Sports

These Superstar Athletes Blew Their Hall of Fame Dreams

Darren Ryding - November 5, 2024

Sports

These Superstar Athletes Blew Their Hall of Fame Dreams

Darren Ryding - November 5, 2024

Most brilliant athletes out there who reach the professional level dream of being the best. A tiny percentage of them will earn that coveted spot in the Hall of Fame of their respective sports. However, the reality is that most will fall short and belong to the Hall of Very Good instead.

Meanwhile, other stars demonstrate HOF-level trajectories early in their careers but something throws them off the rails. Maybe they make a wrong life decision or suffer from injuries and never recover. In any case, sports history is littered with top-level stars who fall short of truly great status for one reason or another. Check out the athletes who blew their Hall of Fame dreams here.

Odell Beckham Jr.

Many may laugh at OBJ’s inclusion on this list but don’t forget how good he was for the New York Giants. There was a time when he was the most exciting player in the league. He was the fastest player to 4,000 receiving yards and 200 career receptions as he lit up the NFL (via Fox Sports).

However, the three-time Pro Bowler endured an injury nightmare after he left New York. His time in Cleveland was a shambles and he’s been a secondary player since then. Yes, he won a Super Bowl ring with the Rams but also tore his ACL in that game. Beckham blew his Hall of Fame dream after a blistering beginning.

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Barry Bonds

Baseball casuals who don’t know their history would assume Bonds is already a Hall of Famer. That’s because he has the most home runs ever with 762. Meanwhile, he also holds the single-season record with a ridiculous 73. But there’s one massive problem with this: everyone (perhaps justifiably) assumes that he was using steroids.

That’s why Bonds will never have a bust in Cooperstown. He never admitted taking PEDs but there’s a reason why the MLB commissioner skipped the game when he broke the home run record. It’s an open secret that he took more steroids than a racehorse and that ruined his Hall of Fame dream (via NBC Sports).

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Philip Rivers

Many will think that Rivers is a harsh inclusion on this list. That’s because statistically, he is one of the best quarterbacks ever. However, he was also the lowest-key member of a golden generation. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers all lit up the league during this era (via Sports Illustrated).

That’s before we mention the likes of Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner. When he retired, Rivers was fifth all-time in passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. He was also famously tough as he played in an AFC Championship game with a torn ACL. But he never got that Super Bowl ring and perhaps that killed his Hall of Fame Dream.

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Shawn Kemp

Kemp is arguably the best ’90s player who still isn’t in the Hall of Fame. The Seattle icon was a ferocious dunker and earned six All-Star selections during his career. At his peak, he was averaging 20 points per game and helped the Sonics to a Finals against Michael Jordan’s Bulls in 1996.

Sadly this was when everything went downhill for Kemp as he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was no longer as effective and many people think that this finished his Hall of Fame dream. Some believe that he did enough in Seattle to earn a spot but voters disagreed (via Sports Nostalgia HQ).

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Le’Veon Bell

There’s no denying that Bell was on a clear path to the Hall of Fame before his career collapsed. He was one of the best running backs in the NFL with elite numbers during his time in Pittsburgh. In his sophomore year, he compiled over 2,200 yards while he led the league in carries in 2017 (via Fox Sports).

Unfortunately, Bell’s greed got the better of him and ruined his Hall of Fame dream. He sat out the entire 2018 season after he refused to sign the franchise tag. From there he wound up with the New York Jets and as a backup in Kansas City. Then he became an influencer boxer as his NFL legacy evaporated.

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Priest Holmes

Holmes is a classic example of a player who had some great seasons but didn’t do it for long enough. The 2002 Offensive Player of the Year was also a three-time All-Pro. He led the league in rushing touchdowns twice and was electric during his heyday in Kansas City.

The running back is in the Chiefs’ Hall of Fame as well as the Texas Hall of Honor. But a neck injury cost him badly and he never past 10,000 yards overall. Meanwhile, his three Pro Bowl selections prove he was elite but in the end, his prime was too short (via Chiefs.com).

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Deshaun Watson

Watson is another player who singlehandedly destroyed his Hall of Fame chance. The quarterback was brilliant during his heyday in Houston as he emerged as one of the best in the league. He led the NFL in passing yards in 2020 and was third overall in career quarterback rating.

But he fell off a cliff after he left the Texans and joined the Browns. This probably made life easier for NFL voters because his record of sexual harassment cases is galling. Watson signed one of the most lucrative contracts ever but ultimately Joe Flacco outshone him in Cleveland (via Spectrum News).

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Khalil Mack

Many players on this list had Hall of Fame talent but don’t have the resume. Mack arguably belongs in this category because he has some unbelievable individual achievements. The linebacker is a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a four-time All-Pro selection.

The other advantage is that he was the first player ever named to a Pro Bowl at two separate positions. But the problem is that he has played for garbage franchises and hasn’t enjoyed team success. His capacity to earn a spot in Canton may be out of his hands if he can’t earn a ring (via Sportskeeda).

