Tom Brady, Dennis Rodman, Shaq and 11 other stars who hung on way too long

The love of the game, and perhaps the money that major sports provide make it difficult for star athletes to call it a career. They believe that they can perform at a high level forever and ever, and that’s just not the case. We’ll take a closer look at athletes who should have retired earlier, but wanted to squeeze out an extra season... or three.

Favre’s style of play captivated fans of the Green Bay Packers and the NFL. He was an aggressive player who forced the ball down the field with supreme arm talent. The legendary quarterback spent 16 years with the Packers, and decided to continue his NFL career with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings. Favre’s interception rate shot up during those seasons.

Simply put, Johnson played basketball the way most would argue it should be played. He would selflessly look to pass the ball to his teammates, and took pride whenever his team won. He missed four full seasons after his HIV diagnosis, but returned to the NBA in the 1995-1996 campaign. While it was fun to see Magic on the court again, it was clear that he wasn’t in the best of shape.

Smoltz was an integral part of the Atlanta Braves’ success in the 1990’s and 2000’s. Along with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, he helped anchor a rotation that stymied hitters. After 20 years in Atlanta, Smoltz wanted to continue his career in 2009 at 42 years old. He made 15 starts combined with the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, and got shelled.

It’s hard to think of a more dominant player in the NBA than O’Neal in the last 40 years. His imposing physical stature left opposing centers powerless to stop him. He proved that he could win a title after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, as he got another ring with the Miami Heat. He would then play for the Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, with limited effectiveness.

In his first 18 NBA seasons with the Utah Jazz, Malone basically accomplished everything possible except winning a title. He spent his 19^th season in the league with the Lakers in hopes of winning that elusive ring. He played a complementary role on a team that was surprisingly swept in the 2004 NBA Finals by the Detroit Pistons.

Ewing is a beloved figure in New York, having given everything he had to the Knicks during a fantastic 15-year career. As his career progressed, he had to deal with leg injuries that sapped him of his mobility and explosiveness. Despite the adversity, Ewing left the Knicks to play one season each for the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic, where he averaged less than 10 points a game.

Mays was a stellar defensive outfielder and a thundering presence at the plate who spent the first 21 seasons of his career with the Giants. Rather than hang it up at age 41, Mays continued his career for a season and a half with the New York Mets. New York baseball fans were happy to see him again, but it wasn’t the same player they were accustomed to seeing.

Broadway Joe will forever be remembered for his Super Bowl III guarantee that came true, as he led the New York Jets to their only championship in franchise history. Namath spent 12 years with the team, but left in 1977 to play with the Los Angeles Rams. It was strange to see Namath in a different uniform. He would only start 4 games for the Rams.

From day one, Smith was an NFL star playing for America’s team in the Dallas Cowboys. Throughout the course of 13 years, he would amass 17,000 yards rushing and win three Super Bowls with the Cowboys. At 34 years of age, Smith elected to continue his career with the Arizona Cardinals. He struggled in his first year in Arizona, but had a decent campaign to close out his career.

By any measure, Rice is the greatest receiver, and in the discussion for greatest player in NFL history. His work ethic and natural skill powered him to an unassailable resume. However, he probably should’ve called it a career after the 2002 season. He made one last Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders, and tried to hang on at age 41 and 42 to keep the good times rolling.

In the eyes of some, Buffon might be the greatest goalkeeper in soccer history. He had a phenomenal stretch with Juventus and the Italian national team, spanning nearly two decades. In a full circle moment, Buffon decided to sign with Parma at age 43, the team he started his professional career with. Many would’ve liked him to ride off into the sunset after his Juve career came to an end.

Brady’s legacy was largely enhanced by his move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the 2020 NFL season. He proved that he could win another Super Bowl without the infrastructure that the New England Patriots had built up for two decades. Brady probably should’ve called it quits after the 2021 campaign, as the Bucs offense sputtered significantly in 2022.

From a dependability and leadership perspective, Parish is one of the most impressive players in NBA history. He gutted it out year after year with the Boston Celtics, spending 14 seasons with the team. At age 40, the franchise parted ways with Parish, and he spent two years with the Charlotte Hornets, and one year with Chicago Bulls in a vastly diminished role.

He’s one of the premier rebounders the game has ever seen, as well as one of the most unique individuals in NBA history. Rodman had cemented his legacy as an all-time great when he joined the Chicago Bulls, and won three more championships. After the team broke up in 1998, Rodman played two more years with the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, but didn’t stick around long.

Sanders was a threat to take the ball to the house at any given time. It’s a remarkable thing to say, considering that he played defense and special teams. His “Prime Time” moniker was appropriate when he was a member of the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. He retired for three seasons, and returned for two mediocre seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.