Fansided

Top 10 NFL players that retired too soon

By FanSided Staff

October 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Patrick Willis (52) during player introductions before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi
October 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Patrick Willis (52) during player introductions before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi /
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9. Ricky Williams

Ricky Williams NFL career can be thought of as somewhat of a rollercoaster ride. Entering the NFL he was widely known as one of the best athletes to come out of the 1999 NFL draft (Williams also played minor league baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system). But unfortunately he had to retire way too soon with potential left unfilled. Of course this is by no means in reference to Ricky Williams second retirement in 2011. But his first in 2004 following a series of negative drug tests with the Miami Dolphins.

In college, Williams was one of the most dominate running backs in Texas Longhorn history. He ended his four year college career with 6,279 rushing yards the most all-time from any running back in Longhorn history. Which is pretty impressive considering Cedric Benson, Earl Campbell, and Jamal Charles all attended Texas.

After his senior season, Williams declared for the NFL draft where he was selected by the New Orleans Saints. He was so well regarded amongst pro coaches that the Saints traded all of the Saints 1999 draft picks to the Washington Redskins to get Williams. And for the first couple years, Williams lived up to the hype. His best seasons came in 2002 after he was sent to the Miami Dolphins. He rushed for 1,853 yards and 16 touchdowns.

However, after the 2003 season, Williams ran into some trouble. He failed a drug test, then failed another, and after finally failing a third drug test, Williams announced he was retiring from professional football in July of 2004. His drug problem and subsequent early retirement was one of the most disappointing things for Dolphins fans. Williams was beginning to prove that when healthy and on the right team, he could be one of the best backs in the NFL.

Williams did make his return to the NFL in 2006. But he was never the same player. He was much skinnier, not as explosive, and just had an overall sense of decline that he carried with him when he rejoined the Dolphins. He did have one semi-successful season in 2009 where he rushed for 1,121 yards and 11 touchdowns. But ultimately Williams’s legacy in the NFL will forever be tainted with the early retirement in 2004 and unfilled potential for the Dolphins.

Next: 8. Earl Campbell

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