NFL Hall of Famers, Then and Now

These football greats excelled on the field and in retirement.

NFL Hall of Famers, Then and Now

Sam Huff, No. 70, was one of the most feared linebackers in NFL history.

The road to the NFL Hall of Fame is paved with hard work. Some NFL Hall of Famers continue working after their playing days end and gain more status. Others quietly make a mark in different fields. And others fade from public view and live lives far from the glare of the spotlight.

Whatever retirement brings to football legends, their faces and feats remain indelibly etched in the history of the game. Here's a look at some NFL Hall of Famers and what they have done since they hung up their shoulder pads.

Then — Hugh McElhenny

Position: Halfback

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 195 pounds

Career: 1952-64 (13 seasons)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Detroit Lions

Stats: Rushed for 5,281 yards and 38 touchdowns. Averaged 4.7 yards per carry. Caught 264 passes for 3,247 yards and 20 touchdowns.

NFL titles: None

Bottom line: A cornerstone of the 49ers' famed "Million Dollar Backfield" with quarterback Y.A Tittle, halfback John Henry Johnson and fullback Joe Perry, Hugh McElhenny was one of the NFL’s top stars of the 1950s, earning six Pro Bowl invitations during his career.

Known as "The King," he was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1952 and 1953 and was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-1950s team.

Now — Hugh McElhenny

Age: 91 (Dec. 31, 1928)

Hall of Fame induction: 1970

Post-playing career/jobs: Radio broadcaster

Bottom line: McElhenny worked as a color commentator on 49ers radio broadcasts from 1966 to 1972. He also was involved in a failed effort to bring an NFL franchise to Seattle in the early 1970s.

He participated in the opening coin toss for Super Bowl XIX in 1985 along with President Ronald Reagan, who took part in a video feed from the White House after being sworn into his second term earlier in the day.

In his later life, McElhenny was diagnosed with a rare nerve disorder that caused him to become temporarily paralyzed from the neck down. He recovered and lives at his home in Henderson, Nevada.

Then — Raymond Berry

Raymond Berry Catching Touchdown Pass — Raymond Berry played his whole career with the Baltimore Colts.

Position: Split end

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 187 pounds

Career: 1955-67 (13 seasons)

Teams: Baltimore Colts

Stats: Caught 631 passes for 9,275 yards and 68 touchdowns. Averaged 14.7 yards per catch.

NFL titles: 2 (1958, 1959)

Bottom line: Raymond Berry teamed with legendary quarterback Johnny Unitas to form one of the greatest passing tandems in NFL history. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Berry led the NFL in catches and receiving yards three times during his career.

In the 1958 NFL championship game (dubbed "The Greatest Game Ever Played"), he caught 12 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown in the Colts’ overtime win over the New York Giants.

Berry also was a three-time first-team All-Pro and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-1950s first team.

Now — Raymond Berry

Raymond Berry Talking with Reggie Wayne — Raymond Berry at an Indianapolis Colts game.

Age: 87 (Feb. 27, 1933)

Hall of Fame induction: 1973

Post-playing career/jobs: Coaching

Bottom line: One of the few NFL playing greats to go on to a successful head coaching career, Berry compiled a 48-39 record during his five years leading the Patriots.

That stint included suffering one of the biggest drubbings in Super Bowl history at the hands of the Chicago Bears.

He also held several assistant coaching roles. Berry is a professed born-again Christian and now lives in Tennessee with his wife.

Then — Sonny Jurgensen

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 5-foot-1, 202 pounds

Career: 1957-74 (18 seasons)

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team (formerly Redskins)

Stats: Completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 32,224 yards and 255 touchdowns.

NFL/Super Bowl titles: 1 (1960)

Bottom line: A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Sonny Jurgensen emerged as one of the top quarterbacks of the 1960s after taking over in Philadelphia for the great Norm Van Brocklin.

Jurgensen led the league in passing yards five times and in touchdown passes once. His most successful season was his first after taking over for Van Brocklin, when he set an NFL record for passing yards (3,723) in 1961 and tied an NFL record for touchdown passes with 32.

Now — Sonny Jurgensen

Age: 86 (Aug. 23, 1934)

Hall of Fame induction: 1983

Post-playing career/jobs: Sports broadcaster

Bottom line: Like many football greats, Jurgensen was able to transition into a successful broadcasting career long after his playing days ended.

