Television series starring former National Football League players - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 02-12-2023, 10:55 PM

I'm bringing this up in honor of the Super Bowl. Note that I'm strictly referring to shows in which a one-time NFL player is a member of the main cast (or at the very least, a predominate recurring role), and not merely a guest star:

Fred Dryer - Hunter
Dick Butkus and Bubba Smith - Blue Thunder
Dick Butkus - My Two Dads and Hang Time
Bubba Smith - Semi-Tough
Lyle Alzado - Learning the Ropes
Alex Karras - Webster
Michael Strahan and Carl Weathers - Brothers
Carl Weathers - Street Justice, In the Heat of the Night, and The Mandalorian
Ed O'Neill - Married...with Children and Modern Family: Technically, Ed O'Neill never officially played in the NFL. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969, but was cut in training camp.
Merlin Olsen - Little House on the Prairie, Father Murphy, Fathers and Sons, and Aaron's Way
Alan Autry - In the Heat of the Night
O.J. Simpson - 1st and Ten
Bob Golic - Saved by the Bell: The College Years
Don Meredith - Police Story
Brian Bosworth - Lawless

howilu · 02-13-2023, 10:31 AM

Joe Namath starred in a short-lived Friday night sitcoms that aired on NBC in the fall of 1978, The Waverly Wonders. It was canceled after three episodes due to poor ratings.

biffbronson · 02-13-2023, 11:50 AM

Roosevelt "Rosie" Greer - final season of Daniel Boone, starring cast member.

howilu · 02-14-2023, 10:38 AM

Rosey Grier also appeared in the short-lived sequel to The Danny Thomas Show Make Room for Granddaddy.

80sTrivia · 02-14-2023, 10:52 AM

Ed Marinaro on Laverne & Shirley when the show jumped the shark and moved to LA as well as the Spike TV sitcom Blue Mountain State. He also appeared on two dramas, Hill Street Blues and Sisters.

24/7 reruns · 02-14-2023, 06:45 PM

So who from the NFL would you like to see staring in a TV show? Right now many have huge contracts as players that they don't need to do anything else.

I guess many former players transitioned into TV shows and movies since they could memorize scripts easily from all their training in learning play books.

I'd like to see Jerome Bettis in a TV show. His nickname is "The Bus" so perhaps he could play a bus driver for school kids in a show.

TJ · 02-17-2023, 02:06 PM

Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Are We There Yet?, Everybody Hates Chris) played for several NFL teams.

Fred Williamson played Dr. Oliver "Spearchucker" Jones in the 1970 M*A*S*H film. He was on Julia as one of Diahann Carroll's romantic interests. He starred on the comedy-drama Half Nelson with Bubba Smith and Dick Butkus.

Timothy Brown appeared as Dr. Oliver Harmon "Spearchucker" Jones in the first six episodes of M*A*S*H in 1972.

10 former NFL stars who became television actors
https://www.metv.com/lists/10-former...evision-actors

I'd like to see Peyton and Eli Manning in a sitcom about brothers. They have funny personalities.

TMC · 02-22-2023, 09:00 PM

John Amos (Good Times) signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs (back when they were still in the American Football League) in 1967. He also had a try out for the Denver Broncos prior to the start of his acting career.

02-12-2023, 10:55 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,621	Television series starring former National Football League players I'm bringing this up in honor of the Super Bowl. Note that I'm strictly referring to shows in which a one-time NFL player is a member of the main cast (or at the very least, a predominate recurring role), and not merely a guest star: Fred Dryer - Hunter Dick Butkus and Bubba Smith - Blue Thunder Dick Butkus - My Two Dads and Hang Time Bubba Smith - Semi-Tough Lyle Alzado - Learning the Ropes Alex Karras - Webster Michael Strahan and Carl Weathers - Brothers Carl Weathers - Street Justice, In the Heat of the Night, and The Mandalorian Ed O'Neill - Married...with Children and Modern Family: Technically, Ed O'Neill never officially played in the NFL. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969, but was cut in training camp. Merlin Olsen - Little House on the Prairie, Father Murphy, Fathers and Sons, and Aaron's Way Alan Autry - In the Heat of the Night O.J. Simpson - 1st and Ten Bob Golic - Saved by the Bell: The College Years Don Meredith - Police Story Brian Bosworth - Lawless
	Last edited by TJ; 02-17-2023 at 02:07 PM.

02-14-2023, 10:52 AM	#5
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	Ed Marinaro on Laverne & Shirley when the show jumped the shark and moved to LA as well as the Spike TV sitcom Blue Mountain State. He also appeared on two dramas, Hill Street Blues and Sisters.
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02-17-2023, 02:06 PM	#7
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,673	Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Are We There Yet?, Everybody Hates Chris) played for several NFL teams. Fred Williamson played Dr. Oliver "Spearchucker" Jones in the 1970 MASH film. He was on Julia as one of Diahann Carroll's romantic interests. He starred on the comedy-drama Half Nelson with Bubba Smith and Dick Butkus. Timothy Brown appeared as Dr. Oliver Harmon "Spearchucker" Jones in the first six episodes of MASH in 1972. 10 former NFL stars who became television actors https://www.metv.com/lists/10-former...evision-actors I'd like to see Peyton and Eli Manning in a sitcom about brothers. They have funny personalities.
	Last edited by TJ; 02-17-2023 at 10:02 PM.

02-13-2023, 10:31 AM	#2
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,959	Joe Namath starred in a short-lived Friday night sitcoms that aired on NBC in the fall of 1978, The Waverly Wonders. It was canceled after three episodes due to poor ratings.

02-13-2023, 11:50 AM	#3
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,452	Roosevelt "Rosie" Greer - final season of Daniel Boone, starring cast member.

02-14-2023, 10:38 AM	#4
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,959	Rosey Grier also appeared in the short-lived sequel to The Danny Thomas Show Make Room for Granddaddy.

02-14-2023, 06:45 PM	#6
24/7 reruns Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 10, 2022 Location: New York Posts: 1,468	So who from the NFL would you like to see staring in a TV show? Right now many have huge contracts as players that they don't need to do anything else. I guess many former players transitioned into TV shows and movies since they could memorize scripts easily from all their training in learning play books. I'd like to see Jerome Bettis in a TV show. His nickname is "The Bus" so perhaps he could play a bus driver for school kids in a show.

02-22-2023, 09:00 PM	#8
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,621	John Amos (Good Times) signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs (back when they were still in the American Football League) in 1967. He also had a try out for the Denver Broncos prior to the start of his acting career.