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There's one thing every athlete begrudgingly learns: Father Time is undefeated. It's hard to see your favorite superstar lose a step and become a mere mortal, but these athletes risked tarnishing their legacy for the game they love.
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An argument can be made that Kobe Bryant should have called it quits after blowing out his Achilles against the Warriors in 2013. Yet, the Black Mamba, 37, continues to shoot like he's the best player in the league. Unfortunately for the Lakers, those shots seem to be air balls more times than not.
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Michael Jordan retired three times in his career, but only one was overdue. Jordan's final years with the Wizards show just how talented he was. MJ was clearly never the same player in Washington, but Air Jordan was still averaging 20+ points per game. Jordan certainly didn't help his legacy. MJ's final years are what the Lakers wished Kobe's would be.
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Peyton Manning was one of the smartest and most physically gifted quarterbacks in NFL history. While his football IQ hasn't failed him, his body has. Since Manning underwent neck surgery, he has been throwing ducks for the Denver Broncos. This year, a foot injury has sidelined Manning, while his backup, Brock Osweiler, rights the ship.
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It's widely accepted that Muhammad Ali is the greatest boxer ever. But even the best can hang around too long. Ali's skills started to diminish in 1977, but he continued to try to sting like a bee until his final fight in 1980. Ali's career record was 56-5, with three of those losses coming in his final four bouts.
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Brett Favre's will-he-or-won't-he-retire question gave the NFL an overused talking point for multiple offseasons. Favre peaked as a Packer, but he refused to give up the game he loved. Favre finished his record-breaking career playing for the Jets and the Packers hated rival Minnesota Vikings.
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Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of the generation, but injuries have thwarted his chance at winning the most majors ever. Now, with a back injury that just won't get any better, it's time for Tiger to retire and preserve his legacy.
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Shaquille O'Neal was a dominant force in the paint for over a decade, but his body quickly broke down on him. The four-time NBA MVP finished his career as an afterthought on the Suns, Cavaliers and Celtics.
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Jerry Rice is arguably the greatest receiver ever, but even he couldn't overcome Father Time. After being at the top of his game with the 49ers and Raiders (for the most part), he finished his career in Seattle and retired during the Broncos training camp to avoid being cut.
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Despite the rumors of PED use, Barry Bonds made baseball interesting to watch again. He was such a feared hitter that teams would intentionally walk him with the bases loaded! But rumors of drug use finally caught up with him; following the 2007 season, Bonds was on the free-agent market with nary an offer. By 2009, Bonds had given up his attempt on returning to the MLB.
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The Say Hey Kid is still one of the best baseball players ever, but even Willie Mays stuck around the diamond too long. In his prime, Mays was a joy to watch play baseball, but his skills diminished with age. Mays ended his career with some forgettable seasons with the Mets.
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Even the best soccer players lose their touch. Pele initially retired in 1972, only to return to the game three years later to help boost the popularity of soccer in the United States.
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Roger Clemens collected his 350th career win in his last year with the Yankees, but that was one of the few highlights from his final season. The Rocket pitched professionally until he was 45, but he should've retired after winning his seventh Cy Young Award.
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In his prime, Allen Iverson was a dynamic scorer, who could even crossover the greatest in Michael Jordan. But after a decade-long tenure with the 76ers, AI should have called it quits. When Iverson couldn't find another NBA team to sign with, he decided to play in the Turkish Basketball League.
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Despite having his ear bitten off by Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield's career spanned a ridiculous 57 professional fights from 1984 to 2011. Holyfield could have easily ended his career after being defeated by Lennox Lewis in 1999, or, you know, after being eaten by another man.
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Deion Sanders was a sight to see in the NFL. He was one of the first shutdown corners ever. Prime Time retired in 2000 because of a toe injury, only to return to the Ravens at 37. Hopefully Sanders's fans remember him high-stepping into the end zone as a Cowboy or Niner, and not his lackluster return as a Raven.
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Gary Payton was known for his stellar defense while playing for the now-defunct SuperSonics. But unfortunately, the Glove got worn down over time. After leaving Seattle, Payton was a hired mercenary looking for a championship ring, which he finally got in a reserve role with the Miami Heat.
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Karl Malone, like Payton, went searching for a title after his amazing Utah Jazz run ended in 2003. The Mailman finished his career with the Lakers, while dealing with a multitude of injuries.
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George Foreman might have won the Heavyweight title at 45, but he had no business being in the ring after a 10-year hiatus from boxing.
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Known as "Mr. Hockey," Gordie Howe played the sport from 1946 to 1980. In 1997, Howe, 70, returned to the rink on a one-game contract to play in his sixth decade.
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Ask Rickey Henderson and he'll tell you he could still play baseball today. Henderson's game was based heavily on his speed, and when that left him, so did the offers. Henderson finished his Hall of Fame career playing on the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League, until the Dodgers signed him for one last hurrah.
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Everyone remembers how good Patrick Ewing was with the New York Knicks, but don't forget about his two-year stint with the Seattle SuperSonics, after his knees were already shot.
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Emmitt Smith became the NFL's all-time leading rusher while playing thirteen seasons with the Cowboys. After the 'Boys moved on, Smith finished his Hall of Fame career in the desert in Arizona.
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LaDainian Tomlinson is the best running back in the Chargers' franchise history, but the team moved on from him after the 2009 season. LT joined the Jets via free agency, and was relegated to back-up duty. It was quite the fall from grace for the former dynamic running back.
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Back when he played, Dikembe Mutombo made it fun to wag his finger after blocking shots left and right. Players who are Mutombo's size don't always have the longest careers, and he proved that with his final six seasons split between the Knicks and Rockets.
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Junior Seau should have retired after his illustrious career with the San Diego Chargers. After Seau departed San Diego, he spent the next seven seasons with the Dolphins and Patriots. The star linebacker played until he was 40.
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Hakeem Olajuwon tried keeping the dream alive a little too long. After Olajuwon won two championships with the Rockets, he was shipped to the Toronto Raptors as his career dwindled down.
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Before needing a kidney transplant, Alonzo Mourning was a defensive stalwart and an NBA All-Star with the Miami Heat. Zo started to break down physically in 2001, but continued to play for another seven seasons.
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Roy Jones Jr. was one of the most fun boxers to watch ... in the '90s. Now, Jones Jr. is still fighting at the tender age of 46, which is way too long for any boxer.
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Old-school football fans will remember Johnny Unitas in the "Greatest Game Ever Played" in 1958, but after 1971 his skills started to diminish. The greatest QB of his generation left the Colts for one final year in San Diego with the Chargers in 1973.
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Omar Vizquel was a defensive wiz on the diamond because of his range and speed. Vizquel played through four decades and six teams in his career. At the time of his retirement, Vizquel was the oldest active player in the majors, and not very good, either.
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Chuck Lidell helped popularize MMA fighting, especially in the UFC, but a fighter's skills can dissipate quickly. The Ice Man finished his UFC career losing five of his last six fights.
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Julio Franco made his major league debut in 1982, and he's still playing professionally today at 57 years young. Franco hasn't appeared in an MLB game since 2007, but he's currently the player-manager of the Ishikawa Million Stars of the Baseball Challenge League.
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