Professional football demands discipline, charisma, and the ability to perform under crushing pressure — qualities that translate surprisingly well to a soundstage. Over the decades, a select group of NFL alumni didn’t just dabble in Hollywood. They built genuine second careers there, becoming as recognizable on screen as they ever were on the field. Counting down from the most expected crossovers to the most jaw-dropping reinventions, here are nine gridiron veterans who rewrote the playbook on life after football.
9. Jim Brown Walked Away From Football at His Peak — And Straight Onto a Film Set
Jan 19, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; CBS NFL Today host Jim Brown before the AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Cleveland Browns legend Jim Brown is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, yet he retired at just 30 to pursue acting full-time. His film résumé spans decades, including standout roles in Rio Conchos, The Dirty Dozen, Ice Station Zebra, and Any Given Sunday. Brown didn’t simply cameo — he carried leading roles, becoming one of the first athletes to be taken seriously as a Hollywood actor.
8. Joe Namath’s “Broadway Joe” Persona Was Built for the Camera
Alabama legend and Super Bowl winning quarterback for the New York Jets, Joe Namath, was on the field before Alabama’s homecoming game against Arkansas in Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]
New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath guaranteed a Super Bowl III victory — then delivered. That swagger carried him straight into entertainment. Namath starred in the film C.C. and Company, appeared on numerous television series, and even legitimized his “Broadway Joe” nickname with actual stage work. His charisma and cultural timing made him one of the earliest NFL players to become a genuine multimedia personality beyond the gridiron.
7. O.J. Simpson Was Once the Most Famous Athlete-Actor in America
Jul 20, 2017; Lovelock, NV; O.J. Simpson attends a parole hearing at Lovelock Correctional Center. Simpson is serving a nine to 33 year prison term for a 2007 armed robbery and kidnapping conviction.
Before his life took a far darker turn, Buffalo Bills superstar O.J. Simpson was the first NFL player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season — and one of the most bankable athlete-actors of his era. He became a ubiquitous commercial pitchman and starred in The Naked Gun trilogy, turning comedic timing into box-office gold. His entertainment career remains inseparable from the controversy that later overshadowed it.
6. Lawrence Taylor Brought His Ferocity From the Field to Surprising Screen Roles
Sep 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Former New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells is greeting by Lawrence Taylor on stage during half time ceremony honoring the 25th anniversary of their championship at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
Widely considered the greatest defensive player in NFL history, New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor brought an unmistakable intensity to his acting roles. He appeared in Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday, Adam Sandler’s The Waterboy, and even HBO’s The Sopranos. Taylor’s screen presence was raw and commanding — a lesser-known chapter in the life of a player whose on-field dominance already bordered on cinematic.
5. Don Meredith Became a Living Room Legend on Monday Night Football — Then Kept Acting
Oct 1966; Unknown Location, USA; FILE PHOTO: Dallas Cowboys quarterback #17 Don Meredith on the sidelines with head coach Tom Landry during the 1966 season. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images © Copyright Malcolm Emmons
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Don “Dandy Don” Meredith became a folk hero not through touchdowns alone but through his beloved stint in the Monday Night Football broadcast booth. His warm, irreverent personality opened doors to a second career in television acting, where he landed recurring roles across multiple series, including Detective Bert Jameson in Police Story. Meredith proved that the pathway from NFL to entertainment didn’t always require the big screen — sometimes the small screen fit even better.
4. Brian Bosworth Bet Everything on Hollywood — With Mixed but Memorable Results
Jan 9, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Brian Bosworth speaks at a press conference at Renaissance Dallas Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Brian “The Boz” Bosworth was as famous for his flamboyant persona as his play. When injuries shortened his NFL career, he headlined the 1991 action film Stone Cold, which became a cult classic. Bosworth continued appearing in films and television, leaning into the larger-than-life image he had cultivated on the field. His transition remains one of the most debated — critics questioned the acting, but audiences kept watching.
3. Carl Weathers Turned a Brief NFL Career Into an Iconic Screen Legacy
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Actor Carl Weathers on the red carpet prior to the start of the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Carl Weathers had stints with the Oakland Raiders and BC Lions before pivoting to acting — and the results were extraordinary. His portrayal of Apollo Creed across four Rocky films cemented him as a cultural icon. Weathers went on to star in Predator, Happy Gilmore, and earned a new generation of fans as Greef Karga in The Mandalorian. His career spanned from the mid-1970s through the 2020s, a remarkable five-decade run.
2. Terry Crews Went From NFL Journeyman to One of Hollywood’s Most Versatile Entertainers
Sep 17, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Actor and former Los Angeles Rams player Terry Crews takes in the field prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Terry Crews played for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and Washington, among other teams, but his NFL career never reached stardom. His acting career did. Crews broke through with White Chicks, became a fan favorite on Everybody Hates Chris and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and hosted America’s Got Talent. His journey from journeyman linebacker to beloved entertainer is one of the most heartwarming reinventions in the athlete-actor tradition.
1. John David Washington Turned a Brief NFL Chapter Into Leading-Man Status
Spike Lee, left, and John David Washington on stage after a screening of the movie “BlacKkKlansman” at the Detroit Institute of Arts in Detroit on Aug. 4, 2018. Lee is the director and Washington plays Ron Stallworth, an African-American police officer from Colorado who successfully managed to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan. Spike Lee 080418 Cbp 11
John David Washington signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2006 and later spent four seasons with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League before committing fully to acting. The payoff was spectacular. He starred in HBO’s Ballers, then headlined Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman and Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, followed by Amsterdam and The Creator. Washington represents the modern evolution of the athlete-actor — proof that even a brief football career can launch someone toward Hollywood’s highest tier. Did we miss your favorite gridiron-to-Hollywood crossover? Tell us in the comments which NFL-actor deserved the No. 1 spot — and which one you think audiences forgot too soon.
