Sports

Teams That Couldn’t Resist Signing Over-The-Hill Superstars

Darren Ryding - October 4, 2024

Sports

Teams That Couldn’t Resist Signing Over-The-Hill Superstars

Darren Ryding - October 4, 2024

Some superstar athletes are bigger than the teams that they play for. Franchises dream of acquiring these elite players both for competitive and marketing reasons. That’s why so many general managers can’t resist signing over-the-hill superstars like Russell Wilson in 2024.

They know that it’s probably not going to work out because their powers just aren’t the same as they were during their primes. But the commercial opportunities and the chance that they might have an Indian summer are just too seductive. Check out these players and the teams that signed them when everyone knew it was a bad idea right here.

Cam Newton

There was a time when Newton’s destiny appeared to be the Hall of Fame. The former NFL MVP was unbelievable during his prime with the Carolina Panthers. He led the franchise to a Super Bowl appearance but they fell agonizingly short of glory. Then injuries took their toll on the dynamic quarterback.

But this didn’t stop the Patriots from signing him in 2020 after Tom Brady’s departure. He was a stopgap solution after they lost their 20-year veteran. But nobody expected it to work and it was a disaster in the end. He joined the ranks of superstars who fell off a cliff (via Patriots.com).

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Carmelo Anthony

Franchises often can’t resist signing over-the-hill superstars like Anthony when they become available. He was one of the NBA’s best players for almost two decades with the Nuggets and the Knicks. But the 10-time All-Star’s form deteriorated as he aged and became less effective.

However, this didn’t stop the Trail Blazers and the Lakers from offering one-year deals at the end of his career. His time in L.A. was very disappointing because he didn’t offer anything. Injuries prevented him from making a positive impact and he retired from pro basketball at the end of the season (via The Athletic).

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Philip Rivers

Rivers will go down as one of the most underrated quarterbacks ever. He had a stellar career with the L.A. Chargers as one of the NFL’s most reliable players. However, there’s no denying that his numbers fell off toward the end of his tenure as their starter (via Sports Illustrated).

But this didn’t stop the Colts from offering him a one-year deal. They guaranteed him a cool $20 million and they fizzled out in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. It was a frustrating year for Indy fans because Rivers wasn’t at the peak of his powers anymore.

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Albert Pujols

Pujols is one of the greatest baseball players of the modern era. However, even the best athletes suffer a decline. His downturn came immediately after his second World Series win. Pujols endured knee and foot problems that beset the remainder of his career. But this didn’t stop franchises from signing the over-the-hill superstar.

The three-time NL MVP played for the likes of the Dodgers and the Cardinals despite being a fading force. It’s always a shame to see legends suffering meltdowns like Pujols. The two-time Gold Glove winner won many awards but fans were happy to see the back of him (via ABC News).

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LaDainian Tomlinson

Tomlinson was an iconic running back with the L.A. Chargers and won the MVP Award in 2006. In the end, injuries reduced him to a shadow of his former self at the end of his career. The Jets have a long and ignoble history of singing over-the-hill superstars and added him to the list in 2010.

‘L.T.’ spent two seasons with the franchise but had a minimal impact. In 2010, he rushed for a career-low 219 yards in 13 games with six touchdowns. Things spiraled out of control in his final season as he only started one game. It’s a shame because he was amazing in his prime (via Yardbreaker).

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Cristiano Ronaldo

Soccer players usually retain their skills deep into their lives. However, they struggle to maintain elite athleticism as they age. Ronaldo is an example of this because he lost his burning pace as he entered his thirties. Manchester United fans saw this firsthand when he dramatically rejoined the club.

Head Coach Erik Ten Hag controversially dropped him because he wasn’t quick enough for his style of play. United had a history of signing over-the-hill superstars but this was one of the worst. They lost huge amounts of money before finally releasing the Portuguese icon (via GOAL).

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Michael Schumacher

Many people don’t realize that racing drivers are also great athletes. They train hard in the gym so that they have optimum reaction timing when they’re in the cockpit. Schumacher became Ferrari’s greatest-ever driver and won seven championships with the team (via The Sports Rush).

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But Father Time took its toll on the German legend. Finally, he quit and left the sport behind for four years. But Mercedes lured him back into action despite his age. Schumacher was well past his prime and a shadow of himself at this point. In the end, they replaced him with future legend Lewis Hamilton.

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Michael Jordan

Many diehard NBA fans maintain that Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever. He led the Bulls to unprecedented glory and ensured the world was watching. However, it’s easy to forget that he didn’t quit after he departed Chicago in 1998. Instead, he joined the Washington Wizards.