Following his retirement, Jurgensen spent more than 40 years as a color commentator on television and radio, primarily for the Washington Redskins

He retired in 2019 and lives in Florida with his wife, Margo, whom he married in 1967.

Then — Sam Huff

Position: Linebacker

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 230 pounds

Career: 1956-69 (13 seasons)

Teams: New York Giants, Washington Football Team

Stats: Intercepted 30 passes, including two returned for touchdowns. Recovered 17 fumbles, including two returned for touchdowns.

NFL titles: 1 (1956)

Bottom line: In 1956, Sam Huff became the first rookie to start at middle linebacker in an NFL championship game, helping lead the New York Giants to a 47-7 rout of the Chicago Bears.

A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Huff was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-1950s team.

He also was a two-time first-team All-Pro.

Now — Sam Huff

Age: 86 (Oct. 4, 1934)

Hall of Fame induction: 1982

Post-playing career/jobs: Salesman, marketing executive, sports broadcaster

Bottom line: Huff’s life after football included long stints in sales and broadcasting, along with thoroughbred racehorse breeding and a failed run for Congress in his native West Virginia.

He worked as a textile sales representative before joining Marriott Corp., eventually becoming vice president of sports marketing.

He also worked as a radio color commentator for the Giants and Redskins, and remains one of the greatest athletes to ever come out of the Mountain State.

Then — Don Maynard

Position: Split end

Height/weight: 6-foot-0, 180 pounds

Career: 1958-73 (15 seasons)

Teams: New York Giants, New York Titans/Jets, St. Louis Cardinals

Stats: Caught 633 passes for 11,834 yards and 88 touchdowns, averaging 18.7 yards per catch.

NFL/Super Bowl titles: 1 (1968)

Bottom line: A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Don Maynard topped 1,000 receiving yards five times during his career and was a member of the Jets’ Super Bowl-winning 1968 team.

In the AFL title game that year, he caught six passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-23 win over the Oakland Raiders. He was the first player in pro football history to amass 10,000 career receiving yards, and his average of 18.7 yards per catch is the highest ever for a player with at least 600 receptions.

Now — Don Maynard

Age: 85 (Jan. 25, 1935)

Hall of Fame induction: 1987

Post-playing career/jobs: Math and industrial arts teacher, salesman, financial planner

Bottom line: Unlike his legendary New York Jets teammate Joe Namath, Don Maynard has largely avoided the spotlight during this post-football career.

He took part in the coin toss at Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999 along with his former New York Giants teammates, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the legendary 1958 NFL Championship Game against the Baltimore Colts.

Maynard resides in El Paso, Texas, and Ruidoso, New Mexico, near his son and daughter and two grandchildren.

Then — Len Dawson

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 6-foot-0, 190 pounds

Career: 1957-75 (19 seasons)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Texans, Kansas City Chiefs

Stats: Completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 28,711 yards and 239 touchdowns.

NFL/Super Bowl titles: 1 (1969)

Bottom line: One of the AFL’s most prolific passers, Len Dawson led the league in completion percentage seven times and was selected to seven Pro Bowls.

He was named MVP of Super Bowl IV, when he led the Chiefs to an upset of the Minnesota Vikings.

He held the Chiefs' single-season touchdown passing record (30) from 1964 to 2018, when it was broken by Patrick Mahomes.

Now — Len Dawson

Age: 85 (June 20, 1935)

Hall of Fame induction: 1987

Post-playing career/jobs: Sports director/anchor for KMBC-TV (Kansas City), host of HBO’s "Inside the NFL," color commentator on Chiefs radio broadcasts

Bottom line: Dawson enjoyed one of the longest and most distinguished careers in sports broadcasting after his retirement.

In 2012, he was honored with the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Then — Jerry Kramer

Position: Offensive guard/kicker

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 245 pounds

Career: 1958-68 (11 seasons)

Teams: Green Bay Packers

Stats: Played in 130 games (started 120). Made 29 of 54 field-goal attempts, including a long of 46 yards.

NFL/Super Bowl titles: 7 — 5 (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967), 2 (1966, 1967)

Bottom line: A mainstay of Vince Lombardi’s great Packers teams of the 1960s, Jerry Kramer was a five-time first-team All-Pro and was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-1960s first team.

He helped lead the Packers to five NFL titles and wins in the first two Super Bowls.

Now — Jerry Kramer

Age: 84 (Jan. 23, 1936)

Hall of Fame induction: 2018

Post-playing career/jobs: Author, sports broadcaster

Bottom line: Kramer co-wrote several books with sportswriter/author Dick Schaap and briefly worked as a color commentator for NFL telecasts.

Kramer’s books centered on his experiences with Lombardi and the Packers, including editing a collection of reminiscences of Lombardi after the coach’s death in 1970, and a 1985 book, "Distant Replay," on the whereabouts of members of the Packers’ first Super Bowl title team.

Fifty years after his retirement, he was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018. He had been a finalist 10 previous times.

Then — Jim Brown

Position: Fullback

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 232 pounds

Career: 1957-65 (9 seasons)

Teams: Cleveland Browns

Stats: Rushed for 12,312 yards and 106 touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Caught 262 passes for 2,499 yards and 20 touchdowns.

NFL titles: 1 (1964)

Bottom line: Considered one of the greatest players in NFL history, Jim Brown was a three-time league MVP and eight-time first-team All-Pro, and was selected to the Pro Bowl every season that he played.

Brown led the league in rushing eight times during his nine-year NFL career and is the only player in NFL history to average over 100 yards per game rushing for his career.

Now — Jim Brown

Age: 84 (Feb. 17, 1936)

Hall of Fame: 1971

Post-playing career/jobs: Hollywood actor, sports broadcaster, philanthropist

Bottom line: Brown’s post-football acting career made him a Hollywood star in his own right. After gaining attention for his performance in "The Dirty Dozen" while he was still under contract with the Browns, he retired from football to pursue acting full time, playing lead roles in such films as "The Split," "Riot" and "100 Rifles," where he starred alongside Burt Reynolds and Raquel Welch.

He continued to be a fixture on both the big screen and television well into the 2000s. He also founded Amer-I-Can program to teach life-management skills in inner cities and was part-owner of the New York Lizards Major League Lacrosse franchise.

Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971, and in 2020, ESPN named him the greatest college football player of all time.

Then — Fran Tarkenton

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 6-foot-0, 190 pounds

Career: 1961-78 (18 seasons)

Teams: Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants

Stats: Completed 57 percent of his passes for 47,003 yards and 342 touchdowns.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: One of the most durable quarterbacks in NFL history, Fran Tarkenton was selected to nine Pro Bowls and was named the 1975 NFL MVP.

He led the Minnesota Vikings to three Super Bowl appearances, all losses. Tarkenton also led the league in completions three times and touchdown passes once.

Now — Fran Tarkenton

Age: 80 ( Feb. 3, 1940)

Hall of Fame: 1986

Post-playing career/jobs: Sports broadcaster, television personality, author, entrepreneur

Bottom line: Although he came up short in his quest for a Super Bowl title during his 18-year playing career, Fran Tarkenton was on the leading edge of the computer revolution after his playing days ended.

He started his own company, Tarkenton Software, which he sold in 1994, and has kept his hand in several other business ventures during his retirement.

Tarkenton also was a sports broadcaster and television personality, cohosting the show "That’s Incredible," and wrote several books, including a Super Bowl murder mystery.

Then — Roger Staubach

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 197 pounds

Career: 1969-79 (11 seasons)

Teams: Dallas Cowboys

Stats: Completed 57 percent of his passes for 22,700 yards and 153 touchdowns.

Super Bowl titles: 2 (1971, 1977)

Bottom line: Nicknamed "Captain Comeback" for his ability to pull victory from the clutches of defeat, Roger Staubach was the face of "America’s Team" during the 1970s.

He led the Cowboys to four Super Bowl appearances during the decade, winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy twice.

He was named to six Pro Bowls and was the 1971 Super Bowl MVP.

Now — Roger Staubach

Age: 78 (Feb. 5, 1942)

Hall of Fame: 1985

Post-playing career/jobs: Real estate developer, television personality

Bottom line: Like his quarterback contemporary Fran Tarkenton, Staubach had little trouble finding business success after his playing days ended.

