So many of us have a favorite player within the NFL franchise, but those favorites change over the years. Sometimes, it’s hard to imagine that a player doesn’t stay a player forever. Some retire faster than others to follow new passions in life, or just because they physically can’t play anymore.
While it’s sad not to see them on the field, it’s also fun to know what our favorite retired NFL players are doing with their lives away from football. From working average jobs like the rest of us, or seeking some of the most decorated careers, these are some retired NFL player’s careers now that they’re out of the NFL.
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Retired NFL Players Career
25. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
After playing seven seasons in the NFL, Ha’Sean Treshon “Ha Ha” Clinton-Dix is moving on to help his alma mater. While he’s played for various teams like the Redskins, now Commanders, Bears, Cowboys, 49ers, Raiders, and Broncos, most of his time was dedicated to the Packers from 2014 to 2018.
However, in 2022, Clinton-Dix decided to call it quits. While he will miss football, he’s moving on to work as the director of player development at Alabama. The invitation was offered when Clinton-Dix was in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for a 10-year reunion and he was chatting with a former advisor. With such a successful NFL career, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will surely do well.
24. Raghib Ismail
Raghib Ramadian “Rocket” Ismail played in both the Canadian Football League and the National Football League during his professional career, spending more time with the NFL amongst the Raiders, Panthers, and Cowboys. Throughout his career, he received several awards including the Most Valuable Player of the 79th Grey Cup. He was also on the list of Top 100 Greatest College Football Players of All-Time and selected by Sports Illustrated to the 85-man rosters of its all-20th Century college football team.
With a history like that, it’s almost sad to see someone go. However, Ismail left the Cowboys and the NFL in 2002 to pursue more careers. He was a part of ESPN’s College GameDay as a color analyst for a couple of years, as well as a cohost for Cowboys Game Night on FSN Southwest. He spends most of his time in Dallas now, however, where he serves as a motivational speaker while visiting military bases throughout the state of Texas.
23. Muhsin Muhammad
Retired NFL players seek some of the most exciting careers, like Muhsin Muhammad, the former wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears. After his lengthy career, lasting over ten years, the footballer turned to several estate projects, investment tools, and platforms to find himself a steady career after the NFL. Inspired by Steve Jobs, he wanted to operate companies, and invest and grow businesses with a large platform.
Just before he retired, he began to build the infrastructure for his private equity firm, Axum Capital Partners, in which he acquired two companies in the food and beverage space, one being the Wild Wing Cafe. But of course, once a footballer, always a footballer, and Muhammad still craved being a part of it. So alongside his business ventures, he also co-hosted a radio show on WFNZ with Kyle Bailey on Mondays during the season, and the two talk about the Panthers each week.
22. Charles Tillman
Football gives you that adrenaline rush that so many chases, and even after leaving the NFL, several professionals still seek to create that rush in their everyday life. Thankfully for Charles Anthony Tillman, nicknamed the Peanut, found that in his 9 to 5 career after the NFL. The cornerback for both the Panthers and the Bears had a great career, helping the Bears get to Super Bowl XLI and the Panthers to Super Bowl 50.
With such a high-esteemed title of his, it’s only fair that he goes on to create a great life for himself. After his NFL career, Tillman expressed his interest in working in law enforcement. In 2017, it was reported by the Chicago Tribune that he was training with federal agents at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He qualified a day before his 37th birthday.
21. Bill Goldberg
Like Tillman, Goldberg sought after the adrenaline and screen, hoping to prove his talents were more than the NFL. William Scott Goldberg, often known as just Goldberg, is an actor, wrestler, and football defensive tackle. Goldberg played with the Rams, Falcons, and Panthers, for a total of 5 seasons.
After that, he quickly joined wrestling which he is most famous for. Goldberg is even credited with inventing the spear signature move in wrestling, which he popularized, and for which he gained a reputation for being the best at executing. After retiring from wrestling in 2004, he began his work as a commentator for the mixed martial arts promotion Elite Xtreme Combat before it closed down. He was also an actor in various films and television shows, including Universal Soldier: The Return and NCIS: Los Angeles.
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20. Bernie Kosar
Bernard Joseph Kosar Jr., or Bernie Kosar, was a quarterback for the NFL, playing predominantly with the Browns, but also with the Cowboys and Dolphins. After he retired from the NFL in 1996, Kosar has been involved in several sports and business-related ventures.
Throughout the 1990s, he hosted the Nestle/Bernie Kosar Charity Classic as Tanglewood National Golf Club, purchased the Florida Panthers, an NHL team, purchased a minority share in the Arena Football League’s Las Vegas Gladiators and moved them to Cleveland under the name Cleveland Gladiators and was named the president and CEO of the franchise. He was also hired as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns. He launched the Bernie Kosar Show in 2022 as well, giving his ample activities to do during his retirement.
