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USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams hold the NFL record for the most times as the last unbeaten team during a season
Rams hold the NFL record for the most times as the last unbeaten team during a season The Los Angeles Rams have been a very successful franchise throughout their time in the NFL. Although they have just two Super Bowls since 1999 and none before it, the Rams have been in the playoffs a lot. One of the more specific accomplishments the Rams have held is being the last unbeaten team in a season. According to FOX Sports' Ralph Vacchiano, the Rams have found themselves as the last team without a loss in any given season nine different times since 1965. Now, they've never gone undefeated (only the 1972 Miami Dolphins did that), but the Rams have been one of the best teams in those seasons they stood atop the standings. 1969 Los Angeles Rams : Started the season 11–0 but lost the final three regular-season games and lost in the playoffs to the Minnesota Vikings. : Started the season 11–0 but lost the final three regular-season games and lost in the playoffs to the Minnesota Vikings. 1970 Los Angeles Rams : Began the year 3–0 but faded down the stretch, finishing 9–4–1 and missed the playoffs. : Began the year 3–0 but faded down the stretch, finishing 9–4–1 and missed the playoffs. 1978 Los Angeles Rams : Jumped out to a 7–0 start before their first loss, ended the season 12–4 and lost in the NFC Championship Game. : Jumped out to a 7–0 start before their first loss, ended the season 12–4 and lost in the NFC Championship Game. 1985 Los Angeles Rams : Opened 7–0, ended 11–5 and reached the NFC Championship Game. : Opened 7–0, ended 11–5 and reached the NFC Championship Game. 1989 Los Angeles Rams : Went 5–0 to begin the season, finished 11–5 and lost in the NFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl champion 49ers. : Went 5–0 to begin the season, finished 11–5 and lost in the NFC Championship Game to the eventual Super Bowl champion 49ers. 1999 St. Louis Rams : Began 6–0, finished 13–3 and won Super Bowl XXXIV over the Titans. : Began 6–0, finished 13–3 and won Super Bowl XXXIV over the Titans. 2001 St. Louis Rams : Started 6–0, finished 14–2 and lost Super Bowl XXXVI to the Patriots. : Started 6–0, finished 14–2 and lost Super Bowl XXXVI to the Patriots. 2018 Los Angeles Rams: Opened 8–0 before a shootout loss to the Saints; finished 13–3 and lost Super Bowl LIII to the Patriots in a low-scoring affair. Will the Rams add to this list in 2025? It will be tough considering they play the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patriots Called Out for Hall of Fame Snub of Adam Vinatieri
As former star wide receiver Julian Edelman gets recognized as the latest New England Patriots Hall of Fame selection, a most essential former star has been left out. That's legendary former kicker and three-time All-Pro Adam Vinatieri delivered the Patriots' first two Super Bowl wins on game-winning kicks in the 2001 and 2003 seasons. MassLive columnist Matt Vautour isn't pleased that Vinatieri didn't get in along with Edelman. Advertisement 'If Vinatieri wasn't one of the most reliable clutch kickers in the history of the sport, the Patriots' entire stature as a franchise is different,' Vautour wrote on Tuesday. Vautour went on to note how Tom Brady's and Bill Belichick's careers would have looked different had Vinatieri not made those field goals. In addition, Vantour noted that Edelman didn't ever make All-Pro as Vinatieri did. Feb 3, 2002; New Orleans, LA, USA; New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri (4) kicks the ball against the St. Louis Rams during Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome. The Patriots defeated the Rams Credit: Imagn Images 'For all the hand-wringing about how long it took Bill Parcells to get in, Vinatieri being left out is a bigger injustice,' Vautour wrote. 'When the Patriots were trying to win their first Super Bowl in 1997 against the (Green Bay) Packers, (Bill) Parcells was plotting his move to New England's arch rival.' Advertisement 'Vinatieri left too, but only because the Patriots weren't willing to commit the same salary cap space to a kicker that the (Indianapolis) Colts were,' Vautour added. Vinatieri only added to his career with the Colts amid a Super Bowl win, another 336 field goals made in 14 seasons. He started his career with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of then-Division II South Dakota State, where he kicked often in inclement weather. His game-winning playoff kick for the Patriots in a snowy overtime AFC Divisional round game against the then-Oakland Raiders made the first Super Bowl win possible. As Vautour noted, Vinatieri 'is a New England icon' who 'deserves' to get in. Related: Adam Vinatieri Reacts to Patriots' Hall of Fame Nomination Related: Adam Vinatieri: 5 Best Kicks of NFL Career