He made his mark in real estate, starting his own company, which he sold in 2008 for $613 million. He also appeared in several television and print advertising campaigns and worked briefly as an NFL color analyst.

He and another former Cowboys great, Troy Aikman, formed their own NASCAR racing team in 2006.

Then — Dick Butkus

Position: Linebacker

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 245 pounds

Career: 1965-73 (9 seasons)

Teams: Chicago Bears

Stats: Recovered 27 fumbles, returning one for a touchdown, and intercepted 22 passes.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: One of the greatest defensive players ever, Dick Butkus was selected to eight Pro Bowls during his career and was a first-team All-Pro five times.

Known for his fierce tackling, he was twice selected as the NFL's defensive player of the year and named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-1960s team.

His 27 fumble recoveries were an NFL record when he retired.

Now — Dick Butkus

Age: 76 (Dec. 9, 1942)

Hall of Fame: 1979

Post-playing career/jobs: Celebrity endorser, broadcaster, actor

Bottom line: Butkus became a well-known television celebrity after his playing days ended, appearing in commercials, television series and movies, as well as being an NFL analyst.

He appeared in such movies as "The Longest Yard," "Cracking Up" and "Any Given Sunday."

He also has supported many charitable causes through The Butkus Foundation.

Then — Joe Namath

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds

Career: 1965-77 (13 seasons)

Teams: New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams

Stats: Completed 50.1 percent of his passes for 27,663 yards and 173 touchdowns.

Super Bowl titles: 1 (1968)

Bottom line: "Broadway Joe" rose to fame by predicting the Jets' Super Bowl III win over the Baltimore Colts and then leading his team to victory. It is considered one of the greatest upsets in NFL history.

Selected to five Pro Bowls, Namath was the 1968 AFL Player of the Year. He led the league in passing yards three times but also led it in interceptions four times.

Now — Joe Namath

Age: 77 (May 31, 1943)

Hall of Fame: 1985

Post-playing career/jobs: Actor, TV personality

Bottom line: Like other NFL greats of his era, Namath successfully transitioned into a career as a television personality.

He appeared in commercials, TV episodes and movies, as well as serving as an NFL analyst.

In recent years, he has served as a spokesman for the Medicare Coverage Helpline.

Then — Larry Csonka

Position: Fullback

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 237 pounds

Career: 1968-79 (11 seasons)

Teams: Miami Dolphins, New York Giants

Stats: Rushed for 8,081 yards and 64 touchdowns, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.

Super Bowl titles: 2 (1972, 1973)

Bottom line: The bruising fullback stands as one of the game’s all-time great power runners, winning Super Bowl MVP honors in 1973.

Larry Csonka was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro, and was a key member of the only undefeated championship team in NFL history.

Now — Larry Csonka

Age: 73 (Dec. 25, 1946)

Hall of Fame: 1987

Post-playing career/jobs: Actor; motivational speaker; TV producer

Bottom line: Csonka appeared regularly on television in the years after his retirement, including a role in the 1970s medical drama "Emergency!" He also appeared in the 1976 movie "Midway."

In recent years, he has remained busy as host of a number of hunting and fishing shows and as a motivational speaker. He also produced and cohosted the outdoors shows "North to Alaska" from 1998 to 2013.

Csonka now lives in Wasilla, Alaska.

Then — O.J. Simpson

Position: Running back

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 212 yards

Career: 1969-79 (11 seasons)

Teams: Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers

Stats: Rushed for 11,236 yards and 61 touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Caught 203 passes for 2,142 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: One of the greatest running backs in history, O.J. Simpson was the first player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season, and was the NFL MVP that year (1973).

He led the league in rushing yards four times, was a five-time first-team All-Pro, and was selected to six Pro Bowls.

Now — O.J. Simpson

Age: 73 (July 9, 1947)

Hall of Fame: 1985

Post-playing career/jobs: Actor, sports broadcaster

Bottom line: Simpson had gone on to a successful career in acting and broadcasting before he became the center of the "Murder Trial of the Century" in the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

Though he was acquitted of their murders, Simpson was found liable for the deaths in a civil trial and ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages. He later spent nine years in prison for his role in a Las Vegas armed robbery and kidnapping and was released in 2017.

