Following a period with the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers is set to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025. Primarily recognized for his 18-season career with the Green Bay Packers, where he earned four league MVP awards and won Super Bowl XLV, Rodgers is now joining his third team in four years.
However, the 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback is not the first legendary athlete to represent a team other than where they achieved stardom. This article examines other notable stars who left teams they had played for for a decade or longer.
NBA
Michael Jordan
When thinking of Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls are inseparable. MJ spent 16 seasons in the NBA, leading the Bulls to six NBA championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998). Widely considered the greatest NBA player ever, it seemed his entire career would be with the team that drafted him in 1984. But that wasn`t the case.
Jordan initially retired in October 1993 for a brief stint in minor league baseball. His break from basketball was short-lived, and he announced his return in March 1995 with a simple news release: `I`m back`. After more years of success with the Bulls, Jordan retired for a second time in January 1999.
Yet, Jordan couldn`t stay away from basketball entirely, joining the Washington Wizards` front office in January 2000. Management wasn`t enough, and he joined the Wizards as a player in September 2001. It felt strange seeing him in a Wizards jersey for two seasons. Jordan`s final NBA game was on April 16, 2003, playing for the Wizards.
Patrick Ewing
A pivotal figure for the New York Knicks throughout the 1980s and `90s, Ewing built his legacy in New York. He averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks with the Knicks. Despite missing the 1999 Finals due to injury, Ewing and the Knicks pushed the Houston Rockets to seven games in the 1994 Finals before losing.
He departed after 15 seasons and 11 NBA All-Star selections with New York. He requested a trade, and the franchise accommodated, sending him to the Seattle SuperSonics. He played one season in Seattle, then suited up for the Orlando Magic for another year before retiring in 2002.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Following one dominant center, we look at another. Olajuwon`s career with the Houston Rockets spanned 17 seasons and included impressive accolades: 12 All-Star and All-NBA selections, two NBA championships, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and one MVP. Olajuwon and Houston secured back-to-back titles in the mid-1990s, making them the sixth NBA franchise to achieve this feat at the time.
However, all good things conclude. The Rockets traded Olajuwon to the Toronto Raptors before the 2001 season, where he spent a single year before retiring.
Tony Parker
One of the finest point guards in NBA history, Parker was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 2001 and quickly made a significant impact. The six-time All-Star was a crucial part of one of the best `Big Threes` ever, alongside Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, under the guidance of legendary coach Gregg Popovich.
Parker played 17 seasons with the Spurs, winning four NBA championships in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. He surprised many when he left the Spurs – Duncan and Ginobili never played for another team before retiring – signing a two-year contract with the Charlotte Hornets before the 2018-19 season. However, he retired after just one season there in July 2019.
Klay Thompson
One half of the Splash Brothers for the first 13 seasons of his NBA career, Thompson joined the Dallas Mavericks via a sign-and-trade in the summer of 2024, ending his long partnership with fellow star guard Stephen Curry. Drafted 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2011, Thompson was instrumental in the franchise`s resurgence, contributing to four championships.
Thompson`s next team also featured significant star power – he joined Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas, the reigning Western Conference champions.
Honorable Mentions:
- Karl Malone: Spent his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04) after playing his first 18 years with the Utah Jazz (1985-2003).
- Paul Pierce: Played his first 15 years with the Boston Celtics (1998-2013) before single seasons with the Brooklyn Nets (2013-14) and Washington Wizards (2014-16), and two seasons with the LA Clippers (2015-17). He signed a ceremonial contract with the Celtics in July 2017 to retire with the team.
- Dwyane Wade: Played his first 13 seasons with the Miami Heat before spending a season with the Chicago Bulls (2016-17) and Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18). Wade returned to Miami mid-season in 2018-19 before retiring in April 2019.
- Damian Lillard: Spent his first 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2023-24 season.
NFL
Tom Brady
Twenty years is a remarkable commitment. Just ask Tom Brady, who was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2000 and spent two decades with the team.
But in March 2020, TB12 shocked the sports world by announcing it was time for a new chapter. The then-42-year-old, arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, confirmed on social media that he had signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Witnessing the six-time Super Bowl champion play somewhere other than Gillette Stadium felt undeniably strange. Equally unusual was watching him hoist the Lombardi Trophy for a different franchise after winning his seventh Super Bowl ring at the end of his first playoff run with the Bucs.
After two seasons in Tampa Bay, Brady announced his retirement, though the surprise of his New England departure never truly faded.
Brett Favre
When thinking of Brett Favre, the Green Bay Packers likely come to mind. The Hall of Fame quarterback spent 20 seasons in the NFL. Although he retired in 2010, he still holds numerous NFL records, including most consecutive starts by a player. Favre played for the Packers from 1992 to 2007, a significant 16 seasons where he was the face of the franchise, leading them to a title by winning Super Bowl XXXI.
In March 2008, he announced his retirement… until he changed his mind. The Packers made the unusual move of trading him to the Jets in August 2008. He played one season in New York before signing with the Minnesota Vikings – a rival of the Packers. A curious turn of events! He played in the 2009-10 season, and after getting injured during the 2010-11 season, he retired for good in January 2011.
Joe Montana
It seems almost unbelievable that Joe Montana played for a team other than the San Francisco 49ers. Montana secured four Super Bowls (XVI, XIX, XXIII, and XXIV) with the Niners, the team he played with for 14 seasons after being drafted in 1979. Yet, Joe Cool`s NFL career spanned 16 seasons.
The eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback was sidelined by injury late in his career, missing the 1991-92 season and most of the 1992-93 season. By the time Montana was healthy, Steve Young had established himself in San Francisco. Before the 1993-94 season, the 49ers traded Montana to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he concluded his career after two average seasons. Montana retired in April 1995 and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Honorable Mentions:
- Russell Wilson: The Seattle Seahawks traded the QB who led their franchise to its only Super Bowl title. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Wilson, who spent 10 seasons with the Seahawks, became the first quarterback to start for a team he had previously beaten in a Super Bowl (Super Bowl XLVIII).
- Peyton Manning: Played four seasons with the Broncos after being cut by the Colts, and won Super Bowl 50 in his final season.
- Johnny Unitas: Played four games with the Chargers after 17 seasons with the Baltimore Colts.
- Emmitt Smith: After 13 years with the Cowboys, he spent two seasons with the Cardinals, scoring 11 touchdowns in 25 games.
- Jerry Rice: After 16 years with the 49ers, Rice spent 3½ seasons with the Raiders and part of his final season with the Seahawks. He recorded 1,211 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his age-40 season.
MLB
Hank Aaron
Arguably one of the greatest sluggers in baseball history, Hank Aaron spent 21 seasons with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, starting in 1954. The 25-time All-Star and 1957 World Series champion also holds the second-most career home runs with 755. In 1975, Aaron left the Braves for the Milwaukee Brewers, where he played two seasons at age 41. He later returned to Atlanta, joining the Braves organization as an executive in 1976.
Willie Mays
Willie Mays, considered among the greatest baseball players ever, had a celebrated 22-year career. He remains strongly associated with the New York Giants, the team where his MLB journey began in 1951. When the Giants relocated to San Francisco after the 1957 season, Mays moved with them, continuing to play with brilliance.
He spent a remarkable 21 seasons with the Giants, helping the team win the World Series in 1954. In May 1972, at age 41, Mays was traded back to New York to play for the Mets. He had a single, less impactful season there before retiring.
Honorable Mentions:
- Yogi Berra: Released by the Yankees after an 18-year career. Took a season off, then played four games with the Mets.
- Harmon Killebrew: After 21 seasons with the Twins, he played 106 games with the Royals, hitting only .199.
- John Smoltz: Split his final season between the Red Sox and Cardinals after a 20-year career with the Braves.
NHL
Martin Brodeur
Martin Brodeur won three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils and serves as the team`s executive vice president of business development. However, Brodeur and the Devils didn`t spend his entire playing career together.
Brodeur, a 10-time All-Star and one of the NHL`s greatest goaltenders, began his career in 1991. There was speculation about his retirement in the 2012 offseason, but he signed another contract with the Devils. After two less successful seasons, Brodeur became a free agent and signed with the St. Louis Blues in December 2014. In January 2015, Brodeur retired, having appeared in just seven games for the Blues.
Bobby Orr
One of the greatest hockey players of all time, Bobby Orr was essentially royalty in Boston during his decade there. The defenseman joined the Boston Bruins, a team that had struggled for years, in 1966. Orr transformed their fortunes, helping the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972.
Orr missed most of the 1975-76 season due to injury. His agent convinced him to sign as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks. Orr played only 20 games in the 1976-77 season, missed the 1977-78 season entirely, and attempted a comeback in the 1978-79 season. He skated in just six games before retiring at age 30 in 1978.
Honorable Mentions:
- Mike Modano: Spent 20 seasons with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars, then played four games with the Detroit Red Wings in his final season.
- Bernie Federko: Played 13 seasons with the Blues, and played 13 games with the Red Wings in his final season.
WNBA
Candace Parker
In 2021, Candace Parker surprised the basketball world by leaving the Los Angeles Sparks – the franchise that drafted her – after 13 seasons to play for her hometown team, the Chicago Sky. At the time, it was arguably the biggest move in the WNBA`s history, facilitated by a new collective bargaining agreement promoting player movement. Parker, a two-time WNBA MVP and two-time league champion, shocked fans again in January 2023 when she announced she would end her homecoming to sign with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
Soccer
Pelé
One of the greatest soccer players ever, the Brazilian footballer made his debut for Santos FC in 1956. Besides playing for Brazil`s national team – leading Brazil to three FIFA World Cups – he also helped Santos win the 1962 and 1963 Copa Libertadores. After 19 seasons with Santos, Pelé retired in 1974.
Two years later, he made a comeback to soccer, signing with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League before the start of the 1975 season. The legend eventually retired in October 1977 after an exhibition match between the Cosmos and Santos, fittingly.
John Terry
The English footballer is remembered primarily as the captain of Chelsea, playing for the team from 1998 to 2017. John Terry, who played as a center back, led Chelsea to five Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, and one UEFA Champions League title.
In 2017, Terry spent one season with Aston Villa, leaving the team in May 2018 after the club failed to secure promotion to the Premier League. Terry returned a few months later to become Aston Villa`s assistant head coach.
Steven Gerrard
Considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Steven Gerrard joined Liverpool in 1998 and remained with the team until 2015. Despite winning two FA Cups, three League Cups, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Cup, he never won the Premier League with Liverpool.
Nevertheless, he remains a legend. Gerrard then moved across the Atlantic, joining Major League Soccer by signing a contract with the LA Galaxy in January 2015. In November 2016, after 13 appearances with the Galaxy, Gerrard retired at age 36.
Duncan Priestley 
Gareth Tenby