New York Times
27-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The 2025 NFL Draft's Mr. Irrelevant: Kobee Minor joins club of last selections
The final day of the NFL Draft includes a marathon of picks in Rounds 4-7, culminating with one of the league's quirkiest traditions: Mr. Irrelevant. The infamous title is granted to each year's final draft pick. This year, the New England Patriots (which obtained pick No. 257 in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs) selected Memphis defensive back Kobee Minor with the final pick. Advertisement Minor recorded 37 tackles, 28 solo, with the Tigers in 2024. He played one season in Memphis after stints at Indiana and Texas Tech. San Francisco's 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy reignited interest in the Mr. Irrelevant moniker when he went from pick No. 262 in the 2022 draft to a Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl berth in 2023. Purdy is the only Mr. Irrelevant quarterback in the common draft era (since 1967) to start and win a playoff game. He is one of three Mr. Irrelevants to make a Super Bowl appearance, joined by linebacker Marty Moore (drafted by the New England Patriots in 1994, Super Bowl XXXVI champion) and kicker Ryan Succop (drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009, Super Bowl LV champion with Tampa Bay). According to a USA Today analysis, more than half of players picked last in the Super Bowl era never played an NFL snap, and less than a fifth (11) have played in 25 or more games. The lore of Mr. Irrelevant dates to 1976, when former receiver Paul Salata founded 'Irrelevant Week.' The tradition honored the draft's final pick with a week of festivities, including a trip to Disneyland, a golf tournament, a regatta, a roast and a ceremony awarding him the Lowsman Trophy, which mimics the Heisman Trophy but with a player fumbling the football. Kelvin Kirk, selected 487th by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1976 draft (when the draft was 17 rounds), was the first recognized Mr. Irrelevant. The beloved title has since stuck, with some controversy. The Los Angeles Rams and Steelers owned the final two picks, respectively, in 1979 but each passed on making their picks multiple times in pursuit of the final one. According to the league's rules, a team that passes doesn't forfeit its selection and can re-enter the draft. So the Rams would have been able to make the final pick if the Steelers opted to draft a player after Los Angeles' initial pass. Advertisement Then-commissioner Pete Rozelle had to force the teams to pick, with the Steelers selecting last, and the incident led to the 'Salata Rule,' which prohibits teams from passing to get the final pick. Still, publicity surrounding Mr. Irrelevant has trickled into draft decisions, even as recently as last year. As The Athletic previously reported, when the New York Jets traded Zach Wilson to the Denver Broncos in April 2024, Jets owner Woody Johnson instructed general manager Joe Douglas to include the draft's penultimate pick in the trade so the Jets could keep the Mr. Irrelevant selection. The Jets used pick No. 257 on former Alabama safety Jaylen Key, who didn't survive the final roster cutdown and signed a reserve/future contract with the Cincinnati Bengals in January. Other notable Mr. Irrelevant selections include Bill Fischer (selected last in 1948 before returning to college, getting drafted in the first round by the Chicago Cardinals in 1949 and becoming the first Mr. Irrelevant to make a Pro Bowl), Tyrone McGriff (drafted in 1980 by the Steelers before earning a spot on the NFL All-Rookie team) and Chad Kelly (drafted to the Denver Broncos in 2017 and became the first Mr. Irrelevant quarterback to play a snap in a regular-season game).
Fox News
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Who are the 10 best undrafted players in NFL history?
