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.

WFL: Csonka, Kiick, Warfield

AP Photo

Larry Csonka starred for the Miami Dolphins from 1968-74, winning two Super Bowls. He jumped to the Memphis Southmen in 1975 but rushed for fewer than 500 yards before the league closed its doors. Csonka returned to the NFL to play with the New York Giants. Another Hall of Famer who bolted for Memphis along with Csonka and Jim Kiick in 1975, Paul Warfield enjoyed minimal success in the WFL, catching only 25 passes before the league shut its doors. Warfield then returned to the NFL to finish out his NFL career where it started — Cleveland.