Sports
Top 5 NFL Players Who Refused to Play for the Team That Drafted Them
The transactions that occur during the NFL Draft are typically one-sided. All 32 NFL teams are allowed to select whomever they see fit, and the players themselves have little autonomy in the matter. Playing in the NFL is a privilege, not a right, and most are eternally grateful just to get the opportunity to play the sport of football at the highest level.
That said, however, some players are more willing to suit up for their teams than others. While an infrequent practice, some draftees have refused to play for a franchise, either forcing a trade or playing another sport.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the five best NFL players of all time who refused (or at least initially refused) to play for the team that drafted them.
1
John Elway, QB
Elway threatened to play baseball to avoid the Colts
John Elway was the crown jewel of the 1983 NFL Draft.
The Stanford product was billed as one of the best quarterback prospects of all time, and the Baltimore Colts appeared to be primed to select him with the No. 1 overall pick. However, while the Colts were infatuated with Elway, the feeling wasn’t mutual.
To avoid suiting up for Baltimore, Elway announced that he would instead turn his attention to baseball to play for the New York Yankees, who’d selected him in the second round of the 1981 MLB Draft.
But Elway ultimately didn’t follow through on his promise, mostly because he didn’t need to. The Colts got the message loud and clear, and while they still took him with the top selection, they reluctantly traded him to the Denver Broncos for Chris Hinton, Mark Herrmann, and a first-round pick.
© Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Although the Colts got a fair amount back, the return came nowhere close to matching the value Elway accumulated over the next 16 years in Denver, a career that resulted in two Super Bowl titles, a Super Bowl MVP award, three All-Pro selections, nine trips to the Pro Bowl, and an NFL MVP trophy.
The Colts, on the other hand, weren’t so fortunate. It wasn’t until the team drafted Peyton Manning with the top pick in 1998 that they put their quarterback woes to bed.
Ironically, Manning himself wound up in Denver years later after the Colts drafted Andrew Luck and added a fifth NFL MVP and a second Super Bowl ring to his already stellar resume. The Colts drafted Elway and Manning, easily two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, yet the Broncos got three times as many championships out of them.
2
Jim Kelly, QB
Kelly spent several years in the USFL to avoid playing for the Bills
Whether Jim Kelly meets the criteria for this list is a debate in itself. Technically, he initially turned down the Buffalo Bills, who selected him 14th overall in that same famed 1983 draft.
He instead opted to sign with the Houston Gamblers of the all-new United States Football League (USFL). It wasn’t until the league folded in 1986 that Kelly, who never hid his disdain for cold weather, showed any interest in playing in Buffalo. But with nowhere else to play football, Kelly was simply left without a choice: either suit up for the Bills, who still held his NFL rights, or don’t suit up for anybody.
In the years following the ’83 draft, the Bills were the laughing stock of the league, going 2-14 in both 1984 and 1985. Kelly’s arrival, however, signified a new era of Buffalo Bills football.
Every NFL Team’s 2026 Draft Has Been Ranked From Worst to Best – by AI
AI ranked every NFL team’s 2026 draft and here’s what they think.
But by 1988, Kelly had the Bills in the postseason and soon after led them to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances. In 11 seasons in Buffalo, he racked up more than 35,000 passing yards, threw 237 touchdown passes, and was a two-time All-Pro selection and a five-time Pro Bowler.
Although the Bills were never able to win the big one under Kelly, that doesn’t change the fact that he retired as the most successful quarterback in franchise history.
3
Eli Manning, QB
The future two-time Super Bowl MVP forced his way out of San Diego
The most recent entry on this list, Eli Manning’s refusal to play for the San Diego Chargers has become a colloquialism in sports, as analysts and fans alike often speculate that top NFL draft prospects may “pull an Eli” to avoid playing for a particular team.
Going into the 2004 NFL Draft, the quarterback class was headlined by a three-headed monster: Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, and Ben Roethlisberger. The Chargers preferred Manning and had a clear path to select him, as they owned the No. 1 overall pick.
The problem was that Manning, a two-time All-SEC selection at Ole Miss, didn’t want to play in San Diego. The Manning family attempted to remain professional, never explicitly stating their reasoning. Regardless of the specifics, Manning didn’t believe going to the Chargers was in his best interest.
