20 Young Athletes Who Retired Way Before They Should Have

20 Young Athletes Who Retired Way Before They Should Have

By Connor Muldowney

July 24, 2014

Athletes Who Retired Too Soon

Barry Sanders — Sometimes athletes take the world by storm and they are gone just as fast as they broke onto the scene. Athletes retire young for many reasons. Some retire due to injuries and some lose their love for the game they play.

Let's take a look at 20 athletes who had retired far too soon.

Sometimes athletes take the world by storm and they are gone just as fast as they broke onto the scene. Athletes retire young for many reasons. Some retire due to injuries and some lose their love for the game they play.

Let's take a look at 20 athletes who had retired far too soon.

Brandon Roy

Brandon Roy

Brandon Roy

Brandon Roy — Brandon Roy abruptly retired at the age of 27 when he realized that his knees were not getting any better and if he kept playing, they would cause damage further down the line. He did come back, but not impressively. He averaged 18.8 points per game in his career.

Brandon Roy abruptly retired at the age of 27 when he realized that his knees were not getting any better and if he kept playing, they would cause damage further down the line. He did come back, but not impressively. He averaged 18.8 points per game in his career.

Jim Brown

Jim Brown

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Jim Brown

Jim Brown — Jim Brown is one of the best running backs of all time, but not many people realize that he played just nine seasons in the NFL. He retired as the NFL's all-time leading rusher, but is now ninth on the list.

Jim Brown is one of the best running backs of all time, but not many people realize that he played just nine seasons in the NFL. He retired as the NFL's all-time leading rusher, but is now ninth on the list.

Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett — Although 36 years old isn't exactly young, Kirby Puckett was forced to retire early after being diagnosed with glaucoma. What was even harder for the legendary slugger to swallow was the fact that he was hitting a scorching .344 in spring training before he was diagnosed suddenly.

Although 36 years old isn't exactly young, Kirby Puckett was forced to retire early after being diagnosed with glaucoma. What was even harder for the legendary slugger to swallow was the fact that he was hitting a scorching .344 in spring training before he was diagnosed suddenly.

Mark Fidrych

Mark Fidrych

Mark Fidrych

Mark Fidrych — Mark Fidrych is one of the quirkiest players in MLB history, often known for talking to himself or to the baseball. He was one of the bright rising stars of baseball in the late 1970s, but injuries cut his career short. He finished with a 29-19 career record, 3.10 ERA, two All-Star selections and an AL Rookie of the Year Award.

Mark Fidrych is one of the quirkiest players in MLB history, often known for talking to himself or to the baseball. He was one of the bright rising stars of baseball in the late 1970s, but injuries cut his career short. He finished with a 29-19 career record, 3.10 ERA, two All-Star selections and an AL Rookie of the Year Award.

Yao Ming

Yao Ming

Yao Ming

Yao Ming — Yao Ming finished his career averaging 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Besides being one of the best big men in the league, he was one of the tallest big men of all time -- that led to many ankle and foot-related injuries that ended his career at age 30.

Yao Ming finished his career averaging 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Besides being one of the best big men in the league, he was one of the tallest big men of all time -- that led to many ankle and foot-related injuries that ended his career at age 30.

Bjorn Borg

Bjorn Borg

Bjorn Borg

Bjorn Borg — There's no telling how successful Borg might have been if he hadn't retired at the young age of 27, but winning six French Open titles and five Wimbledon titles isn't too shabby for a 10-year career.

There's no telling how successful Borg might have been if he hadn't retired at the young age of 27, but winning six French Open titles and five Wimbledon titles isn't too shabby for a 10-year career.

Michael Jordan (1993)

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan (1993)

Michael Jordan — While Jordan did end up coming back to lead the Bulls to three straight NBA titles from 1996-98, he retired for a short period of time from 1993-95. He was just 30 when he retired to pursue a career in baseball and he shocked the entire sports world.

While Jordan did end up coming back to lead the Bulls to three straight NBA titles from 1996-98, he retired for a short period of time from 1993-95. He was just 30 when he retired to pursue a career in baseball and he shocked the entire sports world.

