The former Muscle & Fitness cover model and New York Giant Michael Strahan was a beast on the field, and is now among the select few who have successfully transitioned from a career in pro sports to one in show business.Here are a few other marquee names who found success on the big (and little) screen after their illustrious NFL career.SEE ALSO:Behind-the-Scenes at Michael Strahan’s Cover Shoot
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Carl Weathers
Most known for his ferociousness in the ring as Apollo Creed, Carl Weathers was also a talented athlete. Long before those epic on-screen battles with Rocky Balboa, he was a force on the gridiron, playing linebacker for the Oakland Raiders back in 1970-71 and the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League from ’71 to ’73.SEE ALSO:The 14 Most Jacked Movie Villains of All-Time
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Terry Crews
The busiest man in show business continues to flaunt his muscles and acting chops on a variety of today’s most popular productions. But before he was pumping his pecs as a big screen bad-ass, he was making the rounds as an NFL journeyman. Crews was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 11th round of the 1991 NFL Draft. His pro football career included stints with the Rams, Chargers, Redskins and Eagles.SEE ALSO: Terry Crews’ Upper Body Workout
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Howie Long
While he didn’t achieve the box office success of some other NFL players, Howie Long did appear in a few action flicks after lacing up his cleats for the last time. The films included Firestorm (a 1998 movie in which he starred), Broken Arrow, and 3000 Miles to Graceland.Long is also widely known as a studio analyst for the Fox Network’s NFL coverage where he works alongside other retired pro football greats, including the next guy on our list. SEE ALSO:M&F Editor Takes On NFL Combine
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Terry Bradshaw
This NFL Hall of Famer and 4-time Superbowl champ used his gregarious personality and comedic acting chops to springboard into a show business career after retiring from the league back in 1984. Aside from his success as a football broadcaster and studio analyst, Bradshaw has also appeared in a variety of movies and television shows.If you’re old enough, you may remember him from such flicks as Hooper, The Cannonball Run, Smokey and the Bandit II, and Failure to Launch. Bradshaw has also appeared on TV’s Everybody Loves Raymond, Married with Children, and Malcolm in the Middle.SEE ALSO:7-Foot, 440-lb High School Football Player Dwarfs Competition
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Jim Brown
Sporting News named Jim Brown the “greatest professional football player ever” and after his stint with the Cleveland Browns, the unstoppable running back hightailed it to Hollywood. Once there, he landed a host of notable roles in big films. Perhaps none more highly regarded than his breakout role as Robert Jefferson inthe 1966 hit, The Dirty Dozen.SEE ALSO:J.J. Watt Bangs Out Squats with Arnold
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Alex Karras
A hard-nose tackle fortheDetroit Lions from 1958-1962 and 1964-1970, Alex Karras was feared on the playing field. He was also feared as the horse-punching outlaw, ‘Mongo’ in Mel Brooks’ comedy, Blazing Saddles. Karras showed his softer side as George Papadapolis in the long running TV series Webster.
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Brian Bosworth
Few names were bigger coming out of college than ‘The Boz’. Unfortunately, Brian Bosworth’s star didn’t shine quite as bright during his two years with the Seattle Seahawks. Still, he was able to parlay his name and bad-boy reputation into an acting career post-NFL with appearances in such action flicks as Stone Cold, Three Kings and The Longest Yard. SEE ALSO:4 Rules for Making a Muscle-Building Protein Shake
The former Muscle & Fitness cover model and New York Giant Michael Strahan was a beast on the field, and is now among the select few who have successfully transitioned from a career in pro sports to one in show business.
Here are a few other marquee names who found success on the big (and little) screen after their illustrious NFL career.
Most known for his ferociousness in the ring as Apollo Creed, Carl Weathers was also a talented athlete. Long before those epic on-screen battles with Rocky Balboa, he was a force on the gridiron, playing linebacker for the Oakland Raiders back in 1970-71 and the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League from ’71 to ’73.
The busiest man in show business continues to flaunt his muscles and acting chops on a variety of today’s most popular productions. But before he was pumping his pecs as a big screen bad-ass, he was making the rounds as an NFL journeyman.
Crews was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 11th round of the 1991 NFL Draft. His pro football career included stints with the Rams, Chargers, Redskins and Eagles.
While he didn’t achieve the box office success of some other NFL players, Howie Long did appear in a few action flicks after lacing up his cleats for the last time. The films included Firestorm (a 1998 movie in which he starred), Broken Arrow, and 3000 Miles to Graceland.
Long is also widely known as a studio analyst for the Fox Network’s NFL coverage where he works alongside other retired pro football greats, including the next guy on our list.
This NFL Hall of Famer and 4-time Superbowl champ used his gregarious personality and comedic acting chops to springboard into a show business career after retiring from the league back in 1984. Aside from his success as a football broadcaster and studio analyst, Bradshaw has also appeared in a variety of movies and television shows.
If you’re old enough, you may remember him from such flicks as Hooper, The Cannonball Run, Smokey and the Bandit II, and Failure to Launch. Bradshaw has also appeared on TV’s Everybody Loves Raymond, Married with Children, and Malcolm in the Middle.
Sporting News named Jim Brown the “greatest professional football player ever” and after his stint with the Cleveland Browns, the unstoppable running back hightailed it to Hollywood. Once there, he landed a host of notable roles in big films. Perhaps none more highly regarded than his breakout role as Robert Jefferson inthe 1966 hit, The Dirty Dozen.
A hard-nose tackle fortheDetroit Lions from 1958-1962 and 1964-1970, Alex Karras was feared on the playing field. He was also feared as the horse-punching outlaw, ‘Mongo’ in Mel Brooks’ comedy, Blazing Saddles. Karras showed his softer side as George Papadapolis in the long running TV series Webster.
Brian Bosworth
Few names were bigger coming out of college than ‘The Boz’. Unfortunately, Brian Bosworth’s star didn’t shine quite as bright during his two years with the Seattle Seahawks. Still, he was able to parlay his name and bad-boy reputation into an acting career post-NFL with appearances in such action flicks as Stone Cold, Three Kings and The Longest Yard.