AI Ranks the 11 Best Picks in the 2026 Draft By How Well They’ll Perform in the NFL
AI has had its say on the Class of 2026…
As it went with Elway, San Diego still selected him but then promptly traded him to the New York Giants, with whom Manning spent 16 seasons and broke just about every passing record in franchise history.
The 2004 draft is a bit unique in that all three of the highly sought-after quarterbacks panned out. Manning and Roethlisberger both won a pair of Super Bowls, and Rivers, who spent almost the entirety of his career with the Chargers, put up huge numbers but never made an appearance in the Big Game.
4
Rich Gannon, QB
Gannon was traded shortly after he declined to change positions
If New England Patriots running back Rich Gannon sounds strange, you’re not alone. But in the 1987 NFL Draft, this was a possibility.
Gannon, who had a stellar career at the University of Delaware, was taken in the fourth round that year by the Patriots, who proposed changing his position. Running back, wide receiver, and defensive back were all on the table.
Some may have found this pitch flattering as it suggested Gannon was athletic enough to play these challenging positions, but he took it as an insult and seemingly felt that New England was telling him he wasn’t good enough to be an NFL quarterback, a proposition with which he vehemently disagreed.
After Gannon informed the Patriots of his desire to stay at quarterback, he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings.
It took him some time to find his footing in the league, serving mainly as a backup in his six seasons in Minnesota and four years with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also spent a season in Washington, but missed the entire campaign with an injury.
But things finally began to materialize once he joined the Oakland Raiders in 1999. Wearing silver and black, Gannon made four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and was named NFL MVP in 2002, the same season in which he took the Raiders to the Super Bowl.
The 11 Worst Picks in the 2026 NFL Draft Have Been Named and Ranked
257 picks were made in total and some were just baffling…
Some players enter the NFL with irrational confidence, turning down opportunities they believe are beneath them. Not being a blue-chip quarterback prospect, Gannon’s insistence on staying at the position was questioned.
As time went on, though, it became clear he made the right decision. It’s unlikely Gannon would’ve been a very successful pro had he changed positions and was rewarded for betting on himself.
5
Bo Jackson, RB
Jackson’s decision to pursue multiple sports stemmed from his disdain for the Bucs’ owner
Bo Jackson was a multi-sport phenom at Auburn, starring in football, baseball, and track. Although Jackson won the 1985 Heisman Trophy, some NFL teams were concerned that his aspirations on the diamond would interfere with his football career.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held the No. 1 overall pick in the 1986 NFL Draft, and their owner, Hugh Culverhouse, invited Jackson to visit Tampa Bay to take a look at the franchise’s facilities. However, this seemingly innocuous trip may have been fuelled by ulterior motives.
Culverhouse told Jackson that the visit was approved by the NCAA, which was essential for Bo to maintain his baseball eligibility. In reality, the NCAA had not permitted the trip and stripped Jackson of all remaining collegiate eligibility.
While many of the specifics of Jackson’s infamous visit have been kept under wraps, it’s easy to see why it caused him to sour on the Bucs, as he felt he’d been betrayed and set up. He vowed never to play for Tampa Bay, a promise he kept even after the Buccaneers selected him with the first overall pick.
Jackson was so set on never suiting up for Tampa Bay that he entered the MLB Draft that summer and was taken in the fourth round by the Kansas City Royals.
The following spring, the Los Angeles Raiders took Jackson in the seventh round of the ’87 draft. Careful not to make the same mistake as Culverhouse, Raiders’ owner Al Davis promised Jackson a full-time salary and allowed him to miss games early in the year to finish up his baseball duties with the Royals.
All these decades later, it can be argued that Jackson’s decision both built and destroyed his legend. On one hand, Bo became the only athlete in history to be elected to a Pro Bowl and the MLB All-Star Game.
‘My Dad is a WWE Hall of Famer – I’ve Now Joined the NFL Despite 2026 Draft Snub’
Brock Rechsteiner has been signed by the Tennessee Titans, despite not being picked in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Conversely, Jackson playing two sports simultaneously may have contributed to his career ending prematurely. His legacy has become increasingly convoluted over the years, built on both fact and myth.
Bo Jackson is possibly the greatest overall athlete to ever play in the NFL, but he never reached his full potential.
Michael Owen has urged Thomas Tuchel to make wholesale changes as he named his bold England XI for their third and final 2026 World Cup group stage match against Panama.