A total of 257 prospects will hear their names called when the 2025 NFL Draft takes place this weekend, fulfilling the hopes and dreams of many. For those who don't hear their names get called, though, that doesn't mean their dreams of playing in the NFL are over. In fact, there are many success stories of undrafted players becoming NFL standouts over the years. There have also been a handful of players who've become Hall of Famers after going undrafted. So, which undrafted players are the best in NFL history? Let's take a look at the best in the common era (1967-present). The vast majority of kickers begin their NFL careers after going undrafted, but the way Vinatieri's career played out suggests that was a mistake. He played in the World League of American Football (which later rebranded as NFL Europe) after he went undrafted in 1996, but joined the New England Patriots shortly after. He surprisingly won the kicker competition in training camp that year thanks to his kickoff ability. Well, that decision wound up changing the course of NFL history. Vinatieri made a few clutch kicks in the Patriots' Super Bowl-winning season in 2001. He made a 45-yard field goal through the snow to help send their Divisional Round game against the Raiders to overtime before kicking the game-winning field goal. He made a game-winning 48-yard field goal on the final play of Super Bowl XXXVI. Two years later, Vinatieri's 41-yard field goal with four seconds left helped the Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVIII. Those kicks were just four of the NFL-record 56 Vinatieri made in his playoff career. Vinatieri also holds the NFL record for most field goals made (599) and points scored (2,673) in the regular season as he enjoyed a 24-year NFL career, winning four Super Bowls between his time with the Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. The Baltimore Ravens took a flyer on Holmes after he spent most of his time at Texas buried on the Longhorns' running back depth chart, even though he rushed for 13 touchdowns on 59 carries in his final year in Austin. That bet worked. After essentially redshirting his rookie season, Holmes became a 1,000-yard rusher in Year 2. He took a backup role in the following seasons, playing behind Jamal Lewis in their Super Bowl-winning season in 2000. Holmes joined the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent the following season, beginning a stretch where Holmes made history. He rushed for at least 1,400 yards in each of his first three years with the Chiefs, including a league-best 1,555 yards in 2001. Two years later, Holmes rushed for 27 touchdowns, setting the record for most total touchdowns scored by a player ever in a season. He also joined Emmitt Smith as just one of two players to ever score 20-plus touchdowns in two consecutive seasons that year. Holmes finished his career as a three-time first-team All-Pro and a one-time recipient of the Offensive Player of the Year Award. The other great undrafted free agent signed by the Cowboys in the 1970s was Pearson. The wide receiver joined Dallas in 1973, helping to lift Dallas' offense while catching passes from Roger Staubach in short order. He became a first-team All-Pro in Year 2, recording 62 receptions for 1,087 yards in 1974. That year was his first of three All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods, leading the league in receiving yards in 1977 (870). That season ended with Pearson helping the Cowboys win their second title in franchise history. He also retired as Dallas' all-time receiving yards leader (7,822) after the 1983 season. He currently sits fourth all-time and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. Yet another Cowboys star on the list. Then-Cowboys quarterbacks coach Sean Payton, who was a part of Bill Parcells' coaching staff, was able to help Dallas land the fellow Eastern Illinois alum after he went undrafted in 2003. Unlike Harris and Pearson, though, it took Romo some time to get some playing time. He served as a backup until the 2006 season, when he replaced a struggling Drew Bledsoe. The Cowboys took off from there, reaching the postseason that year and going 14-2 to win the NFC East in 2007. While Romo didn't win a Super Bowl, he staked his claim as one of the league's best quarterbacks in an era when Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were breaking records. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in passer rating in 2014, finishing third in MVP voting that year. He also retired as the Cowboys' all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. When you build a multi-time Super Bowl winner over a short span and a perennial title contender, you typically have to hit big along the margin. Well, the Dallas Cowboys struck gold twice in undrafted free agency during the 1970s. First, they signed Harris after he went undrafted in 1970. He became a first-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler who helped Dallas win Super Bowl VI and XII. Later nicknamed "Captain Crash" for his hard hits, Harris helped revolutionize the free safety position by wearing lighter pads in order to move quicker around the field. In addition to the two Super Bowl wins, Harris helped the Cowboys reach three more Super Bowls, becoming one of the few players in NFL history to ever play in at least five Super Bowls. He was eventually voted for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. One of the best defensive players of the 21st century was an undrafted free agent. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed James Harrison as an undrafted free agent in 2002, with concerns over his size being the reason why he wasn't a highly-touted prospect. Pittsburgh actually gave up on Harrison at one point early in his career as well, releasing him from the practice squad on multiple occasions before he signed a contract with the Ravens and was allocated to an NFL Europe team in 2004. Eventually, Harrison re-emerged with the Steelers during training camp in 2004 as he contemplated his football-playing future. Luckily for Pittsburgh, Harrison was willing to give football one more try. He spent the next few seasons as a role player for the Steelers as they became a contender, winning the Super Bowl in 2005. He became one of the league's top pass rushers by 2007 and recorded 16 sacks in 2008, winning Defensive Player of the Year that season. Pittsburgh also won the Super Bowl that year. Harrison didn't reach that peak play again, but he retired as a five-time Pro Bowler. Before he became one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, Gates played basketball in college. In fact, he attempted to play football and basketball at Michigan State, but then-Spartans head coach Nick Saban wanted him to exclusively play football and move him to defensive end. Gates said no and eventually transferred to Kent State, where he helped the Golden Flashes reach the Elite Eight in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. Gates didn't play football at Akron, though, and when he learned that NBA scouts weren't too high on him, he opted to pursue an NFL career. The Chargers wound up signing him after a tryout in 2003, a decision that quickly aged well. He became an All-Pro and Pro Bowl tight end by 2004, recording 13 touchdowns that year as he formed a strong connection with Drew Brees. That was one of four seasons in which Gates recorded at least 10 receiving touchdowns, helping him become the NFL's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns among tight ends. He's also fourth all-time in receptions and receiving yards by tight ends in NFL history, with his eight Pro Bowl nods helping him get voted for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025. Not only did Moon go undrafted in 1978, but he also spent the first six seasons of his professional career in Canada, playing with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL. He actually signed the deal with the Eskimos ahead of the NFL Draft as he senescence would be a late-round selection at best in the 1978 draft. After winning five Grey Cup titles, though, Moon became a commodity when he decided to enter the NFL in 1984. The Houston Oilers wound up winning the battle for Moon, a move that they certainly didn't regret. But it took the Oilers a few years to find success with Moon, reaching the playoffs in 1987. Moon became one of the league's best quarterbacks during that timeframe as well, getting his first of nine Pro Bowl nods in 1988 and winning Offensive Player of the Year in 1990. At the time of his retirement in 2001, Moon was top five in NFL history in passing yards and touchdowns despite starting his career in the CFL. Like some other all-time great undrafted free agents, Randle was thought to be too small when he entered the NFL Draft. The defensive tackle weighed fewer than 250 pounds before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings, secretly wearing a chain to help boost his weight in order to get a deal. The Vikings seemingly got lucky that Randle opted to do that, as he wound up becoming one of the NFL's best interior defensive linemen of all time. Randle was a seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time first-team All-Pro, leading the league in sacks in 1997 with 15.5. A year later, Randle helped the Vikings go 15-1 and nearly reach the Super Bowl, losing in the NFC Championship Game. Randle finished his career with the Seahawks, recording 23.5 sacks over his final three seasons. That helped him finish his career with 137.5 sacks, which were the fifth-most in NFL history at the time of his retirement after the 2003 season. That sack total is still the second-most ever among defensive tackles as FOX Sports recently ranked Randle as the best player to ever play the position. Warner's path to NFL stardom might be the most unique. Well, the story was at least good enough to turn into a movie. After going undrafted in 1994, Warner tried out for the Green Bay Packers, who cut him during training camp. He worked as a grocery store attendant afterward before playing in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe. Warner eventually latched onto the Rams' roster in 1998, serving as their third-string quarterback before becoming the backup at the start of the 1999 season. When Trent Green suffered a season-ending in the preseason that year, the legend of Warner began. He led the Rams to a Super Bowl title that year and instantly became one of the game's best passers, winning MVP that season. He continued to serve as a key figure for one of the offenses in NFL history, quarterbacking the "Greatest Show on Turf" to another Super Bowl appearance in 2001. While they lost the Super Bowl that year, Warner won his second MVP. After his period of success with the Rams, Warner found himself in a similar spot to where he started his career by the 2004 season. He was released by the Rams after the 2003 season and signed with the New York Giants in 2004, starting at quarterback for them for the first half of the season. He became a free agent again the following year, signing with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year deal in 2005. Warner wound up having a resurgence in Arizona, helping the Cardinals play the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history in 2008 as he earned his fourth Pro Bowl nod that year. He retired following the 2009 season and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.
Fox Sports
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Who are the 10 best undrafted players in NFL history?