"The Juice" went from being one of the most beloved NFL players to one of the most infamous.

Then — Terry Bradshaw

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds

Career: 1970-83 (14 seasons)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers

Stats: Completed 51.9 percent of his passes for 27,989 yards and 212 touchdowns.

Super Bowl titles: 4 (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979)

Bottom line: The offensive leader of the Steelers’ 1970s dynasty, Terry Bradshaw quarterbacked the team to four Super Bowl titles in the span of six seasons.

He was the 1978 NFL and Super Bowl MVP, and was selected to three Pro Bowls.

He also led the league in touchdown passes twice.

Now — Terry Bradshaw

Terry Bradshaw and Tammy Bradshaw — Terry Bradshaw with his wife, Tammy, in Los Angeles.

Age: 72 (Sept. 2, 1948)

Hall of Fame: 1989

Post-playing career/jobs: Actor, sports broadcaster

Bottom line: Bradshaw became the first NFL player to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a testament to his impact in film and television in the years after he hung up his cleats.

Bradshaw had cameos in a number of popular films of the late 1970s and early 1980s, including "Smokey and the Bandit II" and "Cannonball Run," and appeared in the 2006 romantic comedy "Failure to Launch."

He has been a cohost of "Fox NFL Sunday" since 1994.

Then — Steve Largent

Position: Receiver

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 187 pounds

Career: 1976-89 (14 seasons)

Teams: Seattle Seahawks

Stats: Caught 819 passes for 13,098 yards and 100 touchdowns, averaging 16 yards per catch.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: The longtime face of the Seahawks franchise, Steve Largent was selected to seven Pro Bowls and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-1980s first team.

He led the league in receiving yards twice. When he retired, Largent held NFL career records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.

Now — Steve Largent

Age: 66 (Sept. 28, 1954)

Hall of Fame: 1995

Post-playing career/jobs: Congressman from Oklahoma, business executive

Bottom line: Largent served as a Republican congressman from 1994 to 2002, establishing himself as a leading conservative legislator in Washington, D.C.

He gave up his seat in 2002 to run for governor of Oklahoma, losing narrowly.

He later became president and CEO of CTIA, a trade organization representing the wireless communications industry.

Then — Earl Campbell

Position: Running back

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 232 pounds

Career: 1978-85 (8 seasons)

Teams: Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints

Stats: Rushed for 9,407 yards and 74 touchdowns, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Regarded as one of the most rugged running backs in NFL history, Earl Campbell led the league in rushing each of his first three seasons as a pro, and was the NFL offensive player of the year each year.

He was selected to five Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors three times. In 1980, he fell 70 yards short of breaking O.J. Simpson’s single-season rushing yards record.

Now — Earl Campbell

Age: 65 (March 29, 1955)

Hall of Fame: 1991

Post-playing career/jobs: Entrepreneur and restaurateur

Bottom line: Campbell went into the food business after his playing days ended.

He founded Earl Campbell Meat Products, Inc., featuring smoked sausages, and opening a short-lived restaurant branded with his name.

He's been saddled with health problems later in his life but has spoken out against the dangers of substance abuse after overcoming an addiction to painkillers.

Then — Joe Montana

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds

Career: 1979-94 (15 seasons)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs

Stats: Completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 40,551 yards and 273 touchdowns.

Super Bowl titles: 4 (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989)

Bottom line: The two-time NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP ranks among the most accomplished players in history, leading the 49ers to four Super Bowl titles in the 1980s.

The eight-time Pro Bowler led the league in completion percentage five times in his 15-year career. Joe Montana was at his best in the playoffs, most notably in 1989, when he completed 78 percent of his passes and threw 11 touchdowns without an interception en route to his final Super Bowl title.

In four Super Bowls, he threw 122 passes without an interception.

Now — Joe Montana

Age: 64 (June 11, 1956)

Hall of Fame: 2000

Post-playing career/jobs: Investor, vintner

Bottom line: Unlike many former stars, Montana has kept a relatively low profile in the decades since his playing career ended, briefly working as a television color analyst.

He formed an investment first with former teammates Ronnie Lott and Harris Barton, HRJ Capital, that collapsed in 2009 amid the global financial crisis.