19. Dan Marino
The former quarterback for the Dolphins spent 17 seasons in the NFL before retiring and is one of the best retired NFL players on the list today. Daniel Costantine Marino Jr. started his football career in college at Pittsburgh and was the last quarterback taken in the first round of the famed quarterback class of 1983.
Marino currently holds dozens of NFL records associated with the quarterback position and is recognized among the greatest quarterbacks in American football history. But before the 2000 season, Marino decided to retire after declining offers from Minnesota, Tampa Bay, and even Pittsburgh. With #13 now a retired jersey for the Dolphins, Dan Marino continues his football career as the Dolphins special advisor, still rooting for his favorite team after all these years.
17-18. Michael Griffin & Brian Orakpo
One of the best retired NFL players’ careers is with Brain Ndubisi Orakpo and Michael Devin Griffin. Orakpo is a former outside linebacker for 10 seasons in the NFL with mainly the Redskins, now known as the Commanders, as well as the Titans, served his team well, making it to four Pro Bowls within his career.
Griffin is a former safety for 10 seasons in the NFL who played mainly for the Titans, as well as the Vikings and Panthers. When both of them retired, the previous Titans players decided to try their hands at entrepreneurship, however, they wanted to do things a bit differently.
Griffin got his degree from the University of Texas after his retirement in 2016 and planned to open a franchise of Gigi’s Cupcakes in Austin, alongside Orakpo and their longtime friend Bryan Hynson. There’s nothing more amazing than seeing the odd pairing of two football players dishing out some cupcakes in their retirement, and I couldn’t be more happy for them.
16. Brett Favre
As one of the newest retirees on the list, most people are well aware of who Brett Favre is. The quarterback for 20 seasons has made a name for himself. He spent most of his time with the Packers but has also spent seasons with the Falcons, Jets, and Vikings, eventually retiring in 2010. He’s the first quarterback to obtain 70,000 yards, 10,000 passes, 6,000 completions, 500 touchdowns, and victories over all 32 teams.
With such a successful NFL career, a lot of people are curious about what he’s been up to since. While he has spent time as a high school coach for Oak Grove High School, he landed a new job in 2022 as the newest member of the 33rd Team, which provides football insight and analysis from former NFL players, head coaches, general managers, and executives.
15. Tony McGee
Anthony Eugene McGee, also known as Tony McGee, was a defensive end for 14 seasons in the NFL where he went to two Super Bowls with the Redskins, now known as the Commanders. He started his career for the Wyoming Cowboys before he was dismissed as part of the Black 14 in 1969.
However, he continued his college career with the Bishop Tigers and was selected in the third round of the 1971 Draft by the Bears. Besides those two teams, he was also a part of the Patriots. McGee spends his retirement as the founder and host of the longest-running minority-owned sports talk show in the Washington D.C. region and has celebrated thirty-eight seasons of broadcasting success.
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14. Wayne Chrebet
Wayne Chrebet was a wide receiver for 11 seasons only ever with the New York Jets from 1995 to 2005. He started his football career in college for the Hofstra Pride. But after his retirement, Chrebet started to operate two restaurants on Long Island near his alma mater, Hofstra University.
He initially began with a steakhouse called Chrebet, but was later closed and reopened as a sports-themed bar/restaurant called Social Sports Lounge and Kitchen. Chrebet is also involved in owning standardbred racehorses, a passion he’s been involved in since 2003.
12-13. Ed Newman & Tony Nathan
These two retired NFL players’ careers take them from the field to the courthouse. Edward Kenneth Newman was an offensive guard for the Dolphins from 1973 to 1984 and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. Tony Curtis Nathan was also in the Dolphins as the running back and played with them from 1979 to 1987.
They were teammates for years, and are still working together passed their retirement. Now they work together as a judge and bailiff.
11. Keith Fitzhugh
Keith Callay Fitzhugh was a safety for a brief time in the NFL. Initially signed with the Jets as a free agent in 2009, he played for them and the Ravens but eventually retired in 2010. After such a short stint in the NFL, some might wonder where he is now.
The retired NFL players’ 9 to 5 consists of railroad work. With his father disabled and unable to work, he spent his time as a conductor for the Norfolk Southern Railway in Atlanta.
10. Vince Young
Vincent Paul Young Jr. is a former quarterback who played for 6 seasons in the NFL and was selected by the Titans. From there, he spent time with the Eagles, Bills, Packers, and Browns and even tried to make it in the Canadian Football League with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but was released before the season began.
