10 Retired NFL Players That Could Ball Out Right Now If They Came Out of Retirement
Nov 22, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) adjusts his helmet during the second quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports Numerous active players compete in the NFL, from guys who are locks for the Pro Football Hall of Fame to Pro Bowlers, Pro Bowl-caliber talent, and guys who are trying to make a name for themselves in the league. However, due to numerous injuries and certain NFL players struggling in recent years, we reflect on the guys who became Hall of Fame Icons from yesteryear and wonder whether they could still play today. The Colts convinced Phillip Rivers to briefly come out of retirement at 44 and help them out in the final stretch of the 2025 season, and he performed okay in today’s NFL. We’ve also seen other guys return to action on the field, like Eric Weddle, Jason Witten, and Darren Waller, who came out of retirement once and helped their respective teams out, and showed some effort during the second time around on the field. There are quite a few guys who could come out of retirement and dominate in today’s NFL, as we’ll go over here at TPS. Without further ado, here are 10 retired NFL Players That Could Ball Out Right Now If They Came Out of Retirement. Can these former players still play in today’s NFL? Tom BradyTom Brady (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images) Tom Brady, aka the “GOAT,” looks like a guy who can potentially come out of retirement right now and create a positive impact. He came out of retirement once in 2022 and played one season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, helping them win the NFC South and reach the Wildcard Round of the playoffs before losing to Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. Sure, he’s 47, but if he were to somehow come out of retirement, he would help teams like the Arizona Cardinals or make a return to the Buccaneers and make things more competitive. Plus, he would continue to make NFL history and achieve feats that no other quarterback who steps foot in the league will ever break moving forward. Brady did consider a comeback, but his minority ownership of the Las Vegas Raiders prevents him from doing so. On top of that, Brady is happily retired and also in the FOX NFL Sunday broadcast booth. Just the thought of seeing TB12 returning to play would be a huge deal for the league, as ratings would increase, and stadiums would sell out just to see him play one more time. Not to mention, he would bring his winning ways to any team he suits up for, guaranteeing that team a spot in the playoffs. Rob GronkowskiOct 18, 2020; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) runs with the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter of a NFL game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Similar to Tom Brady, Gronkowski was fun and exciting to watch during his heyday with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Although Gronk is happy to be retired, it would be a treat to enjoy seeing him spike the ball in the end zone during a regular-season game again and dominate opposing defenses. Gronk has joked about coming out of retirement in the past, but says he plans to stay retired. Well, except for playing flag football. Like TB12, Gronk came out of retirement once, which led to his trade from the Patriots to the Buccaneers in 2020, reuniting him with the latter. The only downside is that Gronk has dealt with injuries throughout his career, and the league is only getting more intense. And even if Gronkowski did come out of retirement, he would pass a physical with flying colors and make it on an NFL roster with ease and contribute on offense. If Gronk did come out of retirement, he would immediately be a great contributor on offense and incredibly challenging to tackle, thanks to his athletic build and strength. Aaron DonaldDec 10, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports Seeing Donald coming out of retirement would be a treat, as the former NFL player was a dominant force for the Rams from their final years in St. Louis to relocating to Los Angeles for his entire career. Donald would still strike fear into opposing offenses, make the current NFL’s defense more competitive in key games, and motivate the young guys to strive for much more. Seeing him paired up with Jared Verse and Byron Young would be very exciting to see, as it would add a fierce level of explosiveness to the Rams’ pass-rush and a potentially easy pathway to the Super Bowl. Another couple of teams who would love Donald’s services include the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, and Philadelphia Eagles, who each have very talented defenses that would benefit from having Donald on their respective teams. Donald has stated that he’s happy with his 10-year career in the NFL and is burnt out from training camp, but he’ll be 35 by the start of the 2026 season, and could have room in the tank for one more season if he really wanted to come out of retirement. If he did come out of retirement, it would be incredibly entertaining to see him sack the current crop of quarterbacks in the league and prevent opposing running backs from making explosive plays on offense. Calvin JohnsonDec 27, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) and running back Ameer Abdullah (21) get ready for a play during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports Johnson’s playing career was magnificent to watch, as he kept the Lions afloat in every game he played in from his rookie season in 2007 until his final season in 2015. Even though Johnson was burned out after his final season in 2015, he looks like he can still play and cook opposing secondaries. If he were to come back, he would have to pass a physical, but he wouldn’t play for the Lions, as he would want to play for a championship contender. Put Calvin “Megatron” Johnson on a team like the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Chiefs’ passing attack would be one heck of a show to watch with Patrick Mahomes throwing the ball to Johnson every game. Especially when scoring touchdowns in Arrowhead Stadium in front of the home crowd. On top of that, Johnson broke numerous records during his time in the NFL, like in 2012 when he broke the record for most receiving yards in a season with 1,964. He would very likely break more records with a championship contender and potentially win a Super Bowl to finish the season off in the best way possible. Seeing Megatron dominate in today’s NFL would be incredibly exciting to watch in the year 2026 and beyond if he chose to come out of retirement. Marshawn LynchOctober 24, 2010, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) during pregame warmups against the Arizona Cardinals at Qwest Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports Lynch came out of retirement once and suited up for the Raiders when they were in Oakland from 2017 to 2018, and the Seattle Seahawks in 2019. It would be incredibly exciting to see Lynch come out of retirement. He