NFL All Pros Who Got Cut and No One Saw It Coming
NFL teams have released several All-Pro players over the past two decades, often during preseason roster cuts or offseason salary moves. In most cases, these players still had starting-level ability and had recently performed at a high level. Many had even been team captains, record holders, or foundational players.
That’s part of what made these releases so surprising, since they weren’t sidelined by age or off-field issues. They were continuously contributing, yet were let go, sometimes without explanation.
Jerry Rice
The 49ers released Jerry Rice in 2001 after 16 seasons, three Super Bowl titles, and 10 All-Pro selections. He wanted to play and clearly could, which is when Oakland signed him, and he caught 1,139 yards in his first year with them. He played until age 42 and added another Super Bowl appearance to his résumé.
DeMarcus Ware
Despite being the Cowboys’ all-time sack leader and a four-time All-Pro, Dallas cut DeMarcus Ware in 2014 to manage cap space. His numbers had dipped a little, but he remained one of the most disruptive edge rushers in football. Denver signed him immediately, and he gave their defense instant credibility.
Josh Sitton
Durability was Sitton’s trademark in Green Bay. He barely missed a snap across eight seasons and collected four Pro Bowl nods and a Second-Team All-Pro in 2014. That’s why eyebrows went up when the Packers suddenly released him in 2016. Chicago scooped him up almost immediately and put him right back into a starting role.
Richard Sherman
Image via Wikimedia Commons/All-Pro Reels
The Seahawks’ decision to part ways with Sherman in 2018 stunned fans. By then, he had 32 interceptions and three All-Pro selections, but an Achilles injury clouded his future. San Francisco took the risk, and two years later, Sherman was anchoring their secondary in the Super Bowl.
Peyton Manning
While recovering from neck surgery and coming off a missed season, Peyton Manning saw his time in Indianapolis end in 2012. Denver became his next stop, where he broke single-season passing records, collected another MVP, and reached two Super Bowls. Few quarterbacks have ever rebounded so completely after that kind of uncertainty.
Steve Smith Sr.
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Keith Allison
The Panthers thought they were moving on in 2014. Smith, who already owned most of the franchise’s receiving records, was released after 13 seasons. Baltimore benefited instead. In his first year there, he crossed the 1,000-yard mark and even found the end zone against Carolina.
Charles Woodson
At age 36, Green Bay decided to part ways with Charles Woodson in 2013. By then, he was a three-time All-Pro, a Defensive Player of the Year, and central to their recent Super Bowl win. Oakland brought him back immediately, and he capped that run with another Pro Bowl at age 39.
Darrelle Revis
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Jeff Kern
Darrelle Revis, a four-time All-Pro and widely regarded as one of the league’s best shutdown corners, entered 2014 performing at an elite level. Tampa Bay had given him a massive contract just a year earlier, but their plan quickly unraveled. Trade attempts failed, and New England picked him up without hesitation.
NaVorro Bowman
San Francisco’s rebuilding plans in 2017 pushed out NaVorro Bowman, even though he remained the defense’s signal-caller and a four-time All-Pro. The midseason timing made the decision more jarring, since he was still starting and contributing. Oakland picked him up within days, and he led the team in tackles by season’s end.
Andre Johnson
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Lbking
As Houston’s all-time leader in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, Andre Johnson built a résumé that included two All-Pro selections across 12 seasons. His production dipped slightly by 2015, and the Texans chose to move in a younger direction. The split surprised fans who expected a more fitting exit for a franchise cornerstone.