from the gridiron to the squared circle

From the Gridiron

To the Squared Circle

Football Players who became

Pro Wrestlers

A scholarship athlete from the University of Georgia, he played for the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons

before injuries put him on the sidelines. His last team, the Carolina Panthers, never played him.

Bill Goldberg

A standout scholarship for Penn State, Lawrence Phohlwould later transfer to Miami, where he played defense for

the Hurricanes. He played in CFL’s Grey Bowl with Montreal before moving to Green Bay, where he never

played another game.

‘The Total Package’, Lex Luger

He earned a basketball scholarship to Grambling before trading his Converse for cleats with the San Diego Chargers. He helped win four

AFL championships before moving to the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Oilers. He took up pro wrestling during his off-season,

moving to full-time in 1969.

At 6’9” and 315 pounds, he was one of the largest NFL stars of all time.

‘The Big Cat’ Ernie Ladd

He was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame (1981), the Grambling StateUniversity Hall Of Fame (1989) and the WWE Hall of Fame (1995).

Excelling in both wrestling and football, he was an All-American with the Oklahoma Sooners and lost in the finals

of the NCAA wrestling championship to Bruce Baumgartner. He got his famous nickname from a goalie’s

mask he used to wear.

‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams

A two-time Second String All-American, he joined the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent before moving to the Buffalo Bills. His roommate at the University of Miami

(OH) was future NFL coach John Harbaugh.

‘The Loose Cannon’ Brian Pillman

Recruited by Ohio State, he found his niche instead at Southern Methodist (SMU) in Dallas where he was team

captain. He spent some time with the Atlanta Falcons until sidelined with injuries.

‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan

It seems this guy could do anything…won the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship at the University of

Minnesota, WWE champion, UFC champion…only in the NFL, and seemingly only because of a car accident…did his time with

the Minnesota Vikings wash out.

Brock Lesnar

A member of the University of Miami’s 1991 NCAA Champion team, he was sidelined with injuries and

replaced with future NFL great Warren Sapp. Fortunately, both parents were already in the pro wrestling business.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

He played for the University of Oklahoma Sooners, then began his AFL career with the Houston Oilers and Denver

Broncos. After stints with the NFL’s New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, he went to wrestling full-time.

‘Chief’ Wahoo McDaniel

A consensus All-American for two years in a row, his number with Florida State was retired in 1988. He spent only one year with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. In 1992 he became the first recognized black heavyweight champion of the NWA (WCW).

Ron Simmons

An All-American at the University of Colorado, Leon White played for two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams.

In his second pro year, he was on the squad which eventually lost Super Bowl XIV to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Vader

Prior to his wrestling career, he made his mark at Abilene Christian before moving to the L.A. Raiders, where he was

cut before the season started. He spent the 1991 season with the WLAF’s San Antonio Riders.

John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield

Discovered by University of Minnesota football coach Clarence Spears, he became a hallmark among Minnesota athletes and

later led the Chicago Bears to seven regional titles and two NFL Championships. He is the only person in both the Football Hall

of Fame and the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Bronislau ‘Bronko’ Nagurski

(And one from the Diamond)He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals straight out of

high school in Downer’s Grove, IL, playing mostly outfield. His all-time stats in the minors (with the Cardinals, Reds

and White Sox) was a batting average of .254, with 16 home runs and 66 RBIs.

Randy ‘Macho Man’Savage