How many athletes stayed elite until they retired?

[iwannabeadored]

How many atheletes never had a drop off, stayed in their prime or near elite their entire career?


1. Tom Brady- 23 years elite, could have kept playing.
2. Michael Jordan
3. Michael Phelps?

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

Barry Sanders retired near the prime of his career and was still one of the best RB in the league when that happened

GSP retired as a MW champion

 

[iwannabeadored]

Barry Sanders retired near the prime of his career and was still one of the best RB in the league when that happened

GSP retired as a MW champion

Both great examples. Barry retired super young but valid

 

[Rawex]

Does Gretzky count? 62 points in 70 games in his last season. Most points among Rangers players that season.
Granted Rangers didnt make playoffs.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Some obvious ones off the top of my head:

Aleksandr Karelin
Marvin Hagler
Rocky Marciano
Andre Ward
Floyd Mayweather
Dominik Hasek
Ken Dryden
Bjorn Borg
Steffi Graf
Ash Barty
Georges St. Pierre
Khabib Nurmagomedov

 

[fica]

Team sports should not be in thos. But phelps djokovic

 

[Fedorgasm]

Kobe scored 60 in his final game.

Peyton Manning won a Superbowl in his final game.

Just don't read up on any context for either of those.

 

[Fedorgasm]

Calvin Johnson too, although he was like Barry Sanders. Just retired relatively young rather than keep playing for the Lions.

 

[Batjester]

Ray Bourque. Won the Stanley Cup in his last game.

 

[Elvis.]

Gsp got the hell out of there before he declined

 

[Croaker]

Brady was not elite and neither was Jordan when they retired lmao

Both clearly declined

 

[Sweater of AV]

Team sports should not be in thos. But phelps djokovic

Novak isn't retired.

 

[iwannabeadored]

Brady was not elite and neither was Jordan when they retired lmao

Both clearly declined

False. Brady still threw 25 with 9 picks. 90.7 rating, that’s elite.

His team was injured and he went through a divorce. Physically still throwing the ball at a high level unlike Peyton manning who clearly had no arm anymore.

 

[iwannabeadored]

Brady was not elite and neither was Jordan when they retired lmao

Both clearly declined

I guess I’m also talking bulls Jordan not wizards Jordan

 

[Croaker]

False. Brady still threw 25 with 9 picks. 90.7 rating, that’s elite.

His team was injured and he went through a divorce. Physically still throwing the ball at a high level unlike Peyton manning who clearly had no arm anymore.

Cope post

It was Burrow, Allen, and Mahomes with everyone else being mid.

 

[iwannabeadored]

Cope post

It was Burrow, Allen, and Mahomes with everyone else being mid.

Lol ok guy. You hate Tom I get it

 

[Prutfis]

Phil Taylor. WC final as last game.

 

[haysus31]

Payton Manning's injuries caught up to him that last year. Luckily that defense carried them to the super bowl. Von Miller was the game MVP that superbowl. Payton was able to retire and go out on top. Something rare

 

[ferrisjso]

Foreman stayed elite for 30 years.

 

[ferrisjso]

Calvin Johnson too, although he was like Barry Sanders. Just retired relatively young rather than keep playing for the Lions.

Megatron was done regardless. He said he was going to retire after year 8 but his father talked him into playing one more year.