A banner pictures former Olympic sprint champion and Hall of Fame wide receiver Bob Hayes at Raines High School before the Bob Hayes Invitational Track Meet on March 16, 2021. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Syndication: Florida Times-Union
(Paris, France) – As the 2024 Olympic games begin to take place, we took a look back at some of the best performances from NFL players on the Olympic stage.
“Bullet” Bob Hayes, best known for his blazing speed, has the distinction of being the only player with a gold medal and Super Bowl ring. Hayes won both the 100m and 4x100m relay for the United States in 1964 in Tokyo. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
Perhaps the greatest all-around athlete in the history of the United States, Jim Thorpe is also one of the most important figures in the history of the NFL. Thorpe won gold medals in both the pentathlon and decathlon of the 1912 Olympic games in Stockholm. He was one of the forefathers of the NFL and joins Hayes in the Hall of Fame.
Winning bronze in the 400m and silver in the 4x400m relay at the 1952 Olympics was Ollie Matson. The 5x All-Pro with the Cardinals finished his career with the second-most rushing yards ever, and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972.
Al Davis always had an eye for speed, so it’s no surprise that he wanted James Jett on his team after he watched him win gold with the United States 4x100m relay in Barcelona in 1992. Jett spent 10 seasons in the silver and black, leading the league in yards per reception in 1993.
Best known as the man who was traded to start the Cowboys’ dynasty, Herschel Walker was also recruited to push on the two-man bobsled team in the 1992 winter Olympics. While he didn’t find Olympic immortality like many others on this list, Walker had a successful career in both the USFL and NFL, rushing for over 8,000 yards and 61 touchdowns.
When Jim McMahon wanted to take a deep shot for the Bears in the ‘80s, odds are the ball was going to Willie Gault. Gault helped Chicago win their first Super Bowl on the legendary 1985 team, and also was a member of the 1980 U.S. team for the 4x100m relay and 110m hurdles, but boycotted the event. He overlapped with James Jett for a brief period with the Raiders in 1993.
Before he was a 5x Pro Bowler in Carolina, Michael Bates was a bronze medalist in the 200m at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Bates’ speed translated incredibly well to the return game as he was named a member of the 1990’s All-Decade team.
Though his NFL career was short, Tommie Smith might be the most significant figure in Olympic history. He won gold in the 200m at the 1968 Olympic games, breaking the world record in the process. He and U.S. teammate John Carlos, made a black-glove protest on the podium following their medal performances. The two were dismissed from the Olympic village following the protest.
The centerpiece on the defensive line of one of the league’s greatest dynasties, Michael Carter played nose tackle and won 3 Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers. Carter stayed in California for the 1984 Olympic games, winning a silver medal in shot put.
A gold medalist in the 4x100m in 1984, Ron Brown was also an All-Pro returner for the Rams in 1985. Brown played 8 years in the NFL as a return specialist.