Ken Dryden

Ken Dryden

Ken Dryden

Ken Dryden — Dryden is one of the best goaltenders of all time even though he played just over seven full seasons in the NHL. He had amassed 258 wins and just 57 losses in his career to go along with 46 shutouts. He retired at the age of 31 and remains one of the greatest to ever play his position.

Dryden is one of the best goaltenders of all time even though he played just over seven full seasons in the NHL. He had amassed 258 wins and just 57 losses in his career to go along with 46 shutouts. He retired at the age of 31 and remains one of the greatest to ever play his position.

Sidney Rice

Sidney Rice

Sidney Rice

Sidney Rice — While Sidney Rice wasn't exactly a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver for the Seahawks, he did rack up 1,300-plus yards in one season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2009, showing that he had a world full of potential. However, concussions caused him to play just two full seasons and he retired at the age of 27.

While Sidney Rice wasn't exactly a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver for the Seahawks, he did rack up 1,300-plus yards in one season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2009, showing that he had a world full of potential. However, concussions caused him to play just two full seasons and he retired at the age of 27.

Sandy Koufax

Sandy Koufax

Sandy Koufax

Sandy Koufax — Sandy Koufax will always be talked about as one of the best pitchers of all time, but imagine what kind of records he could have broken had he just stayed healthy. He was forced to retire at the age of 30 due to deteriorating physical health and ended his career with a 2.76 ERA, 2,396 strikeouts and a 165-87 career record.

Sandy Koufax will always be talked about as one of the best pitchers of all time, but imagine what kind of records he could have broken had he just stayed healthy. He was forced to retire at the age of 30 due to deteriorating physical health and ended his career with a 2.76 ERA, 2,396 strikeouts and a 165-87 career record.

Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson

Bo Jackson — Bo was one of the most intriguing athletes of all time and it was primarily due to his ability to excel in two sports professionally -- baseball and football. He suffered a serious leg injury during a routine tackle while playing running back for the Los Angeles Raiders. That ultimately led him to retire at the age of 28 with 2,782 career rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. He played baseball until the age of 32, hitting .250 with 141 homers.

Bo was one of the most intriguing athletes of all time and it was primarily due to his ability to excel in two sports professionally -- baseball and football. He suffered a serious leg injury during a routine tackle while playing running back for the Los Angeles Raiders. That ultimately led him to retire at the age of 28 with 2,782 career rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. He played baseball until the age of 32, hitting .250 with 141 homers.

Mark Prior

Mark Prior

Mark Prior

Mark Prior — Mark Prior burst onto the MLB scene at the age of 21 in 2002, recording 19 starts and going 6-6 with a 3.32 ERA. The next season, he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and things were looking up for the young stud's career. He was just 25 at the age of his last game and was forced to retire after multiple injury setbacks marred his career.

Mark Prior burst onto the MLB scene at the age of 21 in 2002, recording 19 starts and going 6-6 with a 3.32 ERA. The next season, he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and things were looking up for the young stud's career. He was just 25 at the age of his last game and was forced to retire after multiple injury setbacks marred his career.

Ricky Williams

Ricky Williams

Ricky Williams

Ricky Williams — Williams was one of the more exciting backs in the NFL in the early 2000s, but retired at the age of 27 after it was official that he had been suspended due to marijuana use. He then went to live in the wild -- weird, I know -- and said he doesn't regret his decision to retire early because it helped him find himself. He made a comeback, but he was never the same.

Williams was one of the more exciting backs in the NFL in the early 2000s, but retired at the age of 27 after it was official that he had been suspended due to marijuana use. He then went to live in the wild -- weird, I know -- and said he doesn't regret his decision to retire early because it helped him find himself. He made a comeback, but he was never the same.

Joel Zumaya

Joel Zumaya

Joel Zumaya

Joel Zumaya — If you don't remember Joel Zumaya, it was because the Tigers' reliever was basically just a flash in the pan. He burst onto the scene in 2006 with the eventual American League champion Detroit Tigers, recording a 1.94 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 83.1 innings. He was a flamethrower who could toss the ball up to 104 mph. However, that caused elbow issues and he was forced to call it a career, playing his last game at the age of 26.

