Today we will look at the top ten undrafted players in NFL history. Luckily these days it is much less likely that an undrafted player slips through unseen these days!
10.) Marion Motley
In nine seasons as an NFL player, Marion Motley amassed 828 career carries for 4,720 yards and 5,827 total yards from scrimmage - leading the league in rushing in 1950. That is impressive considering he requested a tryout prior to making it onto an NFL roster; Motley was even honored with being selected to its 75th-anniversary team!
9.) Joe Perry
Perry of Compton Community College made quite the mark at Compton before earning All-Decade Team status during the 1950s NFL. Perry led in rushing yards per game in 1949-54; scored touchdowns each year of this period; had 1,929 career rushes covering 9,723 yards; scored 71 touchdowns; 11744 combined yards from scrimmage scored him an additional 83 touchdowns!
8.) Lou Groza
Groza was one of the greatest Browns players following World War II and quickly made an impactful statement about them as one of their scoring leaders in 1957 and the all-time scorer with 1,608 points for them. Furthermore, he reached the Pro Bowl nine times; was named first team All Pro four times; led the league in field goals made five times and led field goal records on five separate occasions.
7.) Willie Brown
Brown initially signed with Houston Oilers but later was cut, and eventually joined Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders before finding himself back home with the Oakland Raiders in 1967. Brown amassed 54 interceptions for 472 yards and two touchdowns throughout his career; appearing in five AFC All-Star Games and four Pro Bowls while returning an interception for 75-yard touchdown in Super Bowl XI when the Raiders triumphantly won it all.
6.) Antonio Gates
Gates was an outstanding basketball player during college, but truly shined as an NFL tight end. In 2005 he was honored with both an All-Decade Team selection and Alumni Tight End of the Year Award from NFL Alumni.
5.) Emlen Tunnell
9x Pro Bowler and 8x All-Pro. He earned nine Pro Football Hall of Fame nominations and was selected to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team. Furthermore, Tunnell had an astonishing 79 career interceptions which totalled 1,282 yards - the second-most total ever in NFL history!
4.) John Randall
Went down as one of the great interior defensive linemen in NFL history, making seven Pro Bowl appearances and six All-Pro selections over six seasons, being selected to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, and ultimately earning induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
3.) Warren Moon
Moon started out in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with Edmonton Eskimos before signing with Houston Oilers in 1984. Over his 6,823 NFL pass attempts, he completed 3,988 of them for 49,325 yards with 291 touchdowns and 233 interceptions - as well as running for 1,736 yards and 22 touchdowns! Moon earned nine Pro Bowl selections (and a top 10 mention in my most overrated QBs in NFL history article)
2.) Dick "NightTrain" Lane
Even after going undrafted, "Night Train" made an unforgettable mark during his rookie season. He set an NFL record that still stands today by recording 14 interceptions; overall he amassed 68 in his career totalling 1,207 yards and seven Pro Bowl appearances; six first-team All-Pro selections; four second team All-Pro selections; as well as being honored with induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968 he will go down as one of the great defensive backs ever to play football.
1.) Kurt Warner
Warner was the ultimate Cinderella story; he went from bagging groceries to playing for Coach John Gregory's Iowa Barnstormers in the Arena Football League and eventually became the Quarterback for the "Greatest Show on Turf" in St.Louis. He went to three Super Bowls, winning one.
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