Superstars who played football: photos
Goldberg set out on a quest to become a Superstar after injuries prevented him from the NFL career he wanted.
The former defensive tackle defeated Hugh Morrus in his WCW debut, which was the start of a 173-match winning streak.
Bringing the same intensity to the ring as on the football field, Goldberg quickly became the WCW World Champion.
Ron Simmons had a stellar career at Florida State University, earning himself a place in the College Football Hall of Fame. The defensive tackle was drafted in 1981 by the Cleveland Browns and also played for several USFL teams.
The WWE Hall of Famer joined forces with another gridiron competitor, Bradshaw, to form the APA.
The APA went on to steamroll their way to the World Tag Team Titles.
Bradshaw, an offensive lineman at Abilene Christian University and the Los Angeles Raiders, later embraced his inner tycoon, becoming the nefarious JBL.
JBL went on to hold the WWE, United States and Intercontinental Championships.
Though he was undersized for a linebacker, Brian Pillman's determination earned him a spot on the 1984 roster of his hometown Cincinnati Bengals.
He later helped innovate what would become the cruiserweight style of wrestling in the United States.
Steve "Mongo" McMichael was a member of the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears.
Here, "Mongo" takes on Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White at Slamboree 1997.