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Derrick Rose

The Chicago Bulls thought that they struck gold when they drafted Rose in 2008. This was 10 years after Michael Jordan’s final Championship victory with the franchise. The Rookie of the Year became the youngest MVP in history when he claimed the accolade in 2011 (via New York Post).

23knickswebsub Videosixteenbyninejumbo1600 — The New York Times

But injuries caught up with Rose and devastated his Hall of Fame dream. It’s a shame because he had so much potential and could have been a superstar like LeBron James. Instead, he bounced around the league and showed flashes of talent between endless injury issues.

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Shaun Alexander

There’s a glut of running backs who probably deserve a spot in the NFL Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to stand out unless they’re someone like Christian McCaffrey or Derrick Henry. Alexander proves how challenging it is to earn that elusive selection because he was a top player.

Seattle Seahawks V Green Bay Packers — AP

Most critics say that longevity is the issue and that he didn’t do it for long enough. Nonetheless, he’s a former MVP and had almost 10,000 yards in five years. Other players produced similar numbers and found themselves in Canton. It’s harsh but Alexander couldn’t do much more (via Sports Illustrated).

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Bo Jackson

Countless fans love Jackson and claim that he is one of the greatest athletes ever. But he isn’t a baseball or football Hall of Famer despite playing at the highest level in both. He has an unbelievable record of being the only player to become an All-Star in both sports (via Bleacher Report).

Unfortunately, a hip injury brought his football career to an early end. It’s possible that he would have had baseball Hall of Fame numbers if he started his professional sports career in MLB. Instead, he opted to join the Raiders after he infamously refused to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Jose Canseco

Canseco is one of the most colorful athletes on this list and has amazing talent. But his open PED abuse means that he’ll never be a Hall of Famer. There’s always a debate when it comes to steroid users and their abilities. Would they still have been good if they didn’t use illicit substances?

It’s fair to say that the six-time All-Star didn’t do enough regardless to seal the Hall of Fame dream. Yes, he won two World Series rings and established a high profile. But fame doesn’t mean that he was one of the best baseball players of his era (via Clutchpoints).

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Todd Gurley

Let this sink in: Gurley only turned 29 in 2023. It feels like he’s been around forever but the reality is that he should be just on now nearing the end of his prime. Sadly, the former NFL running back is a tragic example of how tenuous football careers can be. He was an elite star for four seasons before his body deteriorated.

Gurley had 56 touchdowns and rushed for almost 6,500 yards in that short period. He was on course to be one of the greatest players of his generation but sadly it didn’t work out. His body betrayed him and ruined his Hall of Fame dream. He is one of the sport’s biggest ‘what-ifs’ because he had so much potential (via Sportskeeda).

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Sammy Sosa

Here’s another MLB legend who will never enter Cooperstown’s hallowed halls. Sosa had one of the greatest rivalries in baseball history with Mark McGwire. He was one of the best hitters ever and the only player with 60 home runs in three seasons. But he was also a notorious PED user so that ends that conversation.

Chicago Cubs Vs. New York Mets — CBS Sports

The caveat is that MLB technically didn’t ban steroids during his period. Nonetheless, most people ignore his achievements and voters disregard his HOF credentials. He remains one of the Cubs’ biggest legends and a symbol of one of baseball’s craziest periods (via MLB.com).

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Andrew Luck

Luck is one of those elite athletes who had the potential to be an all-time great. Instead, he retired early and left fans talking wistfully about his abilities. In the end, the Stanford product hung up his cleats because he didn’t want to damage his body anymore. Sadly, the four-time Pro Bowler only played for six seasons.

That’s not enough time for him to solidify his HOF case. The short explanation is that he doesn’t have one because he didn’t do enough. However, the reality is that he was brilliant. Only Patrick Mahomes and Dan Marino threw more touchdowns in their first six seasons than the former Colt (via Indy Star).

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Herman Moore

It’s very difficult for wide receivers and running backs to get into the NFL Hall of Fame. So many of them produced similar numbers and achievements. Unfortunately, it’s more challenging to stand out when playing for weaker teams like the historically bad Detroit Lions (via Sports Illustrated).

Moore had four outstanding seasons with three All-Pro and four Pro Bowl selections. He finished his career with 9,174 receiving yards and 670 receptions. However, there’s no denying that his output depleted after he started enduring injuries. It’s a shame because it cost him his Hall of Fame dream.

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Darryl Strawberry

Strawberry is a Mets legend but sadly he didn’t do enough to earn a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He had the talent to earn a spot but unfortunately, his extracurricular activities cost him dearly. The three-time World Series Champion was also an eight-time All-Star.

Unfortunately, his cocaine problem affected his abilities as well as the public perception of him. He enjoyed a long career but didn’t enjoy elite longevity and that’s the biggest issue. Combine that with his narcotics abuse and it’s become a recipe for voters to dismiss him (via MLB.com).

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Matthew Stafford

Stafford is one of the most consistent quarterbacks of his era. However, it’s very unlikely that he will make the Hall of Fame. The problem is that he hasn’t achieved enough in his career. Let’s look at his greatest achievements first because there are several. Stafford won a Super Bowl ring and is the quickest ever to reach 40,000 passing yards.

