Before Barry Sanders lit up the Motor City, it was Billy Simms who had three-straight Pro Bowl seasons to start off his career, thanks to back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. A knee injury took him out in October, one that wouldn't properly heal and lead to him calling it quits. His career 85.1 yards per game is higher than that of OJ Simpson, Emmitt Smith, and Earl Campbell.
A legendary career at Auburn didn't translate to success at the NFL level. After winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, a leg injury in Year 2, followed by a torn knee the next season that effectively ended his career. While he gave it a run for a few more years, Williams was never able to produce at his collegiate levels.
The New York Jets selected Al Toon 10th overall in the 1985 NFL Draft, and through four seasons, he looked like one of the best receivers in franchise history. He made it to three Pro Bowls, twice eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, and once led the league in receptions.
But Toon suffered a serious concussion in 1988 and suffered at least four more over the next four seasons. He never reclaimed his early career form and retired after his age-29 season.
Priest Holmes is a tricky one. He was healthy for the first 7+ seasons of his career, amassing 7,584 yards, 80 touchdowns, and three first-team All-Pro nods along the way. But Holmes’ dominant 2004 campaign was cut short by an ankle injury, and a neck injury forced him to miss half of the 2005 season and all of 2006. Holmes returned in 2007 but re-injured his neck and never played again.
The first overall pick of the 1992 NFL Draft, Steve Emtman had flashes of excellence to begin his career. However, two torn knees on either leg in the span of five games put him out for long. Upon injury, he immediately ruptured a disc in his neck. Although he returned, he wasn't nearly as dominant on the field and subsequently retired after just two more seasons.
Tony Boselli was well on his way to being one of the greatest tackles in history — if not the greatest. In his first six seasons, the Jacksonville Jaguars legend made five Pro Bowls and earned three first-team All-Pro nods. Then, in 2001, Boselli suffered a major shoulder injury that ended his career. He still made it to the Hall of Fame, though.
Somehow an MVP and two-time Super Bowl Champion ends up on this list. But, his case is simple. Terrell Davis might’ve been the most accomplished running back of all time before an ACL injury in 1999 and subsequent minor injuries forced him to retire in 2001.
The elder brother of Shannon Sharpe, Sterling Sharpe was one of the NFL’s best receivers from 1988 through 1994 with five Pro Bowl selections as led the NFL in catches three times, and led the league in receiving yards once. Sharpe was a total stud for the Green Bay Packers, yet in 1994, he suffered a late-season neck injury, and doctors never cleared him to play again.
There is a reason Gale Sayers' name is spoken with such reverence. The Chicago Bears legend really was that good. Despite retiring at just 28, Sayers still enjoyed a Hall of Fame career — he earned five first-team All-Pro nods and twice led the NFL in rushing.
Perhaps the most gifted athlete ever, Bo Jackson’s career was derailed when he suffered a major hip injury during the 1990 playoffs. Jackson never played another down, and we’re left to wonder whether he would’ve turned in a Hall of Fame career. Before the injury, Jackson amassed 2,782 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry over four seasons for the then-Los Angeles Raiders.
