Total Pro Sports
Several WWE stars once chased a different dream before stepping into the wrestling ring. Many of them were football players, competing in college or even reaching the National Football League. Their experience in football helped them build the strength, toughness, and discipline needed for a wrestling career. Some had short stints in the NFL, while others showed strong potential before injuries or career changes led them to WWE.
These athletes brought their football mindset and power into the ring, earning fame in a new sport. Exploring their journey from the football field to WWE reveals how skills from one tough arena helped them succeed in another.
Bill Goldberg played as a defensive tackle in the NFL. He was with the Atlanta Falcons in the early 1990s. After an injury ended his football career, he joined wrestling and became one of the biggest names in WCW and later WWE. His football background helped him build speed and power, which made his matches fast and exciting. Goldberg became known for his strong entrance and quick wins.
Roman Reigns, whose real name is Joe Anoa’i, played college football and later joined the NFL. He was part of the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars for a short time.
Old footage of a young Roman Reigns playing College “Football” pic.twitter.com/NIvXVSt7Ro
— Zashy 🇵🇸 (@Zashy120) December 11, 2024
Health issues forced him to stop playing football. Soon after, he trained in wrestling and became a WWE superstar. He is now one of the top names in the company. His strong body and athletic skills came from years of football training.
Ron Simmons played professional football before entering the wrestling world. He spent time with the Cleveland Browns and also played in other football leagues.
Before Deion Sanders, before Charlie Ward, Florida State had Ron Simmons.
To millions, he’s the WWE Hall of Famer.
But he’s also a College Football Hall of Famer and Bobby Bowden’s first cornerstone.
"That was the first head-turner,” Bowden said.https://t.co/JAeR2h6ORc pic.twitter.com/idUYBQleW7
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) March 30, 2022
In WWE, he was known as Farooq and became a respected wrestler. He made history as the first Black world heavyweight champion in wrestling. His football experience helped him build great strength and power in the ring.
Lex Luger played football in the CFL and USFL. He was an offensive lineman before he became a wrestler. His football background gave him the strength and body control needed for wrestling.
Here’s a fun fact about Lex Luger:
He played linebacker for the University of Miami and later joined the Green Bay Packers in 1982. Although he was signed by the Packers, he spent the entire season on the injured reserve list and never played in a regular-season NFL game. pic.twitter.com/QCGuoRhvcE
— Filthy Kap TTV (@WhoDeyGuru) [April 19,...