He produces wine under the label Montana. In September 2020, the NFL legend experienced a scary situation when a woman broke into his Malibu house and tried to kidnap his 9-month old granddaughter. But he and his wife, Jennifer, thwarted the kidnapper and saved the baby.

Then — James Lofton

Position: Receiver

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 192 pounds

Career: 1978-93 (16 seasons)

Teams: Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles

Stats: Caught 764 passes for 14,004 yards and 75 touchdowns, averaging 18.3 yards per catch.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: The eight-time Pro Bowler was among the most prolific receivers of his era, leading the league in yards per catch twice.

He was named to the 1978 NFL All-Rookie team and was a first-team All-Pro in 1981.

James Lofton also was the first NFL player to total 14,000 yards receiving.

Now — James Lofton

Age: 64 (July 5, 1956)

Hall of Fame: 2003

Post-playing career/jobs: Assistant coach, broadcaster

Bottom line: Lofton had assistant coaching stints with the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders after his playing career.

He was interviewed for the head coaching position with the Raiders in 2007.

He also has served as an NFL color commentator/broadcaster on radio and television.

Then — Kellen Winslow

Position: Tight end

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 251 pounds

Career: 1979-87 (9 seasons)

Teams: San Diego Chargers

Stats: Caught 541 passes for 6,741 yards and 45 touchdowns, averaging 12.5 yards per catch.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: A five-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time first-team All-Pro, Kellen Winslow ranks as one of the most dominant tight ends in NFL history.

He led the league in receptions twice and topped 1,000 yards receiving in a season three times.

His most memorable performance was the Chargers’ 1981 playoff win over the Miami Dolphins, when he caught a then-playoff record 13 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown and blocked a field goal in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime.

Now — Kellen Winslow

Age: 62 (Nov. 5, 1957)

Hall of Fame: 1995

Post-playing career/jobs: College administrator/athletic director, broadcaster

Bottom line: Winslow has held athletic director and other administrative roles at Florida A&M University, Central State University in Ohio and Lakeland College in Wisconsin.

He’s also worked as a college football announcer.

Then — Lawrence Taylor

Position: Linebacker

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 237 pounds

Career: 1981-93 (13 seasons)

Teams: New York Giants

Stats: 132.5 career sacks, 1,088 tackles, 33 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, 9 interceptions

Super Bowl titles: 2 (1986, 1990)

Bottom line: Lawrence Taylor is considered by many to be the greatest defensive player in NFL history.

He was named the league’s defensive player of the year three times and was league MVP in 1986, when he led the league in sacks with 20.5.

He was selected to 10 Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro eight times.

Now — Lawrence Taylor

Age: 61 (Feb. 4, 1959)

Hall of Fame: 1999

Post-playing career/jobs: Television commentator, actor

Bottom line: Taylor had stints as a television football analyst and color commentator on an amateur fishing show, and competed on "Dancing with the Stars."

He also appeared in such movies as "Any Given Sunday" and "Shaft." Some of his retirement has been marred by financial and drug problems and run-ins with the law, including for tax evasion and sexual misconduct.

He continues to battle his demons the way he battled opposing offensive players.

Then — Ronnie Lott

Position: Defensive back

Height/weight: 6-foot-0, 203 pounds

Career: 1981-94 (14 seasons)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Jets

Stats: 63 interceptions, returned for 730 yards and five touchdowns. 1,146 tackles. 17 fumble recoveries.

Super Bowl titles: 4 (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989)

Bottom line: Ronnie Lott was the defensive leader of the 49ers’ dynasty of the 1980s, earning first-team All-Pro honors six times.

He was selected to 10 Pro Bowls and named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-1980s first team.

He was the only 49er other than Joe Montana to win rings in all four of the team’s 1980s Super Bowls.

Now — Ronnie Lott

Age: 61 (May 8, 1959)

Hall of Fame: 2000

Post-playing career/jobs: Television broadcaster, businessman

Bottom line: Lott spent a couple of years as an NFL broadcaster after his playing days ended before focusing on business ventures.

He was a managing partner and founder of HJR Capital along with former teammates Joe Montana and Harris Barton, owns car dealerships, and opened a sports cafe in Fresno, California.

Lott also has served on the board of directors of GSV Capital Corporation, a publicly traded investment fund.

