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Retired NFL players can sometimes get the urge to return to football. Most of them fight it off after some speculation, but other times they do in fact come out of retirement. There have been mixed results with players doing so, but often times it results in a compromised version of who the player was before they retired. Here are five players in NFL history who probably shouldn't have made a return.
5 NFL players who probably should have stayed retired
#1 - Brett Favre
Brett Favre came out of retirement twice to make his return to football. He retired from the Green Bay Packers in 2007 and then joined the New York Jets the following year. He threw as many touchdowns as interceptions that season and was sacked more than he had been in eight years.
After retiring from the Jets in 2008, he joined the Minnesota Vikings the following year. His first year back was excellent, but then he fell off hard in his second year with the Vikings. In 13 games, he threw for just 11 touchdowns and a massive 19 interceptions.
#2 - Randy Moss
Randy Moss is one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history. He retired in 2010 after 13 legendary seasons, mostly with the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots. After being retired for one year, he returned in 2012 and joined the San Francisco 49ers. He recorded just 28 receptions for 434 yards and three touchdowns, the worst statistical season of his career.
NFL players who probably shouldn't have come out of retirement (#3-#5)
#3 - Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders is one of the greatest coverage cornerbacks of all time. He is also one of the most dynamic athletes, playing offense, defense and special teams while having a successful career in professional baseball, all at the same time.
Deion Sanders retired from football in 2000 but returned in 2004 with the Baltimore Ravens. He played pretty well as a third corner, recording five interceptions in 25 games across two seasons, but didn't have the same explosiveness and versatility. He proved that he could still play at 37 and 38 years old, but really had nothing left to prove at that point.
#4 - Reggie White
Reggie White recorded 198 career sacks, the second highest total in NFL history. He retired after being named Defensive Player of the Year for the 1998 season with the Green Bay Packers. After taking a year off, he returned with the Carolina Panthers for the 2000 season. He recorded just 5.5 sacks that year, the lowest total for any season season of his entire career.
#5 - Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams is a unique case because he retired when he was just 26 years old and one of the best running backs in the league. He was never the same after taking a year off. Before retirement, he recorded four straight seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 350 receiving yards. In the five seasons since returning, he has only once surpassed 1,000 rushing yards and has never exceeded 300 receiving yards.
