43 NFL players who spent time in other leagues

Arena, the USFL, CFL and other leagues have been the path to the NFL for some players.

Larry Pfohl aka Lex Luger

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Larry Pfohl (pictured in black shirt)  played for the Montreal Alouettes. He played in the 67th Grey Cup against the Edmonton Eskimos. He then signed with the Green Bay Packers but never played in a game and thus is not listed on their all-time roster, though he did spend the entire 1982 season on the team’s injured reserve list with a groin problem incurred during training camp. He returned to the Packers training camp in 1983, but he was released before the regular season began. Luger wore No. 66 for the Packers, the last player to do so before it was retired for Ray Nitschke. In 1984, Luger finished his football career playing in the USFL for the Tampa Bay Bandits, Memphis Showboats and Jacksonville Bulls.