Considering that Todd Christensen was drafted as a Running Back, it is impressive that he developed into one of the most successful Tight Ends of the 1980s.

It is one thing to be highly touted out of college and rack up serious statistics in the National Football League.  It is quite another to do that when you go undrafted.  Rod Smith lit up the league when nobody saw it coming.

From the University of Mississippi, Larry Grantham was a second round pick by the New York Titans in 1960 (he was a 15th rounder in the NFL) and a member of the original team. 

Marshall Goldberg was a major star at the University of Pittsburgh, and he would ply his trade well for the Chicago Cardinals.  Goldberg did it all in the early 1940s, especially in the 1941 season where he rushed for 427 Yards, received passes for 313 Yards and was the top finisher in Kick Return Yards (290), earning him the league…

Considered a shutdown Cornerback before there was such a term, Louis Wright would play his entire career with the Denver Broncos.  Drafted in the 1st Round (17th Overall) from San Jose State, Wright paid immediate dividends by being named to the First Team All-Rookie squad.  Denver was developing a reputation for their Orange Crush Defense, but if anyone got past…

Art Monk may have been the lead receiver for the Washington Redskins for a long period of time, but he was paired up with another great Wide Receiver who was in his shadow somewhat.  Of course, at 5’ 9, Gary Clark was in a lot of player’s shadows.

Linebackers are built to strike fear in Quarterbacks.  Greg Lloyd seemed destined to strike fear in virtually everyone around him.

While Rosey Grier was better known for being one of the inaugural members of the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome," the defensive stalwart was a better player in the first two-thirds of his professional career when he was with the New York Giants.  Grier helped the New York win the 1956 NFL Championship, and the two Pro Bowls (1956 and…

Generally, non Quarterbacks don’t have spectacular seasons in their 30’s, but Henry Ellard did.  In fact, he really didn’t become a star in the National Football League until he turned 27.

Chuck Foreman was called the “Spin Doctor”, but it was not due to his ability to spin his words.  It was due to the way that he could spin his body around would-be tacklers.

Alan Ameche was the Heisman Trophy winner in 1954, and the Wisconsin Badgers star promptly went 3rd Overall in the Draft.   Chosen by the Baltimore Colts, he would win the NFL Rookie of the Year, leading the league in Rushing Yards, Rushing Touchdowns, and Yards from Scrimmage.  This was Ameche's best statistical year, but he would become an offensive fixture…

It might be hard being named Keith Jackson when there was already a very famous sports commentator with the same name who became the voice of the sport.  The Tight End with the same name still managed to carve out his own identity.

Darren Woodson arrived in Dallas as one of the Draft Picks acquired in the Herschel Walker trade, and the 2nd Rounder from Arizona State wasted little time establishing himself as a force in the Cowboys Secondary.  A member of the All-Rookie Team, Woodson aided Dallas to a win in Super Bowl XXVII and subsequently Super Bowl XXVIII and in the…

There were many stars of the Chicago Bears throughout the 1980s and many were flashy and unforgettable.  Jay Hilgenberg was an unsung hero of that squad and an anchor of the Offensive Line.

Coming out of the University of Alabama, Shaun Alexander backed up Ricky Watters in his rookie season (2000), and after Watters' retirement, he would become the lead back for the Seattle Seahawks.  Alexander would go on to a five-year run where he exceeded over 1,000 Rushing Yards, but most importantly, would become a touchdown factory.  In 2001, he led the…