would have to join a championship contender, like the current Seahawks, who would be in service for a new running back since Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III signed a three-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Sure, Lynch will be 40 years old when the 2026 season kicks off, but the Seahawks have the team that would help Lynch earn that second Super Bowl championship, and we would be watching every second of it. Lynch would also be an upgrade over Cam Akers and Zach Charbonnet when going up against opposing defenses on the ground. Lynch’s agility, ability to push defenders off of him as a player, and versatility would be enticing to watch in the current state of the NFL. Other teams that would benefit from Lynch’s services include the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams, who would be more than happy to make things work for “Beast Mode” if he chose to come out of retirement and lace up the cleats one more time. J. J. WattAugust 20, 2011; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) before a game against the New Orleans Saints at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports Just like Aaron Donald, Watt dominated opposing defenses in his prime with the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals and walked away from the game to prioritize his family and health. Although Watt is currently 37, he has the strength to come out of retirement and join a championship contender like the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, and Buffalo Bills, who have rosters built around reaching and potentially winning the next Super Bowl. Seeing Watt paired up with the current defenders like Jared Verse, Ed Oliver, and Byron Young would be spectacular for football fans to tune in every week. Another team that would love J. J. Watt’s services would be the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he would reunite with his brother, T. J. Watt, and dominate on the team’s defense. Plus, it would be a treat to have two different NFL Defensive Players of the Year award winners on the same roster. If anyone could come out of retirement and return to form on defense, Watt would have no problem doing so. Julian EdelmanPatriots receiver Julian Edelman dives into the end zone past Bills defender Aaron Williams for a 22 yard touchdown. Williams was injured on the play and left the game on a stretcher. The Patriots be a the Bills 40-32. Edelman may not be a Pro Bowler like everyone else on this list, but we do miss the incredible athleticism he displayed in games. Edelman won the Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams, then retired at 34 a couple of years later. He retired in the 2021 offseason due to a chronic knee injury that prevented him from performing at a high standard. If Edelman were to come out of retirement, he would still be a sneaky good slot receiver and deceive opposing defensive backs and create some outstanding trick plays since he was a quarterback at Kent State. He would also likely return to the New England Patriots or another championship contender and work with quarterbacks like Drake Maye, Sam Darnold, Bo Nix, Patrick Mahomes, or Jalen Hurts, throwing him passes instead of Tom Brady. Seeing a prime Julian Edelman dominate in today’s NFL would be an incredible treat to watch every Sunday. Especially when the lights are shining the brightest during a prime-time game. Luke KuechlyDec 15, 2019; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) looks back to the ref after a play against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports Now, Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly was a force to be reckoned with when he was with the Carolina Panthers. He was the 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year back in his prime and made seven Pro Bowls. Kuechly retired from the league at 28 due to focusing on his long-term health and having a track record of multiple concussions. If Kuechly didn’t suffer from any of those concussions during his playing career, he could make a great comeback and dominate on any defensive unit. Kuechly would be a great addition to defensive-heavy teams like the Seattle Seahawks and their “Darkside” defense or the Houston Texans and their incredible defense for the 2026 season if he could come out of retirement, as the current Carolina Panthers are nowhere near championship contention. Seeing an in-prime Kuechly back in action would be incredible fanfare for fans and an exciting must-watch on TV. Especially dominating the current crop of opposing quarterbacks, trying to make a name for themselves in the league. Andrew WhitworthFormer Bengal Andrew Whitworth watches the final minutes in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 4 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins at PayCor Stadium in downtown on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. The Bengals improved to 2-2 with a 27-15 win over the Dolphins. Miami Dolphins At Cincinnati Bengals Week 4 Whitworth was one of the best offensive tackles in the 21st century, thanks to his incredible football IQ, remarkable longevity, and elite proficiency during his playing days with the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams. Whitworth retired from playing due to his age and wanted to go out on his own terms after winning Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams. If Whitworth came out of retirement and returned to playing in his prime, he would be an excellent fit for teams looking for a strong and reliable offensive line. Whitworth started in 234 out of 239 games in his legendary career. He has a 93.4 grade from Pro Football Focus, and he had one touchdown in the 2010 season with the Bengals. Whitworth also allowed very few sacks in his storied career, making him an incredible offensive lineman to have in today’s NFL on teams with strong or rebuilding offensive lines. Teams would love Whitworth’s professionalism, durability, and versatility, which he would bring to protect current quarterbacks in the league. Randy MossSep 17, 2006; Baltimore, MD, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss (18) looks on against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK Moss was a superstar wide receiver during his prime with the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots back in the late 1990s and 2000s. Moss had video game-like stats, leaped over defenders, and broke several records throughout his career, like scoring a record-breaking 23 touchdowns in his debut season with the Patriots back in 2007. If Moss ever came out of retirement, he would be very impactful for a wide receiver-needy team looking for someone who could make a game-changing play, shifting everything in their favor. It would be incredibly exciting to see Moss catch touchdown passes from modern-day quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson, Drake Maye, or Jalen Hurts. On top of that, Moss would likely be a missing link to help a championship-contending team win that elusive Super Bowl they’ve been looking for.
