3 Undrafted NFL Players Who Made a Huge Impact

The National Football League season is in full swing, with the sport’s best teams pulling clear of the hopefuls and strugglers. Fans have watched on as the usual suspects have forced their way into a position of power during the NFL Regular Season while the underdogs have enjoyed strong starts to keep up. Which team will end the year on a high, blaze a trail of glory through the playoffs, and land Super Bowl LIX? Football fans can place their Super Bowl bets in Vegas or at home using a modern gambling app. Support your favorites as you target a profit.

The Kansas City Chiefs started the 2024/25 season on the cusp of greatness. They have won the last two Super Bowl titles and aim to add a third. Will Kansas etch their name into the history books by becoming the first team to win three championships on the bounce? Their early season form suggests they have a great chance. The Chiefs won their first seven games to take control of the AFC West. Fans couldn’t have asked for a better start from their team, but there’s a long road ahead.

Other eye-catchers from the opening months of the regular season include the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills. Detriot exploded out of the traps, winning six of their first seven starts, including a highly impressive three-game unbeaten run on the road. Could the Lions top the NFC North and go on to spoil the party by denying Kansas? It’s still too early to say, but they’re certainly on the right track.

Remembering the underdogs

Kansas may be the red-hot Super Bowl favorite with all major online sportsbooks, but the NFL is a competition that rarely follows the script. The history books are full of underdogs ruining expectations and rags-to-riches stories. Will the 2024/25 season provide us with another upset? We must wait and see, but one thing is certain: this season, football fans will have great fun finding out.

While we await the next round of fixtures, our team got thinking about some of the sport’s most famous underdogs, and we wanted to share them with you. Regular visitors to our site and readers of our articles know our writers love all things relating to the NFL, particularly the draft. Browse our pages, and you’ll find insightful and interesting articles on the top 2025 NFL Draft prospects, this month’s transactions, the biggest surprises in NFL Draft history, and more. There’s something for everyone and we’re confident you’ll find a worthwhile read.

On this page, we’re sticking with the underdog theme and highlighting some of the most famous undrafted players who went on to enjoy successful careers at the highest level. While missing the draft signals the end for many young players, a special few refuses to throw in the towel. Keep reading as we celebrate a player who went from stocking shelves to the Hall of Fame, another who is one of the best quarterbacks in history, and an underdog who climbed off the scrap heap to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Kurt Warner

Kurt Warner’s story may read like something from a Hollywood script, but his journey to the top of the NFL is spectacular. Following the 1994 draft, he found himself without a team and had to take a job stocking shelves in a grocery store for less than $6 an hour. Most people would be bitter about football after being dealt such a cruel hand, but Warner believed in his abilities and refused to quit. That resilience eventually paid off.

Kurt returned to football with the little-known Iowa Barnstormers. He caught the eye of scouts and signed with the St. Louis Rams in 1998, initially as a backup quarterback. When injury handed him his second chance, Warner grabbed it with both hands, driving the Rams to an unexpected Super Bowl championship against all the odds. His performances that season earned Kurt the MVP and Super Bowl MVP awards, completing an almost unreal turnaround in fortunes.

Warren Moon

Warren Moon had every reason to give up on his dream to play in the NFL after hitting several hurdles on his rise through the ranks. Undrafted in 1978, he moved to the Canadian Football League, where he helped the Edmonton Eskimos capture five consecutive Grey Cup championships.

After dominating the CFL, Moon transferred to the Houston Oilers in 1984, becoming one of the NFL’s first black quarterbacks to enjoy sustained success. During a glittering 17-year career, Warren won several titles and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

James Harrison

Described as relentless and unstoppable, James Harrison was something special in the sport of American Football. Undrafted in 2002, it looked like Harrison would be forced down another path in life. But the best athletes never rocket to the top. Their stories are littered with overcoming challenges, and James cleared more hurdles than most. 

Following an extended period on the sidelines and in Europe, Harrison finally secured a regular berth in the Pittsburgh Steelers team. He was famous for his aggressive style of play and powerful tackles on quarterbacks, quickly gaining a fearsome reputation on the field. Harrison was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. He played an important role in the Steelers winning two Super Bowl titles, including his memorable 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII. That memory lives on in the Steelers’ history.

Notable mentions

The men mentioned in this article serve as an inspiration to us all. Their stories prove the value of never giving up, having confidence in your ability, and focusing on your dreams. 

If you’d like to learn more about undrafted players who become NFL stars, we advise researching Antonio Gates and Tony Romo, who are every bit as successful as those mentioned above. You’ll find information on these men online today, and we’re certain their stories will entertain readers.