England got their World Cup campaign off to a brilliant start when they beat Croatia 4-2. With confidence high, the Three Lions were expected to beat Ghana a few days later and book their place in the last 32 of the competition.
However, England were far from their best at Kansas City Stadium as they played out a goalless draw with the African nation.
Tuchel is now expected to make multiple changes to his starting lineup when England face Panama at New York New Jersey Stadium on Saturday.
The Three Lions have already booked their place in the last 32 of the competition but need to secure victory over Thomas Christiansen’s side to clinch top spot in Group L.
With the match on the horizon, Owen has told the Daily Mail the 11 England players he thinks should start.
Michael Owen’s England 11 to Take on Panama
Despite England needing a victory to clinch first place in their group, Owen thinks that Tuchel should heavily rotate his squad. He is already looking ahead to the knockout rounds and would rest the 11 players he would play in the last 32.
With that in mind, he thinks only four England players should retain their place to face Panama: Ezri Konsa, Djed Spence, Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke.
In goal, Owen thinks Dean Henderson should step in for Jordan Pickford. In defence, Owen would play Jarell Quansah at right-back, Spence at left-back, and partner Dan Burn with Konsa in the middle.
Owen wants to see Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson given a rest, with Jordan Henderson and Kobbie Mainoo replacing them.
Gordon and Madueke retain their places on the flanks, while Owen would rest Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane and play Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins instead.
Despite the weakened team, Owen thinks his XI ‘should’ still beat Panama. Explaining his side, he said:
“I’m going for full-on rotation, but my starting point is the XI I would pick for the last-32 tie. England should beat Panama with the team I have picked above, and that would allow my starters for the knockout rounds to have a rest.
“I’d stick with Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke, who have played the opening two matches, because I’d bring in Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka once we’re beyond the group stage.
“We’ve seen this week, important players are starting to pick up little niggles. We have to think long term, and our top stars should not be risked – or needed – against Panama.”
You scored
out of 20
Thomas Tuchel Hints at Changes
Tuchel has hinted he will rotate his squad for their match against Panama. Speaking after the draw against Ghana, he said, per the Independent:
“I was not even sure if to do the full rotation [if England had beaten Ghana]. Maybe we would have. But I am not shy to do some rotation now.
“Some players should be on the pitch but maybe it will be more moderate. It’s not always fair if you just rotate your players in and say, ‘Okay, let’s perform.’ Let’s see.
“I like, for example, the centre backs today. They were good together. I like Elliot Anderson, he had a step forward and a good performance, maybe a bit better than against Croatia.”
If England manage to beat Panama and top the group, they will face one of the best performing third-placed sides in the last 32. As things stand, they will play Ecuador.
Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a move for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as Roberto De Zerbi looks to add a third new midfielder to his squad this summer, according to TEAMtalk.
Tottenham have had an outstanding summer transfer window already, and it isn’t even July yet.
ENIC have gone into overdrive and delivered four confirmed signings for De Zerbi already in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka and Jan Paul van Hecke, with the former three arriving on free transfers.
Spurs are far from finished there though, with multiple additions expected across the midfield and attack ahead of next season.
There was surprise when it was announced that the north Londoners were working on an ambitious deal to bring Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Spurs still working to find an agreement on that deal.
Then it was confirmed that Spurs wanted West Ham United’s Portugal international Mateus Fernandes, and that any potential transfer was seen as separate to the Tonali pursuit.
That may not be the end of their business in that position either, while new additions are expected all across the frontline as De Zerbi aims to transform a team that has underperformed for two years in the Premier League.
Tottenham Discuss Adam Wharton Move Internally
According to TEAMtalk, even though Tottenham are currently working simultaneously on deals to sign Tonali and Fernandes, there is a belief that they could actually look to sign three new players in the position in this window.
As well as the Italian and Portuguese stars, the report adds that Spurs have an interest in Palace star Wharton and have discussed internally about making a move for the England international, who missed out on a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad at this summer’s World Cup.
The 22-year-old has established himself as one of the most impressive players in his position in the Premier League in recent seasons, and he is also attracting interest from Liverpool, according to GIVEMESPORT sources.
