While many athletes have remarkable careers that are celebrated for decades, others decide to retire at unexpected times. Some of these retirements have been shocking for fans and analysts who wonder if the athletes retired too soon.
From Bjorn Borg's sudden retirement to Jim Brown's decision to quit football, these are some of the most surprising athletes who decided to hang up their cleats too early.
1. Michael Jordan
After leading the Bulls to three straight NBA championships, Michael Jordan surprised the sporting world in early October 1993 by retiring from basketball and pursuing a career in professional baseball. He returned to the sport in March 1995 and helped the Bulls win another three titles.
During his brief baseball career, Jordan played for both the Birmingham Barons and Scottsdale Scorpions, two minor league affiliates of the Chicago White Sox. He would later retire for a second time in 1999 after the end of a long labor dispute that ended with Phil Jackson’s departure as Bulls coach.
When he returned to the NBA for his first retirement, Jordan instantly became one of the most dominant players in the league again. He showed that he had lost none of his ability to dismantle opposing teams with his athleticism and ability to get by players and to the rim. Jordan also showed that his baseball experience had helped him improve as a basketball player.
2. Jim Brown
Brown was one of the first superstars to grace the NFL’s gridiron. He rushed for 12,312 yards in nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns and led the league in rushing eight times. He was a man of tremendous power and speed who could run right past defenders.
When he was tackled, he would drag on the grass and looked like a man who’d been hit by a bus. Then, on the next play, he’d burst through the line again. He was truly unstoppable.
Brown retired at the age of 30 and at the peak of his career. He wanted to focus on his acting career and had already made a few movies. In his post-football career, Brown established several different civic programs aimed at giving young black people opportunities and keeping them off the streets. He was hands-on with his causes and encouraged other athletes to get involved in their communities. His program, Amer-I-Can, continues to work with disadvantaged youth.
3. Barry Sanders
The NFL is an incredibly difficult place to make a living, and many players choose to retire early because of the physical toll it takes on them. But there are also a few superstars who decide to call it quits even though they are still playing at the top of their game. When Barry Sanders decided to quit after 10 years in the league, he left everyone wondering why.
The shifty running back rushed for more than 1,000 yards in all but one of his professional seasons and set an NFL record with 2,053 yards during his 1997 MVP campaign. He was named to the Pro Bowl each year of his career and was one of the most electrifying players in history.
But Sanders decided to hang up his cleats in 1998, at the age of 31. He was well within striking distance of Walter Payton’s all-time rushing record at the time, and he might have broken it had he stayed in the league longer.
4. Andrew Luck
It was shocking to see an NFL star like Andrew Luck abruptly retire two weeks before the season, but the Colts' franchise quarterback did what was best for himself. His decision shows that professional sportspeople can have lives outside of the game, and more athletes should consider doing the same.
Luck cites chronic pain as the primary reason for his early retirement, and that makes sense. He also notes that he was constantly playing catch-up with his family life because of injuries. He didn't have the time to spend with his wife, Nicole, and daughter Lucy.
He felt as though his identity was tied to the game of football, which led to him feeling like he wasn't a good husband and father. Now, the 33-year-old is finding new outlets for his obsessions. He loves making the perfect cup of cappuccino and skiing, which fills his need for an outdoor physical act with speed and danger.