Chicago Bulls V Orlando Magic — Sports Illustrated

He earned All-Star appearances in both seasons with the franchise but they didn’t make the playoffs. Meanwhile, he also averaged fewer points per game than he did in Chicago. The real reason why he joined was because he had an opportunity to join their ownership group after retiring (via Bleacher Report).

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Matt Ryan

Ryan enjoyed an outstanding career with the Atlanta Falcons despite missing out on a Super Bowl ring. Nonetheless, most analysts agree that the 2016 NFL MVP was one of the league’s most reliable quarterbacks throughout his career. That’s what prompted the Colts to sign the former Offensive Player of the Year.

However, this was a disaster from beginning to end. Ryan struggled to make sense of Frank Reich’s playbook before the latter lost his job. Finally, Ryan suffered the indignity of the team benching him for a rookie. It was a shame because he was a great player and a gentleman off the field (via The Athletic).

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Martin Brodeur

Brodeur was a phenomenal NHL goaltender for the New Jersey Devils. He spent almost the entirety of his career in Newark before an ill-advised adventure in St. Louis. Most hockey fans regard the Canadian as one of the greatest to ever play in his position.

But nobody would say that if they watched him in Missouri. That’s because he only started three games for the franchise before losing his place to Jake Allen. Ironically, Allen would later play for the Devils too. St. Louis couldn’t resist signing the star even though he was past his prime (via The Hockey News).

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Terrell Owens

Owens was one of those players that everyone wanted on their team, even if he was past his prime, thanks to his skillset. The Bills and the Bengals proved this because they both took him for a year. It didn’t matter to them that he didn’t have much to offer on the field. They sold jerseys and excited fans for a few minutes.

To be fair, Owens had an Indian summer in Buffalo but there’s not much to say about his Cincinnati tenure. The famously volatile wideout moved to indoor football after he departed the NFL. He was a tremendous player in his prime but time doesn’t slow down (via USA Today).

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Casemiro

Manchester United should have realized that there was a problem when Real Madrid handed them Casemiro. The Brazilian was a serial winner in Spain and quietly one of their most important players. But he was on the wrong side of 30 when he moved to the UK.

Things started well for Casemiro but then he went into a rapid decline. He struggled with the pace of the league as his physical abilities began to leave him. It was unfortunate because he was elite in his prime but this happens to every player. United can’t resist signing over-the-hill superstars (via Metro).

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Brett Favre

It’s crazy how some over-the-hill superstars bounce around from team to team despite being past their prime. That’s what happened to future Hall of Famer Favre after he departed the Packers. He resentfully joined the Jets as he refused to retire. But he didn’t deliver much in New York except alleged pictures of his private anatomy.

This didn’t stop the Vikings from giving him a chance in one of the weirdest decisions ever. He risked his reputation as he signed with the Packers’ divisional rivals. To be fair, he had a solid first year as their starter as he threw the least amount of interceptions of his career. But his final season didn’t go well (via Sporting News).

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Allen Iverson

Iverson could have been one of the greatest basketball players ever if he took the sport seriously enough. Nonetheless, he was brilliant in his heyday with the Sixers. However, he arguably didn’t hang up his shoes when he should have and hung around the NBA (via NBA.com).

First, he joined the Nuggets and was at the center of a refereeing scandal. Then he joined the Pistons and that’s when the decline began properly. ‘The Answer’ struggled with a back injury and didn’t make much of an impact. Finally, he played three games for Memphis before rejoining Philadelphia.

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Deion Sanders

Comebacks are rarely a good idea because Father Time doesn’t take a break. ‘Prime’ enjoyed a celebrated NFL career but quit for four seasons before the Ravens lured him back. He started six games in the two seasons he spent with them. But he was no longer playing like an eight-time Pro Bowler.

Tdp L Cu Sanders 1727.jpg — The Denver Post

Sanders was a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year so it’s clear what they wanted from him. He brought experience and also commercial value because he’s one of the most recognizable athletes in the nation. Nonetheless, he wasn’t the same force (via NFL.com).

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Michael Vick

Many people say that Vick reinvented the quarterback position because he was so good at rushing. This might be a stretch but he was brilliant for the Falcons. Then he went to jail because he was the ringleader of a dog-fighting enterprise. This rocked the NFL and he vanished for a couple of years.

The Eagles immediately signed him when he left prison and he picked up where he left off. Then Vick played for the Jets and the Steelers but he didn’t offer much. Teams love signing over-the-hill superstars like Vick because of their commercial value and their experience (via The Sportster).

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Luis Suarez

MLS struggles to find an audience in the U.S. but they made waves when Inter Miami signed Lionel Messi. The veteran Argentine superstar decided that he wanted his best friends on his team. That’s why Miami signed his fellow former Barcelona stars, Sergio Busquets and Suarez.

