Biggest late-career bloomers

Kurt Warner

 

Where does George Blanda fit it? He had a good career, leveled out and finished really strong.

 

George Foreman: Retired after a successful career, then came back 10 years later, won the title, and became super popular, both as a boxer and as a pitchman.

Lester Patrick: Had to come in for a Stanley Cup finals game to play goalie when the Rangers’ goalie got hurt, and won the game at age 44.

Earl Morrall: Journeyman quarterback became NFL MVP, and later won three Super Bowls as a backup.

Diamond Dallas Page: Started his pro wrestling career in his late 30s as a manager and broadcaster, then trained and became a wrestler when he was nearly 40, became a main eventer in his mid-40s, and eventually started a yoga business and helps people who are dealing with addiction.

 

Warner did it twice. He was 28 when he finally got his shot with the Rams, and then 36 when he began his successful second act with the Cardinals.

 

That is an interesting one. He was never much more than an average qb with the bears. Retired. Came back two years with the afl and then won some titles; was an mvp and threw for a bunch of yards. He then extended his career as a kicker/emergency qb and picked up votes for nfl mvp 12 years after he retired from that league.

 

Maybe Steve Young, too?

 

Not an athlete, but Rodney Dangerfield.

Also most of these guys .. steroids and drugs.

Great call on Foreman and Blanda.

I'll add Monty ... Never won a major on Tour, til he got the Senior Tour and then he bagged 3 of them.

 

Leslie Nielsen. Journeyman actor, then hit it huge with Airplane and as Frank Drebin.

Buddy Ebsen too.

 

Jim Plunkett

 

Business world: Harland Sanders

 

Are we counting steroid guys?

 

That made me think of Testaverde, but I remembered his time with the Jets as being much better.