Who would've thought a scrawny kid picked 199th in the 2000 NFL Draft would become the greatest quarterback of all time? Tom Brady's journey is the stuff of legends. Overlooked by every team multiple times, he seized his chance when Drew Bledsoe got injured in 2001.
Fast-forward two decades, and Brady has seven Super Bowl rings, more than any single NFL franchise. His work ethic, mental toughness, and ability to perform under pressure have made him the ultimate underdog-turned-GOAT. Love him or hate him, Brady's story proves that sometimes the biggest talents come in the most unexpected packages.
Standing at just 6 feet tall, Drew Brees was constantly told he was too short to play quarterback in the NFL. But what he lacked in height, he made up for in heart and accuracy. Drafted by the Chargers, Brees overcame a career-threatening shoulder injury to become the savior of New Orleans.
He led the Saints to their first-ever Super Bowl win in 2010, becoming a symbol of the city's post-Katrina resilience. Brees retired as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards and completions. He really made all the naysayers eat their words.
Talk about a career pivot. Antonio Gates went from dominating on the basketball court to terrorizing defenses on the football field. Despite never playing college football, Gates signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003. His exceptional athleticism and basketball skills translated perfectly to the tight-end position.
Gates became Philip Rivers' go-to target, racking up eight Pro Bowl selections and setting the record for most touchdown receptions by a tight end. His success paved the way for other basketball players to transition to the NFL, changing the tight-end position forever.
John Elway's road to NFL stardom wasn't as straightforward as you might think. Sure, he was the first overall pick in 1983, but he initially refused to play for the team that drafted him (the Colts). His baseball skills gave him leverage, and he forced a trade to Denver. The Broncos took a gamble on the stubborn young quarterback, and it paid off big time.
Elway's rocket arm and clutch performances led Denver to five Super Bowl appearances. After years of heartbreak, he capped off his career with back-to-back championships, cementing his legacy as one of the all-time greats.
Kurt Warner's path to NFL stardom reads like a Hollywood script. Undrafted out of college, he stocked shelves at a grocery store for $5.50 an hour while chasing his football dreams. Warner honed his skills in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe before finally getting his shot with the Rams in 1999.
When starting QB Trent Green went down with an injury, Warner stepped in and lit up the league. He led "The Greatest Show on Turf" to a Super Bowl victory that same year, winning MVP honors. Warner's rags-to-riches story continued with a late-career resurgence in Arizona, showing that sometimes the most unlikely heroes make the best legends.
Shannon Sharpe talked a big game, but he backed it up on the field even bigger. Drafted in the seventh round out of tiny Savannah State, Sharpe was initially seen as too small for tight end and too slow for wide receiver. But what he lacked in prototypical size, he made up for with unmatched work ethic and football IQ.
Sharpe revolutionized the tight end position, becoming a crucial weapon in Denver's offense. He won three Super Bowls (two with Denver, one with Baltimore) and retired as the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns by a tight end. Not bad for a seventh-round "tweener."
Okay, hear me out. Michael Jordan as an underdog? It might sound crazy, but MJ's path wasn't always smooth sailing. Sure, he was picked third overall in 1984, but remember—two teams passed on him. Jordan used every slight, real or imagined, as fuel to become the most dominant force in NBA history.
He overcame early playoff struggles, a stint in minor league baseball, and countless challengers to his throne. Six championships, five MVPs, and a cultural impact that transcended sports—Jordan's competitiveness and will to win turned him from a talented prospect into the undisputed GOAT of basketball. Sometimes, even the greats start as underdogs in their own minds.
