-
ESPN employees
That is New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers to you.
On Monday, the Inexperienced Bay Packers agreed to commerce the QB who led their franchise to 11 playoff appearances and a Tremendous Bowl championship.
Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP who began below heart for the Packers for 15 years, joins a Jets franchise that has been affected by shedding — the staff hasn’t made the playoffs in 12 years, the longest energetic drought within the nation’s 4 main sports activities.
It is arguably the largest commerce of their historical past, and calls to thoughts the Brett Favre swap with the Packers in 2008.
This is a have a look at different stars who rocked the sports activities world once they left the groups that they had been with for 10 seasons or extra.
NFL
Tom Brady
Twenty years is sort of the dedication. Simply ask Tom Brady, who was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2000 and went on to spend 20 straight seasons with the staff.
However in March 2020, TB12 shocked the sports activities world when he introduced it was time for his second act. The then-42-year-old, who’s arguably the most effective quarterback of all time, confirmed on social media that he had signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Seeing the six-time Tremendous Bowl champion go well with as much as play someplace apart from Gillette Stadium within the following NFL season was actually odd — as was watching him hoist the Lombardi Trophy for an additional franchise after he received his seventh Tremendous Bowl ring on the finish of his first playoff run with the Bucs.
After two seasons in Tampa Bay, Brady introduced his retirement, however the shock of his New England departure by no means fairly wore off.
Brett Favre
When you concentrate on Brett Favre, you concentrate on the Inexperienced Bay Packers. The Corridor of Fame quarterback spent 20 seasons within the NFL, and though he retired in 2010 — a full decade in the past! — he nonetheless holds quite a few NFL data, together with most consecutive begins by any participant. Favre performed for the Packers from 1992 to 2007, a whopping 16 seasons through which he was the face of the franchise, on the peak of which he introduced them a title by profitable Tremendous Bowl XXXI. In March 2008, he retired … till he modified his thoughts and the Packers bizarrely traded him to the New York Jets in August 2008. He performed in New York for one season earlier than signing with the Minnesota Vikings — the Packers’ rival. Huh? He performed within the 2009-10 season, and after being damage in the course of the 2010-11 season, he retired for good in January 2011.
Joe Montana
It appears unreal that Joe Montana performed for a staff apart from the San Francisco 49ers. Montana received 4 Tremendous Bowls (XVI, XIX, XXIII and XXIV) with the Niners, the staff he performed with for 14 seasons after being drafted in 1979. However Joe Cool’s NFL profession really spanned 16 seasons. The eight-time Professional Bowler was damage towards the top of his profession, lacking your complete 1991-92 season and many of the 1992-93 season. When Montana got here again wholesome, Steve Younger had already made a reputation for himself in San Francisco. Proper earlier than the 1993-94 season, the 49ers traded Montana to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, the place he completed his profession after two common seasons. Montana retired in April 1995, and he was elected to the NFL Corridor of Fame in 2000.
Honorable mentions:
Russell Wilson: The Seattle Seahawks traded the QB who led their franchise to its solely Tremendous Bowl title. In line with ESPN Stats & Data, Wilson, who spent 10 seasons with the Seahawks, turned the primary quarterback to start out for a staff he beat in a Tremendous Bowl (Tremendous Bowl XLVIII).
Peyton Manning: Performed 4 seasons with the Broncos after being lower by the Colts, and received Tremendous Bowl 50 in his closing season.
Johnny Unitas: Performed 4 video games with the Chargers after 17 seasons with the Baltimore Colts.
Emmitt Smith: After 13 years with the Cowboys, spent two seasons with the Cardinals, scoring 11 touchdowns in 25 video games.
Jerry Rice: After 16 years with the 49ers, Rice spent three-and-a-half seasons with the Raiders and a part of his closing season with the Seahawks. He had 1,211 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in his age-40 season.
NBA
Michael Jordan
When you concentrate on Michael Jordan, it is virtually as if his center title needs to be “Chicago Bulls.” MJ was within the NBA for 16 seasons, serving to the Bulls to 6 NBA titles: in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Maybe the most effective NBA participant of all time, Jordan appeared destined to spend his total profession with the staff that drafted him in 1984. Or was he? First, Jordan retired in October 1993 and had a short stint in minor league baseball. The hiatus did not final lengthy, and the NBA world was relieved when he merely stated “I am again” in a press launch in March 1995. After a couple of extra years of glory with the Bulls, Jordan retired for the second time in January 1999. Jordan couldn’t be away from basketball for lengthy, becoming a member of the Washington Wizards’ entrance workplace in January 2000. However administration wasn’t sufficient for him both, and he joined the Wizards as a participant in September 2001. It was actually bizarre seeing him play for 2 seasons in one thing apart from a pink Bulls jersey. Jordan’s closing NBA sport was on April 16, 2003 — and yup, it was with the Wizards.
Tony Parker
Among the finest level guards in NBA historical past, Parker was picked by the San Antonio Spurs within the 2001 draft and instantly helped make a big impact. The six-time All Star was a part of probably the greatest “Massive Threes” ever alongside Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, and below legendary coach Gregg Popovich. Parker spent 17 seasons with the Spurs, profitable 4 NBA championships in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. Parker shocked everybody when he left the Spurs — Duncan and Ginobili by no means performed for a staff apart from the Spurs earlier than retiring — and signed a two-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets earlier than the 2018-19 season. Nonetheless, he retired after only a yr there, in July 2019.
Honorable mentions:
Karl Malone: Spent his closing season with the Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04) after spending his total profession with the Utah Jazz (1985-2003).
Hakeem Olajuwon: Spent his closing season with the Toronto Raptors (2001-02) after spending his total profession with the Houston Rockets (1984-2001).
