SECOND ACTS
By Charles Apple
The Spokesman-Review
While the rest of the world was busy dealing with the coronavirus, Tom Brady shook up the NFL by leaving New England — his home for the past 20 years — for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But Brady won’t be the first professional player to change teams near the end of his career:
Yogi Berra
BEFORE: Won 13 World Series and three AL MVP awards over 18 seasons with the Yankees.
AFTER: One season as a player/ coach for the Mets, then 11 seasons as a Mets’ coach and manager.
Jim Taylor
BEFORE: Nine seasons, a Super Bowl ring and an NFL MVP trophy with the Packers.
AFTER: Selected by the Saints in the NFL expansion draft but played only one season.
Willie Mays
BEFORE: Won a World Series and two NL MVP awards over 21 seasons with the Giants in New York and San Francisco.
AFTER: Played a season and a half with the Mets.
Johnny Unitas
BEFORE: 17 seasons and 3 NFL MVP trophies with the Baltimore Colts.
AFTER: Started five games for the Chargers — all losses — then was replaced by Dan Fouts.
Hank Aaron
BEFORE: Won a World Series, and one NL MVP award over 21 seasons with the Braves in Milwaukee and Atlanta.
AFTER: Spent two seasons with the Brewers.
Joe Namath
BEFORE: Became a pop culture icon over 12 seasons and one Super Bowl win with the Jets.
AFTER:Namath moved to L.A. but his knees didn’t. He played in only 4 games with the Rams.
O.J. Simpson
BEFORE: Nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills, five Pro Bowl appearances and a handful of NFL rushing records.
AFTER: Two lackluster seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
Dave Cowens
BEFORE: Two NBA titles and an NBA MVP trophy over 10 seasons with the Boston Celtics.
AFTER: Played just 40 games over one season with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Franco Harris
BEFORE: Four Super Bowl wins over 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
AFTER: One season with the Seattle Seahawks in which he appeared in only 8 games.
Tony Dorsett
BEFORE: 11 seasons and four Pro Bowl appearances with the Dallas Cowboys.
AFTER: One decent season with the Denver Broncos before he retired after a knee injury.
Joe Montana
BEFORE: Six Super Bowl rings over 14 seasons with the 49ers.
AFTER: Two seasons in Kansas City — and narrowly missing leading the Chiefs to the Super Bowl in 1993.
Patrick Ewing
BEFORE: Spent 15 with the Knicks and appeared in the NBA All-Star game 11 times.
AFTER: One season with the SuperSonics and one on the bench with the Magic.
Michael Jordan
BEFORE: Won 6 NBA titles and 5 NBA MVP trophies over 13 seasons with the Chicago Bulls.
AFTER: Retired yet again after two seasons for the Wizards and bought a stake in another NBA team.
Hakeem Olajuwon
BEFORE: 17 seasons and two NBA titles and two NBA Finals MVP awards with the Rockets.
AFTER: Averaged career lows in one season with the Toronto Raptors.
Emmitt Smith
BEFORE: Three Super Bowl rings and an NFL MVP trophy over 13 seasons with the Cowboys.
AFTER: Started in just 20 games over two seasons for the Cardinals.
Karl Malone
BEFORE: Earned two NBA MVP trophies over 18 seasons with the Utah Jazz.
AFTER: Moved to the Lakers in hope of an NBA title but blew out his knee and missed 39 games.
Jerry Rice
BEFORE: Three Super Bowl rings over 19 seasons with the 49ers and Raiders.
AFTER: Was traded to the Seahawks six games into the 2004 season, then retired.
Frank Thomas
BEFORE: Won two AL MVP awards over 16 seasons with the Chicago White Sox.
AFTER: Spent three seasons with the A’s, the Blue Jays and the A’s again.
Sammy Sosa
BEFORE: Won an NL MVP award over 13 seasons with the Chicago Cubs.
AFTER: One season with the Orioles, a year off and then one season with the Texas Rangers.
Brett Favre
BEFORE: 16 seasons and a Super Bowl win with the Green Bay Packers.
AFTER:One season with the Jets and two with the Vikings. Suffered a concussion in his final game in 2010.
Shaquille O’Neal
BEFORE: Four NBA titles and one MVP trophy over 19 seasons with the Magic, Lakers, Heat, Suns and Cavaliers.
AFTER: Spent one injury-plagued season with the Boston Celtics.
Donovan McNabb
BEFORE: Eight playoff appearances over 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.
AFTER: One dismal season with the Redskins and another with the Minnesota Vikings.
Peyton Manning
BEFORE: Two AFC championships and one Super Bowl win in 14 seasons with Indianapolis.
AFTER: Four seasons in Denver and another Super Bowl win.
Tom Brady
BEFORE: Six Super Bowl rings in 20 seasons with the Patriots.
AFTER: Hey — Sounds like a win to us.