Then — Marcus Allen

Position: Running back

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 210 pounds

Career: 1982-97 (16 seasons)

Teams: Los Angeles Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs

Stats: Rushed for 12,243 yards and 123 touchdowns, averaging 4.1 yards per carry.

Super Bowl titles: 1 (1983)

Bottom line: One of the most accomplished running backs in NFL history, Marcus Allen was the 1982 rookie of the year, 1983 Super Bowl MVP and 1985 NFL MVP.

He was selected to six Pro Bowls and was a two-time first-team All-Pro. Allen led the league in rushing yards in 1985 and in rushing touchdowns in 1993, and finished his career with NFL records for consecutive seasons with multiple touchdowns and multiple rushing touchdowns.

He also was the oldest player to score 10-plus touchdowns in a season.

Now — Marcus Allen

Age: 60 (March 26, 1960)

Hall of Fame: 2003

Post-playing career/jobs: Sports broadcaster

Bottom line: Allen quickly transitioned into a career as a television analyst after his playing days ended, landing a spot on CBS’ NFL Today.

He was eventually let go by the network in 2005.

In 2008, he became a spokesman for the sports website OPENSports.com.

Then — Jim Kelly

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 217 pounds

Career: 1986-96 (11 seasons)

Teams: Buffalo Bills

Stats: Completed 60.1 percent of his passes for 35,467 yards and 237 touchdowns.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: The five-time Pro Bowl selection led the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances, all losses, during his 10-year career, which followed a stint in the United States Football League.

Jim Kelly was a first-team All-Pro in 1991, when he led the league in touchdown passes with 33.

Now — Jim Kelly

Age: 59 ( Feb. 14, 1960)

Hall of Fame: 2002

Post-playing career/jobs: Businessman; nonprofit leader

Bottom line: Much of Kelly’s post-football life has been devoted to the battle against Krabbe Disease, which took the life of Kelly’s son, Hunter, at age 8.

He started a nonprofit, Hunter’s Hope, to advocate on behalf of victims of the disease and raise national awareness. He helped create the Hunter James Kelly Research Institute at the University of Buffalo.

Kelly also started a company that creates sports clips and has run football camps for youths held at the Bills facilities.

Then — John Elway

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds

Career: 1982-98 (16 seasons)

Teams: Denver Broncos

Stats: Completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 51,475 yards and 300 touchdowns.

Super Bowl titles: 2 (1997, 1998)

Bottom line: One of the top quarterbacks in history, John Elway led his Broncos to five Super Bowl appearances and two championships.

Known for his late-game exploits, he’ll be forever remembered for engineering "The Drive" at the end of the 1986 AFC championship game that ultimately led to an overtime win over the Cleveland Browns.

A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Elway was the 1987 NFL MVP and culminated his career by winning Super Bowl MVP honors in 1998.

Now — John Elway

Age: 60 (June 28, 1960)

Hall of Fame: 2004

Post-playing career/jobs: Sports executive

Bottom line: John Elway has always been a winner.

After leading the Broncos to two Super Bowl titles on the field, Elway led them to another from the front office in 2015 as the team’s general manager and president of football operations, a role he’s held since 2011.

Before that, he was CEO and co-owner of the Colorado Crush Arena Football League team.

Then — Eric Dickerson

Position: Running back

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 220 pounds

Career: 1983-93 (11 seasons)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, Atlanta Falcons

Stats: Rushed for 13,259 yards and 90 touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: The five-time first-team All-Pro ranks as one of the greatest running backs in history, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in a season eight times during his career.

Eric Dickerson set a single-season NFL rushing record with 2,105 yards in 1984 and led the league in rushing yards four times.

He was selected to six Pro Bowls and the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-1980s first team.

Now — Eric Dickerson

Age: 60 (Sept. 2, 1960)

Hall of Fame: 1999

Post-playing career/jobs: Sports broadcaster, actor

Bottom line: Dickerson has dabbled in sports broadcasting and acting in the years since his retirement.

He worked for a Los Angeles television station, hosted a sports talk radio show and appeared on such television series as "Hawaii Five-0" and "S.W.A.T."

