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From the Gridiron to the Squared Circle

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Patrick Grant
Patrick Grant

This document profiles several former football players who went on to become professional wrestlers, including: - Bill Goldberg, who played for the LA Rams and Atlanta Falcons before injuries sidelined him and led him to wrestling. - Lex Luger, who played defense for Penn State and the University of Miami before joining the CFL's Montreal Alouettes and later the Green Bay Packers. - Ernie Ladd, who played for the San Diego Chargers and helped them win four AFL championships before moving to the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Oilers, taking up wrestling during the offseason and eventually moving to it full-time.

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From the Gridiron To the Squared Circle Football Players who became Pro Wrestlers
A scholarship athlete from the University of Georgia, he played for the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons before injuries put him on the sidelines. His last team, the Carolina Panthers, never played him.
Bill Goldberg
A standout scholarship for Penn State, Lawrence Phohl would later transfer to Miami, where he played defense for the Hurricanes. He played in CFLs Grey Bowl with Montreal before moving to Green Bay, where he never played another game.
The Total Package, Lex Luger
He earned a basketball scholarship to Grambling before trading his Converse for cleats with the San Diego Chargers. He helped win four AFL championships before moving to the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Oilers. He took up pro wrestling during his off-season, moving to full-time in 1969. At 69 and 315 pounds, he was one of the largest NFL stars of all time.
The Big Cat Ernie Ladd He was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame (1981), the Grambling State University Hall Of Fame (1989) and the WWE Hall of Fame (1995).
Excelling in both wrestling and football, he was an All- American with the Oklahoma Sooners and lost in the finals of the NCAA wrestling championship to Bruce Baumgartner. He got his famous nickname from a goalies mask he used to wear.
Dr. Death Steve Williams
A two-time Second String All-American, he joined the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent before moving to the Buffalo Bills. His roommate at the University of Miami (OH) was future NFL coach John Harbaugh.
The Loose Cannon Brian Pillman
Recruited by Ohio State, he found his niche instead at Southern Methodist (SMU) in Dallas where he was team captain. He spent some time with the Atlanta Falcons until sidelined with injuries.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan
It seems this guy could do anythingwon the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship at the University of Minnesota, WWE champion, UFC championonly in the NFL, and seemingly only because of a car accidentdid his time with the Minnesota Vikings wash out.
Brock Lesnar
A member of the University of Miamis 1991 NCAA Champion team, he was sidelined with injuries and replaced with future NFL great Warren Sapp. Fortunately, both parents were already in the pro wrestling business.
Dwayne The Rock Johnson
He played for the University of Oklahoma Sooners, then began his AFL career with the Houston Oilers and Denver Broncos. After stints with the NFLs New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, he went to wrestling full-time.
Chief Wahoo McDaniel
A consensus All-American for two years in a row, his number with Florida State was retired in 1988. He spent only one year with the NFLs Cleveland Browns. In 1992 he became the first recognized black heavyweight champion of the NWA (WCW).
Ron Simmons
An All-American at the University of Colorado, Leon White played for two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. In his second pro year, he was on the squad which eventually lost Super Bowl XIV to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Vader
Prior to his wrestling career, he made his mark at Abilene Christian before moving to the L.A. Raiders, where he was cut before the season started. He spent the 1991 season with the WLAFs San Antonio Riders.
John Bradshaw Layfield
Discovered by University of Minnesota football coach Clarence Spears, he became a hallmark among Minnesota athletes and later led the Chicago Bears to seven regional titles and two NFL Championships. He is the only person in both the Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Bronislau Bronko Nagurski
(And one from the Diamond) He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals straight out of high school in Downers Grove, IL, playing mostly outfield. His all-time stats in the minors (with the Cardinals, Reds and White Sox) was a batting average of .254, with 16 home runs and 66 RBIs.
Randy Macho Man Savage

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From the Gridiron to the Squared Circle

  • 1. From the Gridiron To the Squared Circle Football Players who became Pro Wrestlers
  • 2. A scholarship athlete from the University of Georgia, he played for the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons before injuries put him on the sidelines. His last team, the Carolina Panthers, never played him.
  • 4. A standout scholarship for Penn State, Lawrence Phohl would later transfer to Miami, where he played defense for the Hurricanes. He played in CFLs Grey Bowl with Montreal before moving to Green Bay, where he never played another game.
  • 5. The Total Package, Lex Luger
  • 6. He earned a basketball scholarship to Grambling before trading his Converse for cleats with the San Diego Chargers. He helped win four AFL championships before moving to the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Oilers. He took up pro wrestling during his off-season, moving to full-time in 1969. At 69 and 315 pounds, he was one of the largest NFL stars of all time.
  • 7. The Big Cat Ernie Ladd He was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame (1981), the Grambling State University Hall Of Fame (1989) and the WWE Hall of Fame (1995).
  • 8. Excelling in both wrestling and football, he was an All- American with the Oklahoma Sooners and lost in the finals of the NCAA wrestling championship to Bruce Baumgartner. He got his famous nickname from a goalies mask he used to wear.
  • 9. Dr. Death Steve Williams
  • 10. A two-time Second String All-American, he joined the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent before moving to the Buffalo Bills. His roommate at the University of Miami (OH) was future NFL coach John Harbaugh.
  • 11. The Loose Cannon Brian Pillman
  • 12. Recruited by Ohio State, he found his niche instead at Southern Methodist (SMU) in Dallas where he was team captain. He spent some time with the Atlanta Falcons until sidelined with injuries.
  • 14. It seems this guy could do anythingwon the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship at the University of Minnesota, WWE champion, UFC championonly in the NFL, and seemingly only because of a car accidentdid his time with the Minnesota Vikings wash out.
  • 16. A member of the University of Miamis 1991 NCAA Champion team, he was sidelined with injuries and replaced with future NFL great Warren Sapp. Fortunately, both parents were already in the pro wrestling business.
  • 17. Dwayne The Rock Johnson
  • 18. He played for the University of Oklahoma Sooners, then began his AFL career with the Houston Oilers and Denver Broncos. After stints with the NFLs New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, he went to wrestling full-time.
  • 20. A consensus All-American for two years in a row, his number with Florida State was retired in 1988. He spent only one year with the NFLs Cleveland Browns. In 1992 he became the first recognized black heavyweight champion of the NWA (WCW).
  • 22. An All-American at the University of Colorado, Leon White played for two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. In his second pro year, he was on the squad which eventually lost Super Bowl XIV to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  • 23. Vader
  • 24. Prior to his wrestling career, he made his mark at Abilene Christian before moving to the L.A. Raiders, where he was cut before the season started. He spent the 1991 season with the WLAFs San Antonio Riders.
  • 26. Discovered by University of Minnesota football coach Clarence Spears, he became a hallmark among Minnesota athletes and later led the Chicago Bears to seven regional titles and two NFL Championships. He is the only person in both the Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.
  • 28. (And one from the Diamond) He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals straight out of high school in Downers Grove, IL, playing mostly outfield. His all-time stats in the minors (with the Cardinals, Reds and White Sox) was a batting average of .254, with 16 home runs and 66 RBIs.
  • 29. Randy Macho Man Savage