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Over the years, a number of athletes from other sports have successfully transitioned to WWE. The company actively scouts for athletes who have the potential to become professional wrestlers.
Unsurprisingly, there are a number of Superstars who started out on the gridiron, including some of the biggest in WWE history.
With that being said, here are five WWE Superstars who have a football background:
#5. Titus O'Neil played for the University of Florida
A high school All-American, Titus O'Neil received a scholarship to play defensive end for the University of Florida under legendary coach Steve Spurrier. Despite missing their title-winning 1996 campaign, O'Neil was a regular between 1997 and 2000.
He registered his first sack for the Gators against the University of Tennessee, taking down Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. O'Neil played 44 games for the University of Florida and even served on the student body.
After graduating, O'Neil unsuccessfully tried out for the Jacksonville Jaguars and suffered an injury in training camp. He then spent four years playing in the Arena Football League before signing with WWE.
#4. Baron Corbin played in the NFL before joining WWE
Baron Corbin played offensive guard for Northwest Missouri State University, an NCAA Division II school, and helped them reach four successive national championship games. After going undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft, Corbin signed with the Indianapolis Colts.
During his stint with the Colts, he was roommates with Pat McAfee, the team's punter. McAfee went onto become a television personality as well as a commentator for NXT and later SmackDown. McAfee even feuded with Adam Cole when both of them were in NXT.
Corbin also spent a brief period on the Cardinals roster before pursuing a career in professional wrestling.
#3. Goldberg played for three NFL teams
Before he ever set foot in a WWE or WCW ring, Goldberg was a talented football player. After playing as a defensive tackle for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, Goldberg was selected by the LA Rams in the 11th round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
Following a season with the Rams, Goldberg played for the Canadian Football League's Sacramento Gold Miners and his hometown Atlanta Falcons. When he was released by the Falcons, Goldberg played for the Carolina Panthers during the franchise's first season in the NFL.
However, he was released without ever playing a game for them. The future WWE Hall of Famer then retired from football after suffering an abdominal tear. While he was elated that he fulfilled his dream of playing in the NFL, Goldberg admitted his disappointment at not being able to have a longer career.
#2. Roman Reigns had other aspirations before becoming a WWE Superstar
As the scion of a legendary wrestling family, it would seem that Roman Reigns was always destined to be a WWE Superstar. However, The Tribal Chief only turned to professional wrestling once his football career had come to an end.
A standout defensive tackle in high school, Reigns was recruited to play in the ACC by Georgia Tech. During his senior year with the Yellow Jackets, Reigns served as a team captain and earned a place in the All-ACC first-team. One of his Georgia Tech teammates was legendary wide receiver Calvin Johnson.
Reigns declared for the 2007 NFL Draft but went undrafted. He was later signed by the Minnesota Vikings but was diagnosed with leukemia during a physical evaluation. The Pensacola native was later released from the team and had another unsuccessful stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Reigns decided to retire from football following a season with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL. He joined WWE in 2010 and the rest is history.
#1. Brock Lesnar left WWE in 2004 to pursue an NFL career
When he left WWE after WrestleMania 20, Brock Lesnar decided to pursue an NFL career. Even though he hadn't played football since high school, Lesnar claimed that he had the grit and athleticism required to make it in the NFL.
The Beast Incarnate backed up his words with an impressive performance at the combine, garnering the interest of several teams. Lesnar worked out with the Minnesota Vikings, but his performance was constrained by a groin injury. The Vikings eventually signed Lesnar once he recovered from the injury.
After featuring in several pre-season games, Lesnar received an invitation to play in NFL Europa, which he declined to stay close to his family. This effectively signaled the end of Lesnar's football career.
