, third-team All-American as a Junior. Becomes a Rhodes scholar. Foregoes senior year to study at Oxford University. Still drafted by the Titans. Never played in a regular season game, but hung around a couple years and tagged on with Pittsburgh for a hot second.

After leaving the NFL, goes back to FSU to get his medical degree, began a residency at Harvard medical school, and today at 36 years old is a Global Neurosurgery Fellow at Harvard.

Talk about having your cake and eating it too.

Oh and he's a published author now.

Odd side note, he has two sets of twins.

Originally Posted by lambeauleap87

Samkon Gado is another fun example! His family came over from Nigeria, Green Bay lost like four RBs to injury, and then ran for 100+ yards and scored three TDs in his first start.

Bounced around a bit after the 2005 season, went to medical school, and now is Dr. Samkon Gado. His autographed cards still sell pretty well too, given he has less than 1k career rushing yards.

I remember both of these players. Love this. Exceptional people.

[majestik101]

There was some flabby quarterback out of Michigan who weighed 211 pounds, ran a 5.28 40, was drafted 199th overall as a compensatory pick by the worst team in the AFC, rode the pine for a year as the fourth string back-up and then some dude named Mo Lewis took out the starting QB and then this 2nd stringer came in, eventually winning 7 Super Bowls over a 23-year career.

I think his name was Tim Brody

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by majestik101

There was some flabby quarterback out of Michigan who weighed 211 pounds, ran a 5.28 40, was drafted 199th overall as a compensatory pick by the worst team in the AFC, rode the pine for a year as the fourth string back-up and then some dude named Mo Lewis took out the starting QB and then this 2nd stringer came in, eventually winning 7 Super Bowls over a 23-year career.

I think his name was Tim Brody

211 is flabby when you are 6’4’?

Harsh

[majestik101]

Originally Posted by asujbl

211 is flabby when you are 6’4’?

Harsh

Not exactly Will Levis-esque.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by majestik101

Not exactly Will Levis-esque.

There is a middle ground between being on steroids and flabby

That’s all

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by asujbl

There is a middle ground between being on steroids and flabby

That’s all

Tim Brody's draft-ear physique better than 99.9% of BO physiques. Book it.

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

Tim Brody's draft-ear physique better than 99.9% of BO physiques. Book it.

Correct

Wrote it down

[oplum29]

i've got two.

Jeff Garcia, went undrafted, to the CFL, backed up Doug Flutie, won a Grey Cup (the CFL's Super Bowl), Grey Cup MVP, got an invite to the 49ers camp in 1999, made the team, became a starter after Steve Young got hurt, was benched for Rick Mirer, came back, and went on to a very nice NFL career. first 49ers QB to have back to back 30 TD passing seasons, held numerous team records, 4X Pro Bowler, and brought the 49ers back from down 24 to win the Wild Card game against the Giants. it's no Kurt Warner, but he was my QB, which i loved even more. plus, he was hispanic, and there almost zero hispanic QBs in the league around that time.

my 2nd, would be Bubba Smith. a 2X All-American at Michigan State, Bubba was the first overall pick of the Colts in 1967. he won a Super Bowl and made the Pro Bowl twice. boring....because later on, he only stared in one of the best film franchises of all-time, Police Academy, better known as Hightower. I grew up on Police Academy. learning that Bubba Smith was a pretty good football player, who was now in Police Academy, was awesome for me. made me even as a kid, realize, that were was more to the life than just football. i never knew that because all i ever read was athletes who played the game, retired, maybe endorsed products (like Mr. Coffee), or did tv broadcasts (Terry Bradshaw), but movie stars?

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by foleylion08

Myron Rolle is a cool one. Freshman All American safety at Florida State, graduates in 2.5 years, third-team All-American as a Junior. Becomes a Rhodes scholar. Foregoes senior year to study at Oxford University. Still drafted by the Titans. Never played in a regular season game, but hung around a couple years and tagged on with Pittsburgh for a hot second.

After leaving the NFL, goes back to FSU to get his medical degree, began a residency at Harvard medical school, and today at 36 years old is a Global Neurosurgery Fellow at Harvard.

Talk about having your cake and eating it too.

Oh and he's a published author now.

Odd side note, he has two sets of twins.

I remember his story, good pick. Also his combine profile is hilarious. Under "weaknesses":

Rolle missed entire 2009 collegiate season studying in Oxford (Rhodes scholarship), raising questions about his long-term desire to play football

There are 32 new Rhodes Scholars every year. There are 250+ drafted players every year. No brainer to accept the scholarship. A person can be interested in more than one thing.

[Dallas Cowboys]

As Grid mentioned Kurt Warner.
As a Cowboy fan Bill Bates was always a great story. They even added a special teams spot to the Pro Bowl because of him.
Zach Thomas is one of my favorite stories. He grew up near Amarillo, Texas my hometown, specifically White Deer/Pampa. Plays for Texas Tech which was not exactly a powerhouse factory for future NFL players at the time. Considered too small and slow to play in the NFL. Even with 5 First Team All Pros and 2 Second Team All Pros and 7 Pro Bowls plus 2000s all decade team has to wait till 2023 to finally get in the Hall of Fame.
And what pisses me off had Jerry and Jimmy been able to work things out he might have been a Cowboy his whole career.

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by oplum29

i've got two.

Jeff Garcia, went undrafted, to the CFL, backed up Doug Flutie, won a Grey Cup (the CFL's Super Bowl), Grey Cup MVP, got an invite to the 49ers camp in 1999, made the team, became a starter after Steve Young got hurt, was benched for Rick Mirer, came back, and went on to a very nice NFL career. first 49ers QB to have back to back 30 TD passing seasons, held numerous team records, 4X Pro Bowler, and brought the 49ers back from down 24 to win the Wild Card game against the Giants. it's no Kurt Warner, but he was my QB, which i loved even more. plus, he was hispanic, and there almost zero hispanic QBs in the league around that time.

my 2nd, would be Bubba Smith. a 2X All-American at Michigan State, Bubba was the first overall pick of the Colts in 1967. he won a Super Bowl and made the Pro Bowl twice. boring....because later on, he only stared in one of the best film franchises of all-time, Police Academy, better known as Hightower. I grew up on Police Academy. learning that Bubba Smith was a pretty good football player, who was now in Police Academy, was awesome for me. made me even as a kid, realize, that were was more to the life than just football. i never knew that because all i ever read was athletes who played the game, retired, maybe endorsed products (like Mr. Coffee), or did tv broadcasts (Terry Bradshaw), but movie stars?

Seconded on Garcia. He was a tough SOB and a really solid QB.

I remember seeing Terry Bradshaw in Cannonball Run and realizing wow - this comedic actor was the QB on 4 Super Bowl winning teams.

[marinocollector]

That’s nothing. Drew Bledsoe is coming back this year and reigniting the Patriots dynasty like is the 01 AFC Championship again

[CarmenOhio]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

Seconded on Garcia. He was a tough SOB and a really solid QB.

I remember seeing Terry Bradshaw in Cannonball Run and realizing wow - this comedic actor was the QB on 4 Super Bowl winning teams.

Off topic, but post your Nick Bosas!

[erock28]

Originally Posted by Grid

I once heard a story about a grocery store bagger who was working at a Hyvee.

He was OK in college, and was a 4th string QB for the Packers, but they dumped him. He ended up playing in the Arena league, and did OK. That got him a spot in NFL Europe. And he was kinda good there.

Good enough to back up the back up for the Rams. Which moved him to 2nd string after training camp. The story goes, the starting QB got hurt. And he was thrust into the starting job. Some how he won the division, than the conference and even the Super Bowl.

Won league MVP and ended up in the Hall of Fame.

I dont know if I believe all that. But its a good story!

Not sure I believe all this. Sounds like a real American Underdog kind of story…

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by CarmenOhio

Off topic, but post your Nick Bosas!

Quick off-topic post (not all, but a few of the fun ones):





Back to the topic...

[jplarson]

Another one I like is Ron Hallstrom. Longtime Packer who later opened a business in northern WI. My mom got me an IP autograph from him when she was up in the area a long time ago. It's cool to see former players put down roots close or sorta close to their old team.

[rlwalkre]

Maybe not "favorite" stories, but I am moved by the athletes that have interrupted their careers for military service.
A few baseball players that come to mind are Ted Williams, Bob Feller, and Yogi Berra.
And in Football, we cannot forget Pat Tillman.
I know there are others, and in other sports, and they all deserve our ultimate respect.