If I’d have told you Philip Rivers was on an NFL team and Matthew Stafford was leading the MVP conversation, you’d think we were back in the 2010s. But alas, that’s where we’re at in 2025, and it’s got us contemplating which other recently retired NFL greats could still make a difference.
Tom Brady is the most glaring example, not only for his ability but also his maniacal football obsession that led to him unretiring before. Rob Gronkowski has to be included as well because he’s essentially made himself a package deal with Brady, and also three tight end sets are becoming in vogue again thanks to Sean McVay.
So including those two New England Patriots legends, here are eight players who should consider dusting off the cleats.
Tom Brady
The case is simple: insert Brady for C.J. Stroud, Bo Nix, Jalen Hurts or Sam Darnold, and any of those teams would be the Super Bowl favorite. Brady showed in his early years he can win championships playing complementary football with a strong defense. And if he can do that again at nearly 50, I can’t think of a better way to stick it to Patrick Mahomes.
Aaron Donald
Jared Verse, the Los Angeles Rams’ reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, says Donald put him through the “hardest workout I’ve ever done” over the offseason. For Donald, it was just a day that ends in Y. Donald made the Pro Bowl each of his 10 NFL seasons and showed no signs of slowing down before his retirement at age 32. If he returned to the Rams for the playoffs, you might as well hand them the Lombardi Trophy now.
Rob Gronkowski
While he certainly wouldn’t be an every-down player considering he’s 36 and has a lengthy injury history, Gronkowski is still as fearsome as they come in the red zone. His blocking and 6-foot-6 frame could turn three points into six more often than not for a team like the Green Bay Packers, which lost rising star Tucker Kraft to a torn ACL.
Devin Hester
The NFL’s new kickoff rules — which are completely understandable and not at all confusing or unnecessarily convoluted — have led to a dramatic increase in returns. Devin Hester is the greatest returner of all time with 20 such touchdowns over his Hall of Fame career. Need I say more?
Luke Kuechly
The lifeblood of the Carolina Panthers’ defense in the Ron Rivera era, Kuechly retired after the 2019 season at age 28 over health concerns. While those physical concerns may remain, what he brings to the game from a mental perspective is still invaluable. It’d be like having another coach on the field even if he’s just a part-time player.
Marshawn Lynch
When the game’s on the line, sometimes you just need to run through a [expletive] face. That’s Marshawn Lynch’s specialty. Kareem Hunt is a short-yardage merchant for the Kansas City Chiefs, so why can’t Beast Mode be that for another team?
Zack Martin
A seven-time All-Pro, Zack Martin helped define an Ezekiel Elliott-led ground-and-pound era of Dallas Cowboys football. Martin retired after playing only 10 games last season, and with Dallas’ playoff hopes dimming, Jerry Jones has to be thinking how much he has left in the tank.
Patrick Peterson
Cornerbacks notoriously age faster than most positions, but this is Patrick Peterson we’re taking about here. The eight-time Pro Bowler was an extraordinary athlete in his prime, and even as he lost a step he was still useful, notching two interceptions and 11 passes defensed over 16 starts for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023. Gone are the days of leaving Peterson on an island in man coverage, but he’s a savvy enough veteran to bait young quarterbacks in zone.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 8 NFL players who should unretire like Philip Rivers
