The NFL can be a brutal sport. As Vince Lombardi once said, "Football is not a contact sport. It is a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport." Some players making this list were fortunate enough to escape the NFL with little permanent damage while others still feel the effects of their injuries on a daily basis in their current life.
Running backs and quarterbacks make up the top ten players that left the NFL too early and with good reason. Those two positions are the most dangerous in the NFL. With the exception of kick returners, the positions of quarterback and running back are under full scale attack by opposing defenses on every play.
No. 10. Robert Smith: Minnesota VikingsDr. Robert Smith is an intelligent man out of the Ohio State University. Smith began his career in 1993 with the Minnesota Vikings. He suffered through various injuries early in his career but in the year 2000 Smith led the NFL in rushing with 1,521 yards rushing. Despite having the best season of his career and being in the best physical condition of his career, Robert Smith walked away from the game after the 2000 NFL season at the age of 28.
No. 9. Priest Holmes: Kansas City ChiefsPriest Holmes career was a tale of two teams. His career with the Baltimore Ravens included a Super Bowl ring but his numbers were never explosive. When Holmes moved to the Kansas City Chiefs his fire was lit for three incredibly productive seasons.
From 2001 to 2003 Priest Holmes was one of the most feared backs in the NFL. Holmes was a dual threat accumulating 2,000 total yards in each of the three seasons. Holmes career ended prematurely after suffering a neck injury that became a recurring issue eventually leading to his retirement at the tender age of 34.
No. 8. Terrell Davis: Denver BroncosTerrell Davis is credited with bringing the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl with his hard hitting running style. Davis complemented an aging John Elway perfectly and took the pressure off the veteran quarterback. His career ended at the age of 30 after several years of fighting injuries and failing to make an impact. Davis career stretched from 1995-2002 but his last productive season was 1998.
No. 7. Norm Van Brocklin: Philadelphia Eagles/LA RamsNorm Van Brocklin was a great NFL quarterback that went out on the top of his game. Van Brocklin's career spanned from 1949-1960 with Van Brocklin retiring at the young age of 34. Norm was not only an NFL Hall of Fame passer but he was one of the best punters of his era. Van Brocklin retired on top after leading the Philadelphia Eagles to an NFL title in 1960.
No. 6. Steve Young: San Francisco 49ers/Tampa Bay BuccaneersSteve Young retired at 37 years old but his lack of physical ability was not the reason for his early exit. Young was one of many NFL quarterbacks that suffered numerous concussions over the course of his last few seasons. Steve Young was 37 years old but he did endure less wear and tear on the bench for several years behind the great Joe Montana.
Young began his career with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL and then suffered for two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before landing with the San Francisco 49ers. Young did see action as the back up to Joe Montana but his NFL career began in earnest with the 1992 NFL season. Young threw for 4,170 yards in his last full season of 1998 before ending his career in 1999.
No. 5. Kurt Warner: St Louis Rams/Arizona CardinalsKurt Warner was no spring chicken when he hung up his spikes after taking the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl and NFL Playoffs in two consecutive seasons. He was quite capable of returning for yet another season at the age of 38 but mounting concussion issues led Warner to finally give up the fight.
Warner's final season as an NFL quarterback was 2009 and Warner threw for 3,417 yards, 27 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Warner's career was though to be over when he left the New York Giants but his last three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals allowed Warner to go out as a front runner to make the NFL Hall of Fame when his number comes up.
No. 4. Troy Aikman: Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman also suffered some nasty hits over the course of his short career. Aikman's brains were scrambled several games per season and near the end it became tougher for him to bounce back from the horrendous hits.
Troy Aikman's 12 year career ended in 2000 at the age of 34 but Aikman's Super Bowl rings and ability to recognize when his career was winding down made him an easy pick for the NFL Hall of Fame. Aikman's best NFL season statistically was 1992 and it was Aikman's first Super Bowl appearance and Super Bowl win.
No. 3. Barry Sanders: Detroit LionsThe most exciting NFL running back to ever grace an NFL field, Barry Sanders was in great shape when he made the decision to walk off into the sunset in the prime of his career. Barry Sanders walked away from ten million dollars once he made the heart wrenching decision that his Detroit Lions were not capable of capturing an NFL Super Bowl title.
Sanders last season with the Detroit Lions was 1998 and he was only getting better at the time of his retirement. In 1997 Sanders rushed for 2,053 yards and 11 touchdowns and followed that up in his last NFL season with 1,491 yards rushing. Sanders was magical on an NFL gridiron and he may have crushed all current NFL rushing marks if stayed in the game.
No. 2. Gale Sayers: Chicago BearsBefore "Sweetness" Walter Payton there was smooth Gale Sayers. Sayers was an amazing runner with deceptive speed and moves that left defenders grasping at air. Sayers was impossible to tackle in the open field and when he matched up on a defender one on one it was not a fair fight.
Gayle Sayers career was short but he was one of the most amazing talents to ever set foot on an NFL gridiron. He was not only a spectacular runner on the field but he was also one of the best kick returners the NFL has ever seen. Sayers career eventually ended when he was 28 years old but his seven years in the game are still talked about 40 years after his departure from the NFL.
No. 1. Jim Brown: Cleveland BrownsAny list of most punishing NFL players and running backs features the great Jim Brown. Brown loved to make contact and loved to inflict damage on would be tacklers. Browns running style and non compromising attitude eventually led to his early retirement to pursue a movie career.
The movie career fizzled but Jim Brown is much healthier later in his life thanks to his decision to retire at an early age. Brown retired at the age of 29 years old after nine rough seasons took a toll on the durable running back. Although Brown retired early he owned many NFL records at the time of his early departure from the NFL.
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