Some NFL careers end with a bang — a game-winning drive, a final Pro Bowl nod, or even a Super Bowl ring. But others not so much.
Whether it was a sad final season, an awkward free agency that went nowhere, or a quiet fade into retirement, these 25 players didn’t exactly ride off into the sunset. From former MVPs to once-dominant stars, here are 25 NFL players who went out with a whimper.
25. LeSean McCoy
Once one of the shiftiest backs in the league, McCoy ended his career as a barely-used depth piece. He technically won two rings, but he barely saw the field in either playoff run.
24. Chad Johnson
After lighting up the NFL with his antics and elite production, his brief stint with the Patriots was forgettable. Then he tried the CFL and quietly disappeared from the spotlight.
23. Clinton Portis
Portis was a workhorse in his prime, but limped to the finish line with injuries piling up. His final season felt like a ghost of the dynamic runner fans once loved.
22. Mike Wallace
He went from deep threat to afterthought in what felt like a blink. His last few seasons were a rotating door of teams and forgettable stat lines.
21. Vince Young
After winning Rookie of the Year and leading dramatic comebacks, Young’s NFL story fizzled fast. Failed comebacks and off-the-field distractions closed the curtain.
20. Arian Foster
When he was healthy, Foster was poetry in motion. But his final season with the Dolphins lasted just four games before he called it quits mid-year.
19. DeMarco Murray
That one magical season in Dallas felt like a fluke in hindsight. He bounced around after that and retired young, looking like a shell of his former self.
18. Roy Williams (WR)
Detroit paid big for his potential, and Dallas followed suit — but the production never matched the hype. His exit was as underwhelming as his later years on the field.
17. Donovan McNabb
Once a franchise icon in Philly, McNabb’s final stops in Washington and Minnesota were painful to watch. He looked like a guy who hung on a season too long.
16. Terrell Davis
Injuries stole the second half of his career, and by the time he retired, he was a forgotten man on the Broncos’ depth chart. A Hall of Famer, but his exit came with little fanfare.
15. Maurice Jones-Drew
MJD was a fan favorite in Jacksonville, but his final stop in Oakland didn’t do him any favors. He retired after rushing for just 96 yards in his last season.
14. Jake Delhomme
After his Super Bowl appearance, things unraveled quickly. His final act with the Texans was so forgettable you probably didn’t even know it happened.
13. Matt Forte
One of the most versatile backs of his era, Forte’s run with the Jets didn’t pack the same punch. He retired without much buzz after a couple of injury-marred seasons.
12. Michael Vick
Vick’s final years as a backup felt like a quiet fade rather than the fireworks we were used to. The magic was gone, and so was his starting role.
11. Larry Johnson
After leading the league in carries and putting up monster numbers, Johnson quickly fell out of favor. Off-the-field issues and poor play ended things on a sour note.
10. Nnamdi Asomugha
He was once the gold standard of shutdown corners, but his time in Philly and San Francisco was forgettable. He quietly retired after falling off hard.
9. Carson Palmer
Palmer had a mini-renaissance in Arizona but ran out of steam. His final year was full of injuries, missed games, and little fanfare.
8. Chris Johnson
CJ2K burst onto the scene with blazing speed, but the wheels fell off fast. His last seasons in New York and Arizona didn’t come close to his prime.
7. Joe Flacco
Flacco will always have that Super Bowl run, but his post-Ravens career has been a quiet shuffle between teams. He’s technically still around, but the magic left long ago.
6. Robert Griffin III
RGIII’s rookie year was electric, but everything after that felt like a slow unraveling. Injuries and inconsistency led to a whimpering finish as a backup.
5. Andre Johnson
A legend in Houston, Johnson’s decision to finish with the Colts and Titans didn’t sit right. It was sad to see such a dominant receiver become an afterthought.
4. Shaun Alexander
He was an MVP and touchdown machine… and then just vanished. Injuries and age hit him hard, and he was out of the league before anyone expected.
3. Cam Newton
Cam’s decline was fast and painful. His final stint with the Patriots (and brief return to Carolina) lacked the spark that made him an icon.
Read more: 15 NFL Legends Who Were Forced to Retire in Their 20s
2. Johnny Manziel
He had the hype, the spotlight, and none of the staying power. By the time he left the league, it was more of a shrug than a shock.
Read more: Ranking the 15 Saddest Final Seasons in NFL History
1. Peyton Manning
Yes, he won a Super Bowl, but let’s be real, that final season was rough. He went out a champion, but the arm strength and stats had clearly whittled away to nothing.
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