10 of the most notable NFL players who also played in the MLB

Since the 1920s, close to 70 athletes have played for both leagues. And, for various reasons, these are 10 of the most notable.

DJ Dozier

JMPS-USA TODAY Sports

Dozier was the 14th overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft. He played for the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, finishing his five-year career with 691 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. The Mets scooped Dozier up via free agency in 1990, and he would make his MLB debut in 1992. He played in 25 games that season, striking out 19 times with nine hits and four runs in 47 at-bats. Like Dressen and Brian Jordan, his days on the diamond happened after his football career had ended. (Fun stat: He reached base 13 times yet stole four bases. For perspective, Mark McGwire stole 12 bases in a 16-year career.)

Dozier’s legacy is an interesting butterfly effect: He was part of the 1993 trade that brought Tony Fernandez from San Diego to the Mets. Fernandez played poorly, though, and the Mets shipped him off to Toronto…where he would be a factor in the ’93 Blue Jays winning the World Series.