In his retirement, Young was hired by his alma mater, University of Texas to work for its Division of Diversity and Community Engagement as a development officer for program alumni relations and raising money for programs that assist first-generation low-income students.
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9. Eddie George
Some players enjoy the fame so much that they don’t want to let it go. For Edward Nathan Goerge Jr., that was the case. The former running back for nine seasons primarily for the Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans, George is also the current head coach at Tennessee State University.
But that’s not all that he’s done since retirement. George went on to complete his bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Ohio State, as well as being a performer on Broadway in film. He also owns a restaurant in Columbus called Eddie George Bar and Grille 27.
8. Ty Law
Tajuan Edward Law, or Ty Law, is a former cornerback for the NFL who played 15 seasons primarily with the New England Patriots. He also played with the Jets, the Cheifs, and Broncos during his career. During his 10 seasons with the Patriots, he received four Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro honors. He’s a three-time Super Bowl winner with the Patriots as well and holds the franchise record for interceptions.
He’s a well-decorated football player with a great 9 to 5 after his retirement. Ty Law founded Launch Trampoline Park, a chain of entertainment facilities based around large areas of connected trampolines. The franchise locations are across New England, with one park in Delaware. Law even makes frequent appearances throughout the chain and plays dodgeball with customers.
7. Kareem McKenzie
The former offensive tackle for the New York Giants, Kareem Michael McKenzie, has a great career in the NFL. He’s won the Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI, twice against the New England Patriots.
He’s been part of the Giants and Jets, his majority spent with the former. After his retirement in 2011, he went straight to the books to study. And in 2023, McKenzie graduated from Kean University with a Ph.D. in counseling and supervision.
5-6. Fred Smerlas & Steve DeOssie
These two are some of the best retired NFL players with amazing 9 to 5s. Frederick Charles Smerlas was a nose tackle for 14 seasons and a five-time Pro Bowl selection with the Bills, while also spending time with the 49ers and the Patriots.
Steve Leonard DeOssie was a linebacker and long snapper for the Cowboys, Giants, Jets, and Patriots throughout his 11 seasons. The two made a great pair on the field and off the field. Smerlas and DeOssie opened an award-winning steakhouse at the Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island in 2007 called Fred & Steve’s Steakhouse.
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4. Drew Bledsoe
As one of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL franchise, Drew Bledsoe is one name most fans can recognize. He played for 14 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Patriots. He was also with the Bills and Cowboys towards the end of his career. Thanks to Bledsoe, the Patriots ended a seven-year postseason drought, qualified for the playoffs four times, clinched their division twice, and made a Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XXXI.
He was also named to three Pro Bowls and became the youngest quarterback to play in the NFL’s Pro Bowl game in 1995. With such a decorated career, it’s no doubt that he’s made a splash in his retirement. He coached his sons at Summit High School and grew a wine business. He travels to Walla Walla regularly because of it, sometimes more than once in a given week. Bledsoe founded Doubleback Winery along with some close friends.
3. Dermontti Dawson
Dermontti Dawson was a center and long snapper in the NFL for 12 seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent his entire pro career with the team and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. After his retirement, he returned to Lexington where he spent several years as a real estate developer.
Now, he resides in San Diego, California where he’s a sales executive for a promotional products company. He’s also part owner of the Washington Wild Things, an independent league baseball team in Washington, Pennsylvania.
2. Terrell Owens
Terrell Eldorado Owens, nicknamed T.O., played 15 seasons as a wide receiver in the NFL and is regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers ever. Owens ranks third in NFL history in career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and spends the majority of his career with the San Francisco 49ers. From there, he was with the Eagles, Cowboys, Bills, Bengals and Seahawks. But what has he been up to since he left?
Well, he enjoys the spotlight, so he’s ensured his place there thanks to starting his reality TV show, The T.O. Show, which spends time with Owens and his friends as they evaluate Owens’ personal life while battling the two sides of his personality and trying to find romance. He was also featured on the hit show Dancing with the Stars, which helped him stay motivated to stay in shape. Beyond that, he’s been working on his modeling.
1. Myron Rolle
Myron L. Rolle started his football career in college as a safety at Florida State but was quickly drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 2010 NFL draft. However, while in college playing, he also chased after his medical dreams completed all necessary pre-medical requirements, and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science in just 2.5 years.
He even postponed playing in the NFL for a year to study at Oxford University. Even though Rolle had an amazing NFL career with the Titans and the Steelers, he eventually left the profession in 2013 to return to his passion, where he matched to a neurosurgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
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