Some of the best football players to play on the gridiron have tried their luck in the squared circle. This is a list of the best football players to get in the ring. The order is determined by the quality of their football career, not their wrestling career. I would like to thank James Alder, the
About Guide to Football, for his help with the list. The source for my football stats is pro-football-reference.com.
LT is arguably the greatest defensive player in NFL history. This Hall of Famer has been to 10 Pro Bowls and won 2 Super Bowls with the NY Giants. He is the only football player to headline
WrestleMania. In his only match, he beat
Bam Bam Bigelow at
WrestleMania XI. In a historical footnote, if you get the chance to see this match, the guy dressed as Bam Bam Bigelow in the 5th row (dead center hard camera) is me.
The Minister of Defense is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame. After starting his career in the USFL, he is most famous for his stints in Philadelphia and Green Bay. He has been to 13 Pro Bowls and won 1 Super Bowl. His only pro match was at
WCW Slamboree 1997. He lost to former football player Steve McMichael.
Bronko is the only person on this list to be in the NFL Hall of Fame and a former NWA World Champion. At the University of Minnesota, he was an All-American at both fullback and tackle. As a fullback for the Bears, opponents feared his drop pass. After a contract squabble, he entered the ring. In 1939, he beat Lou Thez to become World Champion.
Wahoo McDaniel was a star in the AFL. As a member of the Jets, he once made 23 tackles in a game against the Broncos. The crowd at Shea Stadium used to love to scream "Wahoo" when he made a tackle. He also played for the Oilers, Broncos, & Dolphins. As a wrestler, he was noted for never losing an Indian Strap Match. In 1995, he was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame.
5. Kevin Greene
Kevin was voted to the Pro Bowl 5 times. He was a linebacker for the Rams, Steelers, Panthers, & 49ers. His first appeared in a wrestling ring at the side of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage during a Clash of Champions event a few days before he was to play in the Super Bowl. The Steelers did not know he was there until they saw him on TV. In his first pro match, his partner Steve McMichael turned on him to join the 4 Horsemen. Kevin beat him in a 1-on-1 match the next year.6. Harvey Martin
Harvey Martin was a defensive lineman for the Cowboys during the Tom Landry era. He made the Pro Bowl 4 times and was a member of 2 Super Bowl Championship teams. His lone wrestling appearance was in the
WrestleMania 2 battle royal that featured football players and wrestlers.
Andre the Giant won that match.
In the 1960's, Ernie was a top defensive lineman in the AFL. He was voted to 4 Pro Bowls. He had a great career in the WWF and is a member of the
WWE Hall of Fame. After his career in the ring ended, he did commentary for the then-WWF.
8. Bill Fralic
Bill Fralic was a star offensive lineman of the Atlanta Falcons. He made 4 straight Pro Bowls from 1986-1989. He participated in the aforementioned WrestleMania 2 battle royal.9. Russ Francis
Russ was another football player to participate in the WrestleMania 2 battle royal. As a member of the Patriots, he was a Pro Bowl tight end from 1976 - 1978. As a member of the 49ers, he helped the team win their second Super Bowl against the Dolphins.Steve McMichael was a lineman on the famed 1985 Chicago Bears defense. He was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1986 and 1987. After leaving football, he was a star in WCW. He was an original announcer for
WCW Nitro and later became a member of the famed
4 Horsemen when he turned on Kevin Greene. He was accompanied to the ring by his then-wife Debra, who later married and divorced
Steve Austin.
