The NFL’s history includes numerous players whose promising careers were derailed by personal struggles, legal issues, and off-field problems. Here are five of the most dramatic falls from grace in league history.
5. Johnny Manziel
After winning the Heisman Trophy as “Johnny Football” at Texas A&M in 2012, Johnny Manziel was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 22nd overall pick in 2014. His NFL career ended prematurely due to inconsistent play and off-field issues, including substance abuse and legal troubles. The Browns released him in 2016, and his story was later chronicled in the 2023 Netflix documentary “Untold: Johnny Football.”
Related: 5 most likely franchise tag candidates during 2025 NFL offseason
4. Art Schlichter
Selected fourth overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1982 NFL Draft, Art Schlichter’s promising career as a franchise quarterback was destroyed by a gambling addiction. His compulsive betting led to massive debts, involvement with bookies, and multiple NFL suspensions. His post-career legal troubles included arrests for fraud and forgery.
Related: From Strip Club Bans to Homework Rules: NFL’s Five Weirdest Contract Clauses
3. Lawrence Taylor
Despite being considered one of the NFL’s greatest defenders and revolutionizing the linebacker position, Lawrence Taylor’s career was marked by persistent off-field troubles. The New York Giants star and 1986 NFL MVP battled cocaine addiction as early as 1985, faced multiple drug arrests, and received a 30-day suspension in 1988 for failed drug tests. His post-career problems included tax issues and a 2010 arrest for sexual misconduct with a minor, resulting in probation and sex offender registration. Despite his personal struggles, Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
Related: Time’s running out: Joe Schoen’s six moves to save New York Giants — and his job
2. Ryan Leaf
Drafted second overall by the San Diego Chargers in 1998, Ryan Leaf’s career became one of the NFL’s most notorious disappointments. Poor on-field performance, injuries, and conflicts with teammates and coaches marked his brief professional career which ended in 2001. His struggles intensified after football, as painkiller addiction led to multiple arrests for possession and burglary, culminating in a 2012 jail sentence. Leaf has since rebuilt his life, becoming a public speaker on mental health and addiction recovery.
Related: 1 bold prediction for every NFL team this offseason
1. Aaron Hernandez
Aaron Hernandez’s fall from NFL stardom represents one of professional sports’ most tragic descents. The New England Patriots tight end’s promising career and multi-million dollar contract ended abruptly in 2013 when he was arrested and later convicted of murdering Odin Lloyd. Sentenced to life without parole, Hernandez died by suicide in his prison cell in 2017, leaving behind questions about the role of paranoia, toxic relationships, and possible brain trauma in his downfall.