Then — Dan Marino

Position: Quarterback

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 224 pounds

Career: 1983-99 (17 seasons)

Teams: Miami Dolphins

Stats: Completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Despite never winning a Super Bowl, Dan Marino set dozens of NFL passing records during a prolific career that cemented his place among the top quarterbacks in league history.

In only his second year as a pro, Marino set NFL single-season records for passing yards (5,084) and touchdowns (48) and was named league MVP in leading the Dolphins to the only Super Bowl appearance of his career.

A three-time first-team All-Pro, Marino was selected to nine Pro Bowls and led the league in passing yards five times and in touchdown passes three times.

Now — Dan Marino

Age: 59 (Sept. 15, 1961)

Hall of Fame: 2005

Post-playing career/jobs: Sports broadcaster, philanthropist

Bottom line: Marino’s post-NFL career has been best known for his role as an analyst on the "NFL Today" on CBS from 2002 to 2013.

He was named the Dolphins' senior vice president of football operations in 2004 but resigned after only three weeks. Marino also created the Dan Marino Foundation along with his wife after their son was diagnosed with autism.

It provides funding for research, services and treatment programs for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Then — Jerry Rice

Position: Receiver

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds

Career: 1985-2004 (20 seasons)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks

Stats: Caught 1,549 passes for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns, averaging 14.8 yards per catch.

Super Bowl titles: 3 (1988, 1989, 1994)

Bottom line: Widely regarded as the greatest receiver in NFL history, Jerry Rice still holds career records for receptions, touchdown catches and yards receiving, among others. He finished his career with over 100 career records.

A 13-time Pro Bowl selection and 10-time first-team All-Pro, Rice was the 1987 NFL MVP and 1988 Super Bowl MVP.

He led the league in receiving yards and touchdown catches six times, and in receptions twice.

Now — Jerry Rice

Age: 58 (Oct. 13, 1962)

Hall of Fame: 2010

Post-playing career/jobs: Sports broadcaster, actor

Bottom line: Rice has remained a presence on television in the years since his retirement.

He cohosted a prime-time sports television show on a San Francisco Bay Area station and competed on "Dancing with the Stars," where he made it to the finals in 2006.

He also has appeared in film and television roles.

Then — Barry Sanders

Position: Running back

Height/weight: 5-foot-8, 203 pounds

Career: 1989-98 (10 seasons)

Teams: Detroit Lions

Stats: Rushed for 15,269 yards and 99 touchdowns, averaging 5 yards a carry.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Barry Sanders appeared well on his way to becoming the most prolific running back in NFL history when he suddenly retired after the 1998 season.

A Pro Bowl selection in all 10 of his NFL seasons and a six-time first-team All-Pro, Sanders also was the 1997 NFL MVP, when he became the third player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season.

He led the league in rushing yards four times.

Now — Barry Sanders

Age: 52 (July 16, 1968)

Hall of Fame: 2004

Post-playing career/jobs: Team ambassador

Bottom line: Sanders has lived a quiet life out of the spotlight in the years since his retirement, rarely appearing on television.

He introduced a Monday Night Football game between the Lions and Chicago Bears in 2011.

In 2017, he was hired by the Lions as a team ambassador, taking part in meet-and-greets and other public functions.

Then — Emmitt Smith

Position: Running back

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 221 pounds

Career: 1990-2004 (15 seasons)

Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals

Stats: Rushed for 18,335 yards and 164 touchdowns, averaging 4.2 yards per carry.

Super Bowl titles: 3 (1992, 1993, 1995)

Bottom line: The NFL’s all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith was selected to eight Pro Bowls and was a four-time first-team All-Pro.

He was the 1993 NFL and Super Bowl MVP, leading the Cowboys to their second consecutive Super Bowl title.

He led the league in rushing yards four times and in rushing touchdowns three times.

Now — Emmitt Smith

Age: 51 (May 15, 1969)

Hall of Fame: 2010

Post-playing career/jobs: Sports broadcaster, TV personality, real estate developer/businessman

Bottom line: Smith has held several broadcasting roles in the years since his retirement, including as a studio analyst on ESPN and the NFL Network.

He also won the third season of "Dancing with the Stars" and became a successful real estate developer with the help of fellow Cowboys legend Roger Staubach, who started his own real estate company after his own retirement.

Smith also opened a men’s lifestyle and grooming club in Frisco, Texas.