Meanwhile, Stafford joined the 5,000-yard club in 2011 in a stunning year. But the problem is that he had too many losing seasons in Detroit and has no All-Pro selections. Overall, he’s never been the best quarterback any year. The only metrics he ever led in were pick-sixes and interceptions (via Fox News).

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Pete Rose

It’s fair to call Rose one of the most polarizing people on this list. He had a fantastic athletic career before a decent start to life as a coach with the Cincinnati Reds. But his decision to test MLB’s zero-tolerance attitude toward gambling destroyed his Hall of Fame dream.

The three-time World Series winner was an MVP and leads MLB in all-time hits. In short, he has all of the stats and accolades to be in Cooperstown. Some people think that his playing credentials deserve a spot regardless of the scandal that came when he retired (via NBC Sports).

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Antonio Brown

Many NFL fans will immediately scoff when they see Brown’s name on this list. The reality is that he has a better Hall of Fame resume than some enshrined members. He’s a Super Bowl winner with four All-Pro and seven Pro Bowl selections. Furthermore, he led the league in touchdowns, receptions, and receiving yards multiple times.

Brown had an unbelievable five-year run but his off-field antics are notorious. From sexual assault cases to attacking moving company drivers, the list goes on and on. There’s no denying that he’s a garbage human being and that makes it difficult to support including him in Canton’s hallowed halls (via Steelers Depot).

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Mark McGwire

McGwire was one of the kings of baseball’s Steroid Era. That sentence is enough to explain why he’ll never have a place in Cooperstown. Let’s pretend that he wasn’t sticking needles in his buttocks for a moment and focus on his records. ‘Big Mac’ had the most home runs in a season as he became the first player with 70.

Chicago Clubs Vs. St. Louis Cardinals — CBS Sports

Meanwhile, the two-time World Series champion led the league in home runs twice. He had legendary battles with Sammy Sosa and that’s why some people think his ban is too harsh. They fairly claim that everybody was juicing during this era but some athletes avoid being caught (via Basketball Hall).

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Ken Anderson

Anderson’s inclusion on this list is very harsh because he was a great quarterback and is a fine human being. However, arguably, the main reason why he isn’t in the Hall of Fame is because he didn’t win a Super Bowl. He’s one of the greatest players looking in the window of Canton right now.

Super Bowl Xvi San Fracisco 49ers V Cincinnati Bengals — AP

Another reason why he won’t make it to the Hall is because he spent his entire career with the Bengals. If he joined another franchise with a higher profile he might have got that coveted spot. Some also say that his career wasn’t as impressive in the ’80s compared to Dan Fouts and Dan Marino (via SBNation).

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Josh Hamilton

It says a lot about Hamilton that the Texas Rangers enshrined him in their franchise’s Hall of Fame. However, MLB will never honor him the same way because of his drug problems. Hamilton abused cocaine and had many unsavory problems away from the sport including beating his child.

Texas Rangers V Oakland Athletics — Bleacher Report

When people talk about wasted talents they always mention Hamilton. It’s incredible that he still became an AL MVP and was a five-time All-Star. If he didn’t suffer multiple relapses he could have been one of history’s greatest baseball players (via Bleacher Report).

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Alex Rodriguez

On paper, Rodriguez belongs in the Hall of Fame because he was one of the greatest players of his generation. He was a three-time MVP who led MLB in home runs and won a World Series. His list of achievements is almost endless but there’s one gigantic caveat (via CBS Sports).

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The Biogenesis Scandal proved that Rodriguez was a steroid user and he even admitted taking them. That cost him a year of his career and is the reason why hardliners will never vote for his inclusion. Some think it’s crazy but he knew the potential cost of his decisions.

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Russell Wilson

Wilson was one of the best quarterbacks in the league with the Seattle Seahawks. He was a perennial MVP contender and led the franchise to two Super Bowl appearances with one win. Wilson also led the league in passing touchdowns in 2019 and is a nine-time Pro Bowler.

Then the Denver Broncos swooped for him in the biggest trade of 2022. But it was a huge mistake and destroyed his Hall of Fame dream. In the 2024 offseason, Denver absorbed a record $85 million in dead money because they were so desperate to release him. Now Wilson is a laughingstock and few around football respect him (via The Guardian).

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These Superstar Athletes Blew Their Hall of Fame Dreams

These Superstar Athletes Blew Their Hall of Fame Dreams

Odell Beckham Jr.

Barry Bonds

Philip Rivers

Shawn Kemp

Le’Veon Bell

Priest Holmes

Deshaun Watson

Khalil Mack

Derrick Rose

Shaun Alexander

Bo Jackson

Jose Canseco

Todd Gurley

Sammy Sosa

Andrew Luck

Herman Moore

Darryl Strawberry

Matthew Stafford

Pete Rose

Antonio Brown

Mark McGwire

Ken Anderson

Josh Hamilton

Alex Rodriguez

Russell Wilson

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