⚽
England World Cup Quiz
You scored
out of 20
Wharton Won’t Come on the Cheap
Crystal Palace will be in no mood to sell Wharton on the cheap this summer, especially at a time when Manchester City have just paid well in excess of £100m to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
The Eagles will want Wharton in midfield for new manager Pierre Sage for their Europa League campaign, as they look to make a big impact on the competition having won the Europa Conference League last term.
Palace are said to want £100m to even consider a sale of the Englishman, who is on a long-term contract at Selhurst Park, and that would be a huge outlay for Tottenham, and only realistic should they fail to land one of Tonali or Fernandes.
Tottenham are also still in talks over a potential move to make Joao Palhinha’s loan move from Bayern Munich permanent, and he could be the lower-cost third option should Spurs pull off a sensational double swoop to sign Tonali and Fernandes.
Arsenal are set for a more considered approach to their summer transfer business than some of their rivals, with minor tweaks expected to the squad over the coming weeks on the market.
Given the strength in depth in the Gunners’ ranks, any moves in are likely to come after exits, with a key goal for Andrea Berta likely to be the improvement of fees accrued via sales.
Several stars have been linked with deals elsewhere, with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli attracting interest from clubs away from the Premier League.
However, there is also the possibility of an exit for Gabriel Jesus this summer.
Arsenal Lower Gabriel Jesus Asking Price
One player who Arsenal are open to an exit for is Gabriel Jesus, as the Brazilian enters the final year under contract at the Emirates Stadium.
The forward has struggled for form and fitness over recent seasons, making 27 appearances last season with six goals and two assists to his name across all competitions.
Given his struggles in getting back to top form, Arsenal could sanction a sale, as Caught Offside reports that the Gunners have lowered their asking price for the forward.
It’s claimed that the Gunners are now willing to listen to offers in the range of £20 million to £25 million to let the 29-year-old leave this summer.
The club had initially set a valuation of £30 million for Jesus, who was previously linked with a move to Serie A as well as a return to Brazil with Palmeiras.
However, a sale at that price point isn’t seemingly possible, and now Arsenal are keen to lower that valuation in an effort to get a deal done.
Jesus is believed to be among the top-earners at the club, earning around £265,000-a-week, and an exit could help save some money on the club’s books.
You scored
out of 20
Arsenal May Want Versatile Replacement
An exit for Jesus may come at a fitting point, given that his arrival signalled Arsenal’s first real push to win the Premier League, and his exit comes with a winners’ medal in hand.
His initial signing brought plenty of quality, a mixture of physicality and technical brilliance that left opposition defenders on tenterhooks when trying to face off with him.
The injuries have started to pile up and that spark has now seemingly gone, so an exit in the final year of his deal could be wise to help recoup some money towards another key signing.
Ornstein: Arsenal Plotting Move to Sign £80m Premier League Star After Morgan Rogers
Arsenal have been linked with a move for a midfielder this summer, as they look to improve their options in the centre of the pitch.
A similarly versatile option could be desired, someone who is capable of playing as a centre-forward behind Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz, but can also receive minutes out wide.
Transfer target Christos Tzolis can certainly provide some of that, largely featuring on the left wing with an ability to play as a centre-forward.
However, it remains to be seen whether a different marquee arrival could replace Jesus this summer.
EU, GIZ donates 200kW solar facility to SON
Ilobu killing: Family petitions IGP, seeks arrest of eight suspects
Michael Owen Names His England 11 v Panama
Simi Sanya and Femi Dapson Are Now Legally Married and It Is Beautiful to See
FCT Area Council Election: Live results from polling units
Premier League Set-Piece Goals (2025/2026)
-
Sports1 day agoBastian Schweinsteiger Sparks Outrage With Comments Ahead of Germany v Ivory Coast
-
Sports1 day agoWhy Austria and Algeria May Both Want to Lose Their Final Group Game
-
Sports16 hours agoThomas Partey Could Be Blocked From Knockout Tie
-
Sports1 day agoSteve Clarke Slammed For Interview After Scotland 0-3 Brazil
-
Sports10 hours agoRory McIlroy Risks Breaking PGA Tour Rule That Led to One-Year Ban
-
Sports2 days agoJude Bellingham Avoids Red Card For Banned Gesture vs Ghana
-
Sports2 days agoWhat Scotland Need To Qualify For World Cup Knockout Stage
-
Sports2 days agoWorld Cup Nation Submit Complaint to FIFA After Controversy in England vs Ghana