If you don't remember Joel Zumaya, it was because the Tigers' reliever was basically just a flash in the pan. He burst onto the scene in 2006 with the eventual American League champion Detroit Tigers, recording a 1.94 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 83.1 innings. He was a flamethrower who could toss the ball up to 104 mph. However, that caused elbow issues and he was forced to call it a career, playing his last game at the age of 26.

Steve Moore

Steve Moore

Steve Moore

Steve Moore — Todd Bertuzzi's sucker-punch ended Steve Moore's career far too soon as it caused serious head trauma that halted Moore's chances at a comeback. He was just 25 years old when he played his final game in the NHL.

Todd Bertuzzi's sucker-punch ended Steve Moore's career far too soon as it caused serious head trauma that halted Moore's chances at a comeback. He was just 25 years old when he played his final game in the NHL.

Delvon Roe

Delvon Roe

Delvon Roe

Delvon Roe — Delvon Roe isn't exactly well-known, but he was the youngest guy on this list to retire. Brought on at Michigan State by Tom Izzo as a five-star recruit and a future NBA star, Roe seemed to have it made. However, multiple knee injuries cut his career far too short and he was forced to retire after his junior season with the Spartans. He never got to live up to his full potential and become the NBA star in which he was destined to be.

Delvon Roe isn't exactly well-known, but he was the youngest guy on this list to retire. Brought on at Michigan State by Tom Izzo as a five-star recruit and a future NBA star, Roe seemed to have it made. However, multiple knee injuries cut his career far too short and he was forced to retire after his junior season with the Spartans. He never got to live up to his full potential and become the NBA star in which he was destined to be.

Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman

Pat Tillman — Pat Tillman retired for the most respectable reason of anyone on this list -- to join the U.S. Army after 9/11. He enlisted in the Army in June of 2002 at the age of 25 after playing four seasons in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, racking up 238 tackles and three interceptions as a safety.

Pat Tillman retired for the most respectable reason of anyone on this list -- to join the U.S. Army after 9/11. He enlisted in the Army in June of 2002 at the age of 25 after playing four seasons in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, racking up 238 tackles and three interceptions as a safety.

Barry Sanders

Barry Sanders

Barry Sanders

Barry Sanders — Fans of the Detroit Lions are still upset over the fact that Sanders wasn't happy enough with his life in the NFL and losing all the time with the team that he retired at the age of 31. He was healthy at the time of his retirement and finished with over 15,000 career rushing yards and 109 combined touchdowns. He was just over 1,500 yards shy of Walter Payton's all-time rushing record.

Fans of the Detroit Lions are still upset over the fact that Sanders wasn't happy enough with his life in the NFL and losing all the time with the team that he retired at the age of 31. He was healthy at the time of his retirement and finished with over 15,000 career rushing yards and 109 combined touchdowns. He was just over 1,500 yards shy of Walter Payton's all-time rushing record.

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson — Magic Johnson was forced to retire relatively early due to the news broken to him that he had contracted HIV. He was 31 at the age of his retirement and finished his career as one of the best to ever play the game.

Magic Johnson was forced to retire relatively early due to the news broken to him that he had contracted HIV. He was 31 at the age of his retirement and finished his career as one of the best to ever play the game.

Bill Russell

Bill Russell

Bill Russell

Bill Russell — Russell's retirement was one of those that wasn't really too far off anyways -- as he was 35 -- but he seemingly just disappeared and fell off the map after winning his 11th NBA title in 13 years. He recorded an astounding 21 rebounds in his final game which won the Celtics an NBA title and said he owed the fans nothing and didn't show up to the city's celebration parade.

Russell's retirement was one of those that wasn't really too far off anyways -- as he was 35 -- but he seemingly just disappeared and fell off the map after winning his 11th NBA title in 13 years. He recorded an astounding 21 rebounds in his final game which won the Celtics an NBA title and said he owed the fans nothing and didn't show up to the city's celebration parade.

Connor Muldowney is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].

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