6 NFL legends that made the drive over to NASCAR

Vehicles owned by Hobbs (L) have won five Cup Series championships, including two for Kyle Busch (R) (Photo: Getty)

#3 - Joe Gibbs

No NFL legend has left a more significant impact on NASCAR than Gibbs, who wasn't satisfied with domination in one sport.

A year before his first NFL retirement (shortly after winning the last of three Super Bowl titles with the Washington Redskins), Gibbs entered the racing realm and has gone on to win 194 races at the premier Cup Series level, the third-best tally in circuit history.

Gibbs has also earned nine championships across NASCAR's four national tours, the most recent Cup title hoisted by Kyle Busch in 2019. His Toyotas continue to dominate the modern circuit, as Busch, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., and Christopher Bell each reached the Cup Series playoffs and united to win nine of the 36 races run.

Gibbs also enjoyed familial success at the Xfinity level, as his 19-year-old grandson Ty won four of his first 18 starts while also earning the ARCA Menards Series championship. The younger Gibbs made his full-time Xfinity Series debut on Saturday, driving the No. 54 Toyota.

#4 - Jerry Glanville

While many on this list opted for more of an administrative and/or ownership role in NASCAR, Glanville actually got behind the wheel, The colorful NFL head coach, perhaps most famous for coining the phrase "not for long" when describing what the league's abbreviation stood for, made 33 combined starts over the Busch and Truck Series between 1992 and 1999, posting a best finish of 14th on three occasions. Glanville was prepped for his racing endeavors through a de facto apprenticeship under the late seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt.