Sports stars may wreck their careers in various ways, and it’s often heartbreaking to witness their self-destruction. From the NFL to Australian rugby, this is the situation worldwide.
Here are ten of the most well-known examples of athletes who managed to derail their careers completely.
1. Aaron Hernandez (NFL)
Aaron Hernandez’s story is the most gruesome on this list.
The New England Patriots chose the tight end in the fourth round in 2010, and he went on to play three seasons for the team. In 2013, however, everything came crashing down when he was arrested and charged with murder.
Hernandez was found guilty of the murder of Odin Lloyd and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of release. He was also charged with a double homicide; however, he was acquitted in 2017.
On April 19, 2017, Hernandez’s narrative ended when he committed suicide in his prison cell.
2. Oscar Pistorius (athletics)
After being praised as an inspiration worldwide, Oscar Pistorius became a household figure in athletics.
He would become the first amputee to run in the Olympics after winning gold medals in the 2004 and 2008 Paralympics. His fall from grace, on the other hand, would be unexpected.
Pistorius was arrested in South Africa in 2013 after allegedly shooting his girlfriend. The judge disagreed with his assertion that he drilled her because he thought she was an intruder.
At first, he was given a common term, but it was later increased to 13 years in prison, making him eligible for release in 2023.
3. NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel is an example of what may happen when a player fails to take his sport seriously.
With the nickname “Johnny Football,” he was anticipated to make a significant impact in the NFL. During the 2014-15 season, he was a member of the Cleveland Browns, but he would never play in the NFL again.
What is Manziel’s issue? Personal self-discipline.
He had several black marks against his record when he concluded his collegiate career. He then had legal issues in 2015 and 2016, with a domestic violence incident in 2016 being the final straw for the Browns, who cut him after one season.
4. Ryan Lochte (swimming)
Ryan Lochte won several gold medals at the 2004 Olympics, 2008 Olympics, 2012 Olympics, and 2016 Olympics, establishing himself as one of swimming’s top stars.
However, during the Rio Olympics, everything came crumbling down when he claimed to have been robbed, which was untrue and resulted in a suspension.
Lochte’s career was harmed not just by the event in Brazil but also by a 14-month suspension in 2018 for obtaining a “prohibited intravenous infusion.”
Lochte had a wonderful career, but he could have accomplished even more if his bad behavior hadn’t caught up with him.
5. Tonya Harding – Figure Skating
Tonya Harding’s life has been full of twists and turns.
She was the subject of a Hollywood film titled I, Tonya.
She was the 1989 Skate America champion and the 1991 and 1994 US champions (although she was stripped of her 1994 title). She also competed in the Olympics on two occasions.
In 1994, controversy erupted when Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, insulted her primary opponent, Nancy Kerrigan. She was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct prosecution after a trial.
Therefore, the United States Figure Skating Association banned her for life, and she would never skate professionally again.
6. NBA’s Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom’s tale is well-known in the United States.
After being drafted in 1999, the New Yorker went on to play for the Clippers, Heat, Mavericks, and Clippers once more. He won the NBA Championship twice and married Khloé Kardashian during his career.
Throughout his career, Lamar Odom was constantly in problems.
He was most famous for being discovered unconscious in a Nevada brothel in 2015 after consuming cocaine and being put on life support before recovering.
He never returned to the NBA and confessed that his drug use was a factor in his career-ending sooner than it should have.
7. Ray Rice (NFL)
Ray Rice is without a doubt a legend among NFL fans, having spent five seasons with the Ravens and winning the Super Bowl in 2013.
Only Jamal Lewis has run for more yards with the Ravens than Rice, and if his career hadn’t ended prematurely, he might have challenged Lewis for the record.
Rice was arrested in 2014 after a video of him abusing his then-fiancée in a casino elevator surfaced. The NFL suspended him, and the Ravens released him, but he was later found guilty.
His suspension was reversed after he successfully appealed his conviction, but he never returned to the NFL.
8. NFL quarterback Michael Vick
Big things were expected of Michael Vick when he entered the NFL.
After leading his team to a succession of remarkable victories, he was drafted by the Falcons and signed a rich six-year deal to become their franchise quarterback, followed by a 10-year extension.
In 2004, things came to a head when a truck belonging to Vick was discovered with a considerable amount of marijuana he was not charged.
After that, he was sued for giving a woman an STD and then arrested involved in a dogfighting ring.
Vick was sentenced to prison and then returned to the NFL, but he never lived up to his full potential.
9. Paul Gascoigne (soccer)
When Paul Gascoigne – or “Gazza” as he was popularly called – first appeared on the soccer scene, he was a sensation.
He was regarded as one of the world’s most famous figures, with the ability to propel him to the top. He landed a big-money move to Italy after the 1990 World Cup, and everything seemed to be going well.
Unfortunately, by 1998, Gazza had hit “rock bottom” admitted to rehab for alcohol abuse.
Gazza’s mental health has been the subject of continual conjecture in the tabloids since then, prompting many to wonder what he may have accomplished if not for his well-publicized afflictions.
10. Rugby Israel Folau
Israel Folau is the last name on this list.
Folau is an Australian rugby player who is still recognized as one of the best of his generation. He has represented his country in both league and union, and he owns the Super Rugby record for most tries scored.
Folau is a sincere Christian, and his contract with Rugby Australia was terminated in 2019 due to his views on homosexuality.
Folau would sue and receive a settlement in December 2019, but it’s unlikely that his career would ever reach the same heights again.