The journey from varsity sports to pro stardom is an arduous task that most people struggle to accomplish. Even students studying on scholarships rely on assistance from essay writing services like domyessay.com to write my papers and juggle between their academics and athletic training.
But some people have gone through college stress to become successful pro players. If you are a prospect looking to join the NFL and leave a lasting impression on the league, here are a few legends on whom you can model your game.
Tom Brady
Tom Brady is the greatest football player ever. Although recently retired at 44, Brady epitomizes hard work and dedication, which he showed throughout his 22 years in the NFL.
He was the driving force behind the Patriots Dynasty alongside legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick.
Here are some of Brady’s crowning moments during his time in the league:
- 7-time Super Bowl champion
- 5-time Super Bowl MVP
- 3-time NFL MVP
- 2-time NFL offensive player of the year
- NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2009)
- 15 Pro Bowl selections
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
This illustrious resume just highlights the magnitude of Brady’s achievements. Despite the many obstacles he faced, from being the 199th draft pick to deflate-gate, Brady left a lasting legacy for young pros to follow.
Peyton Manning
Even though Manning now dissects NFL games while rocking undersized helmets, he was a dominant force during his time in the league. The “Sheriff” spent his first 14 seasons with the Colts and the last 4 with the Broncos.
Upon retirement, Peyton Manning received the ESPY Icon Award. In 2021, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Although his father Archie and younger brother Eli also played at an elite level, Peyton remains the most dominant Manning to play in the NFL.
Joe Montana
Joe “Cool” Montana is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks ever, winning four Super Bowl trophies and coming in as the MVP in three of those.
Famously known as “the Comeback Kid” for his remarkable never-say-die attitude, Joe Montana remains the standard for young aspiring athletes.
Joe Montana also had 12 games with an overall passer rating of 100. He also threw 122 passes in one Super Bowl without any interceptions. Montana and Terry Bradshaw are the only two players with 4 Super Bowl wins and no losses.
Joe Namath
Joe Namath’s illustrious career started at Alabama college, where he guided the team to the national title. This win earned him a place as the first pick in the 1965 draft. Namath pulled off a massive upset to help the Jets win their first and only Super Bowl to this day.
This victory was the last Super Bowl before the AFL and the NFL, earning Joe Namath a more profound status as an icon in the sport.
Brett Favre
When the Atlanta Falcons selected Brett Favre in the 1991 draft, no one could have guessed that he would become one of the best quarterbacks in the league in the coming decade.
During his 20 seasons, Brett Favre became the first NFL quarterback to reach 70000 passing yards, 10000 passes, 6000 completed passes, 500 TDs, and 200 wins.
His only championship came at Super Bowl XXXI over the Patriots, after which he joined the New York Jets.
Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice is one of the best wide receivers to grace an NFL field. Rice was hard to play in his prime, becoming the only player to reach 20000 receiving yards in the league’s history.
He also has the most points for a non-kicker in the NFL, amassing 1256 points over 21 seasons. Jerry Rice’s exceptional ability earned him 13 Pro Bowl selections. His other records include the following:
- Most career receiving yards: 22895
- Most career receptions: 1549
- Most career touchdown receptions: 197
- Fastest player to reach 100 touchdown receptions: 120 GP
- Fastest player to reach 15,000 receiving yards: 172 GP
- Most points scored by a non-kicker: 1256
Judging by these numbers, it is no surprise that Jerry Rice is an inductee into the NFL and College Football Hall of Fame.
Jim Brown
When it comes to combining sports and social work, James “Jim” Brown is a pioneer. The NFL Hall-of-Famer played for Syracuse before joining the Cleveland Brown as the 6th overall draft pick in 1957.
During his time in the NFL, Jim Brown led the league in rushing yards in all seasons, except one. Brown also became the first player to reach 10000 rushing yards, bagging an average of 103 yards per game.
Deion Sanders
Currently the head coach at Jackson State, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders is a supreme athlete who played in the NFL and MLB during his athletic career. Prime Time is famous as the only professional athlete to play in both the Super Bowl and the World Series.
Deion Sanders’ NFL career highlights include:
- Winning the 1994 Defensive Player of the Year.
- Winning Super Bowl XXIX with the 49ers.
- Winning Super Bowl XXX with the Dallas Cowboys.
Barry Sanders
Tagged the most talented player never to make a Super Bowl appearance, Barry Sanders was a menace to NFL defenses during his ten seasons in the league.
As the greatest running back in modern NFL history, Barry Sanders had a 1527-yard rushing average per season. In 1997, he shared the MVP award with Brett Favre.
Sanders also joined the NFL Hall of Fame alongside other greats like Jim Brown and Peyton Manning.
Randy Moss
During his 14 seasons in the league, Moss managed to play for the Vikings, Patriots, Titans, 49ers, and Raiders. Randy Moss was selected for the Pro Bowl 6 times. He also went to the Super Bowl twice without winning a ring.
Despite that, Randy Moss still holds several individual records in the league. In sports terminology, the concept of being “mossed” immortalizes his physics-defying catches in the league.
Conclusion
Becoming an elite athlete in the NFL is a grueling task that requires solid dedication and tenacity. You need to make sacrifices and develop an obsession for success while maintaining excellent grades. If you want to make it to the league and have a stellar career, follow the lives of these world-beaters.