A total of 257 prospects will hear their names called when the 2025 NFL Draft takes place this weekend, fulfilling the hopes and dreams of many. For those who don't hear their names get called, though, that doesn't mean their dreams of playing in the NFL are over. In fact, there are many success stories of undrafted players becoming NFL standouts over the years. There have also been a handful of players who've become Hall of Famers after going undrafted. So, which undrafted players are the best in NFL history? Let's take a look at the best in the common era (1967-present). 10 best undrafted players in NFL history 10. Adam Vinatieri The vast majority of kickers begin their NFL careers after going undrafted, but the way Vinatieri's career played out suggests that was a mistake. He played in the World League of American Football (which later rebranded as NFL Europe) after he went undrafted in 1996, but joined the New England Patriots shortly after. He surprisingly won the kicker competition in training camp that year thanks to his kickoff ability. Well, that decision wound up changing the course of NFL history. Vinatieri made a few clutch kicks in the Patriots' Super Bowl-winning season in 2001. He made a 45-yard field goal through the snow to help send their Divisional Round game against the Raiders to overtime before kicking the game-winning field goal. He made a game-winning 48-yard field goal on the final play of Super Bowl XXXVI. Two years later, Vinatieri's 41-yard field goal with four seconds left helped the Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVIII. Those kicks were just four of the NFL-record 56 Vinatieri made in his playoff career. Vinatieri also holds the NFL record for most field goals made (599) and points scored (2,673) in the regular season as he enjoyed a 24-year NFL career, winning four Super Bowls between his time with the Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. 9. Priest Holmes The Baltimore Ravens took a flyer on Holmes after he spent most of his time at Texas buried on the Longhorns' running back depth chart, even though he rushed for 13 touchdowns on 59 carries in his final year in Austin. That bet worked. After essentially redshirting his rookie season, Holmes became a 1,000-yard rusher in Year 2. He took a backup role in the following seasons, playing behind Jamal Lewis in their Super Bowl-winning season in 2000. Holmes joined the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent in the following season, beginning a stretch where Holmes made history. He rushed for at least 1,400 yards in each of his first three years with the Chiefs, including a league-best 1,555 yards in 2001. Two years later, Holmes rushed for 27 touchdowns, setting the record for most total touchdowns scored by a player ever in a season. He also joined Emmitt Smith as just one of two players to ever score 20-plus touchdowns in two consecutive seasons that year. Holmes finished his career as a three-time first-team All-Pro and a one-time recipient of the Offensive Player of the Year Award. 8. Drew Pearson The other great undrafted free agent signed by the Cowboys in the 1970s was Pearson. The wide receiver joined Dallas in 1973, helping to lift Dallas' offense while catching passes from Roger Staubach in short order. He became a first-team All-Pro in Year 2, recording 62 receptions for 1,087 yards in 1974. That year was his first of three All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods, leading the league in receiving yards in 1977 (870). That season ended with Pearson helping the Cowboys win their second title in franchise history. He also retired as Dallas' all-time receiving yards leader (7,822) after the 1983 season. He currently sits fourth all-time and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. 7. Tony Romo Yet another Cowboys star on the list. Then-Cowboys quarterbacks coach Sean Payton, who was a part of Bill Parcells' coaching staff, was able to help Dallas land the fellow Eastern Illinois alum after he went undrafted in 2003. Unlike Harris and Pearson, though, it took Romo some time to get some playing time. He served as a backup until the 2006 season, when he replaced a struggling Drew Bledsoe. The Cowboys took off from there, reaching the postseason that year and going 14-2 to win the NFC East in 2007. While Romo didn't win a Super Bowl, he staked his claim as one of the league's best quarterbacks in an era when Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were breaking records. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in passer rating in 2014, finishing third in MVP voting that year. He also retired as the Cowboys' all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. 6. Cliff Harris When you build a multi-time Super Bowl winner over a short span and a perennial title contender, you typically have to hit big along the margin. Well, the Dallas Cowboys struck gold twice in undrafted free agency during the 1970s. First, they signed Harris after he went undrafted in 1970. He became a first-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler who helped Dallas win Super Bowl VI and XII. Later nicknamed "Captain Crash" for his hard hits, Harris helped revolutionize the free safety position by wearing lighter pads in order to move quicker around the field. In addition to the two Super Bowl wins, Harris helped the Cowboys reach three more Super Bowls, becoming one of the few players in NFL history to ever play in at least five Super Bowls. He was eventually voted for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. 5. James Harrison One of the best defensive players of the 21st century was an undrafted free agent. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed James Harrison as an undrafted free agent in 2002, with concerns over his size being the reason why he wasn't a highly-touted prospect. Pittsburgh actually gave up on Harrison at one point early in his career as well, releasing him from the practice squad on multiple occasions before he signed a contract with the Ravens and was allocated to an NFL Europe team in 2004. Eventually, Harrison re-emerged with the Steelers during training camp in 2004 as he contemplated his football-playing future. Luckily for Pittsburgh, Harrison was willing to give football one more try. He spent the next few seasons as a role player for the Steelers as they became a contender, winning the Super Bowl in 2005. He became one of the league's top pass rushers by 2007 and recorded 16 sacks in 2008, winning Defensive Player of the Year that season. Pittsburgh also won the Super Bowl that year. Harrison didn't reach that peak play again, but he retired as a five-time Pro Bowler. 4. Antonio Gates Before he became one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, Gates played basketball in college. In fact, he attempted to play football and basketball at Michigan State, but then-Spartans head coach Nick Saban wanted him to exclusively play football and move him to defensive end. Gates said no and eventually transferred to Kent State, where he helped the Golden Flashes reach the Elite Eight in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. Gates didn't play football at Akron, though, and when he learned that NBA scouts weren't too high on him, he opted to pursue an NFL career. The Chargers wound up signing him after a tryout in 2003, a decision that quickly aged well. He became an All-Pro and Pro Bowl tight end by 2004, recording 13 touchdowns that year as he formed a strong connection with Drew Brees. That was one of four seasons in which Gates recorded at least 10 receiving touchdowns, helping him become the NFL's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns among tight ends. He's also fourth all-time in receptions and receiving yards by tight ends in NFL history, with his eight Pro Bowl nods helping him get voted for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025. 3. Warren Moon Not only did Moon go undrafted in 1978, but he also spent the first six seasons of his professional career in Canada, playing with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL. He actually signed the deal with the Eskimos ahead of the NFL Draft as he senescence would be a late-round selection at best in the 1978 draft. After winning five Grey Cup titles, though, Moon became a commodity when he decided to enter the NFL in 1984. The Houston Oilers wound up winning the battle for Moon, a move that they certainly didn't regret. But it took the Oilers a few years to find success with Moon, reaching the playoffs in 1987. Moon became one of the league's best quarterbacks during that timeframe as well, getting his first of nine Pro Bowl nods in 1988 and winning Offensive Player of the Year in 1990. At the time of his retirement in 2001, Moon was top five in NFL history in passing yards and touchdowns despite starting his career in the CFL. 2. John Randle Like some other all-time great undrafted free agents, Randle was thought to be too small when he entered the NFL Draft. The defensive tackle weighed fewer than 250 pounds before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings, secretly wearing a chain to help boost his weight in order to get a deal. The Vikings seemingly got lucky that Randle opted to do that, as he wound up becoming one of the NFL's best interior defensive linemen of all time. Randle was a seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time first-team All-Pro, leading the league in sacks in 1997 with 15.5. A year later, Randle helped the Vikings go 15-1 and nearly reach the Super Bowl, losing in the NFC Championship Game. Randle finished his career with the Seahawks, recording 23.5 sacks over his final three seasons. That helped him finish his career with 137.5 sacks, which were the fifth-most in NFL history at the time of his retirement after the 2003 season. That sack total is still the second-most ever among defensive tackles as FOX Sports recently ranked Randle as the best player to ever play the position . 1. Kurt Warner Warner's path to NFL stardom might be the most unique. Well, the story was at least good enough to turn into a movie. After going undrafted in 1994, Warner tried out for the Green Bay Packers, who cut him during training camp. He worked as a grocery store attendant afterward before playing in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe. Warner eventually latched onto the Rams' roster in 1998, serving as their third-string quarterback before becoming the backup at the start of the 1999 season. When Trent Green suffered a season-ending in the preseason that year, the legend of Warner began. He led the Rams to a Super Bowl title that year and instantly became one of the game's best passers, winning MVP that season. He continued to serve as a key figure for one of the offenses in NFL history, quarterbacking the "Greatest Show on Turf" to another Super Bowl appearance in 2001. While they lost the Super Bowl that year, Warner won his second MVP. After his period of success with the Rams, Warner found himself in a similar spot to where he started his career by the 2004 season. He was released by the Rams after the 2003 season and signed with the New York Giants in 2004, starting at quarterback for them for the first half of the season. He became a free agent again the following year, signing with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year deal in 2005. Warner wound up having a resurgence in Arizona, helping the Cardinals play the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history in 2008 as he earned his fourth Pro Bowl nod that year. He retired following the 2009 season and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Check out all of our Daily Rankers . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