Fbl Nassr Miami Friendly — Football Espana

Suarez spent the previous couple of years in South America. He made an emotional return to his beloved Nacional in Uruguay before playing for Brazil’s Gremio. Then Miami swooped for the legendary forward as they signed a clutch of over-the-hill superstars (via The Guardian).

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Ed Reed

Reed practically has the key to Baltimore after what he did for the city. The Super Bowl legend had the perfect opportunity to leave the sport on a high note after achieving glory with the Ravens. Instead, he opted to play for a few more years but he was no longer the same force.

The Jets love signing over-the-hill superstars so they happily handed him a lucrative contract. Before this, he also picked up a payday from the Texans. However, the 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year struggled to make much of an impact on the field (via Bleacher Report).

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Shaquille O’Neal

O’Neal was one of the two greatest players of his era and a genuine NBA superstar. However, Shaq didn’t know when to call it quits and arguably hung around the league for too long. Some question whether it was out of love for the sport or because he needed the money.

He enjoyed success with the Lakers and the Miami Heat but then everything went downhill. This didn’t dissuade the Cavaliers and the Celtics from signing the over-the-hill superstar. He barely made an impact in Boston but at least he sold plenty of jerseys with his name (via NESN).

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Donavon McNabb

McNabb was a reliable quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles despite his shaky relationship with Terrell Owens. The six-time Pro Bowler holds most of Philly’s passing records today. However, injuries affected his later years and prevented him from blossoming into one of the best.

This didn’t stop Washington from trading for the quarterback but this was a disaster from beginning to end. Then the Vikings proved that every NFL team signs over-the-hill superstars by adding him to their roster in 2011. Sometimes a player should know when to hang up their cleats (via NBC Sports).

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Patrick Ewing

It’s a shame that Ewing didn’t quit playing after he left the Knicks. Instead, he hung around the NBA for a couple more seasons like a bad smell. He remains the franchise’s greatest player ever but he didn’t have the same impact for other teams. Nobody wanted to see him play for Seattle or Orlando.

That’s except for the franchises’ general managers. They hoped that Ewing would catapult their teams into the big-time but they knew his commercial value. Sadly, his stat line dropped horrifically as he aged before the world’s eyes (via Bleacher Report).

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic is one of the best soccer players of his generation. The Swedish striker played for some of the best clubs in the world and enjoyed incredible success. However, he joined Manchester United when they were becoming increasingly dysfunctional (via The Mirror).

They kept signing over-the-hill superstars and giving them inflated salaries. To be fair, Ibrahimovic was one of their better performers because he was prolific despite his age. However, he also slowed their games down because he didn’t have the pace to run fast.

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Rickey Henderson

Some elite players love playing their sports so much that they can’t think about walking away. They don’t care about their legacy or their diminishing on-field abilities. That’s the situation with Henderson who was one of MLB’s best stars during his heyday (via PBS).

Ricky Henderson Swing Ky 0921 — Spectrum News

But he finished his career playing minor league ball as he joined the ranks of over-the-hill athletes. He played for at least five years longer than he should have. Teams couldn’t resist signing him because of his name value. Meanwhile, Henderson refused to quit the sport that made him a national icon.

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Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time but then he joined the New York Jets. We could probably stop talking about him right there because the Gang Green ruined great players. The reality is that Rodgers left Green Bay after a dismal playoff campaign.

Then he joined the Jets on a massive contract but instantly tore his ACL in their first game. Now he’s pushing 40 and bouncing back from a serious ligament injury. Most analysts think that this was a disaster for the franchise because he may never recapture his form (via CBS Sports).

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Russell Wilson

Wilson was a perennial MVP contender when he played for the Seattle Seahawks. He helped the franchise to their first-ever Super Bowl win and came within inches of a second ring. However, his last couple of seasons didn’t go well and finally, the Broncos swooped in a blockbuster trade.

However, this was a dismal failure that saw them dump him after two seasons. They accepted the most dead-cap money ever and released him. But NFL teams love over-the-hill superstars so the Pittsburgh Steelers came in for him. They wanted him to compete with Kenny Pickett in 2024 (via CBS News).

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Teams That Couldn’t Resist Signing Over-The-Hill Superstars

Teams That Couldn’t Resist Signing Over-The-Hill Superstars

Cam Newton

Carmelo Anthony

Philip Rivers

Albert Pujols

LaDainian Tomlinson

Cristiano Ronaldo

Michael Schumacher

Michael Jordan

Matt Ryan

Martin Brodeur

Terrell Owens

Casemiro

Brett Favre

Allen Iverson

Deion Sanders

Michael Vick

Luis Suarez

Ed Reed

Shaquille O’Neal

Donavon McNabb

Patrick Ewing

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Rickey Henderson

Aaron Rodgers

Russell Wilson

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