Paul Pierce: Spent the primary 15 years of his profession with the Boston Celtics (1998-2013) earlier than spending a season with the Brooklyn Nets (2013-14), a season with the Washington Wizards (2014-16) and two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers (2015-17). In July 2017, Pierce signed a ceremonial contract with the Celtics with a view to retire with the staff.
Patrick Ewing: Spent his first 15 years with the New York Knicks (1985-2000) earlier than spending a season with the Seattle SuperSonics (2000-01) and his closing season with the Orlando Magic (2001-02).
Dwyane Wade: Spent his first 13 seasons with the Miami Warmth earlier than spending a season with the Chicago Bulls (2016-17) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18). Wade returned to Miami in the course of the 2018-19 season earlier than retiring in April 2019.
MLB
Hank Aaron
Arguably the best slugger in baseball historical past, Hank Aaron spent 21 seasons with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, starting in 1954. The 25-time All Star and 1957 World Collection champion additionally has the second-most house runs of all time with 755. In 1975, Aaron left the Braves for the Milwaukee Brewers, the place he performed one season on the age of 41. When the season ended, he ultimately went again to Atlanta, the place he joined the staff in 1976 as a Braves govt.
Willie Mays
Willie Mays, among the many best baseball gamers of all time, had an illustrious 22-year profession. He is additionally nonetheless the face of the New York Giants, the staff he started his MLB profession with in 1951. When the staff moved to San Francisco after the 1957 season, Mays went with them, nonetheless swinging the bat with brilliance. He spent a whopping 21 seasons with the Giants, through which he helped the staff win the World Collection in 1954. In Could 1972, Mays was 41 years previous when he was traded again to New York to play for the Mets. He spent one lackluster season there earlier than retiring.
Honorable mentions:
Yogi Berra: Launched by the Yankees after an 18-year profession. Took a season off, then performed in 4 video games with the Mets.
Harmon Killebrew: After 21 seasons with the Twins, spent 106 video games with the Royals through which he hit solely .199.
John Smoltz: Break up his closing season between the Pink Sox and Cardinals after a 20-year profession with the Braves.
NHL
Martin Brodeur
Martin Brodeur received three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils and is at the moment the staff’s govt vp of enterprise growth. It wasn’t at all times Brodeur and the Devils residing fortunately ever after, nonetheless. Brodeur, a 10-time All-Star and one of many NHL’s best goaltenders, started his profession in 1991. There was hypothesis Brodeur was going to retire within the 2012 offseason, however he signed one other contract with the Devils. After two below-average seasons, Brodeur turned a free agent and signed a contract with the St. Louis Blues in December 2014. In January 2015, Brodeur retired, having appeared in simply seven video games for the Blues.
Bobby Orr
One of many best hockey gamers of all time, Bobby Orr was basically royalty in Boston for the last decade he performed there. The defenseman joined the Boston Bruins, a staff that had been struggling for a few years, in 1966. Orr modified all that, serving to the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972. Orr missed many of the 1975-76 season resulting from damage, and his agent satisfied him to check in free company with the Chicago Blackhawks. Orr performed simply 20 video games within the 1976 season, missed your complete 1977 season, and tried a comeback within the 1978 season. He skated in simply six video games earlier than retiring at age 30 in 1978.
Honorable mentions:
Mike Modano: Spent 20 seasons with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars, then performed 4 video games with the Detroit Pink Wings in his closing season.
Bernie Federko: Performed 13 seasons with the St. Louis Blues, and performed 13 video games with the Detroit Pink Wings in his closing season.
WNBA
Candace Parker
In 2021, Candace Parker shocked the basketball world when she determined to go away the Los Angeles Sparks — the franchise that drafted her — after 13 seasons to play for her hometown staff, the Chicago Sky. On the time, the transfer marked what was arguably the largest determination within the two-decade historical past of the WNBA, approaching the heels of a brand new collective bargaining settlement that facilitated larger participant motion. The 2-time WNBA MVP and two-time league champion shocked followers as soon as once more in January when Parker introduced on Instagram she would finish her homecoming to signal with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
Soccer
Pelé
One of many best soccer gamers ever, the Brazilian footballer made his debut for Santos FC in 1956. Along with enjoying for Brazil’s nationwide staff — he led them to a few FIFA World Cups — he additionally helped Santos win the 1962 and 1963 Copa Libertadores. After 19 seasons with Santos, Pelé retired in 1974. Two years later, he made his soccer comeback, signing with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League earlier than the beginning of the 1975 season. The legend ultimately retired in October 1977 after an exhibition match between the Cosmos and Santos, in fact.
John Terry
The English footballer will at all times be remembered for being captain for Chelsea, enjoying for the staff from 1998 to 2017. John Terry, who performed centre again, led Chelsea to 5 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups, three League Cups and one UEFA Champions League title. In January 2017, Terry spent one season with Aston Villa, leaving the staff in Could 2018 after the membership didn’t be promoted to the Premier League. Terry returned to develop into Aston Villa’s assistant head coach a couple of months later, the place he nonetheless is in the present day.
Steven Gerrard
Thought of one of many best midfielders of all time, Steven Gerrard joined Liverpool in 1998, and he was with the staff till 2015. Regardless of profitable two FA Cups, three League Cups, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup, he was by no means in a position to win the Premier League with Liverpool. He is nonetheless a legend, although. Gerrard determined to cross the pond and check out his luck in Main League Soccer, signing a contract with the LA Galaxy in January 2015. In November 2016, after 13 appearances with the Galaxy, Gerrard retired on the age of 36. Gerrard has been supervisor of Rangers F.C. since 2018, a Scottish skilled soccer membership a part of the Scottish Premiership.