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.

Arena: Kurt Warner

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With no NFL teams willing to give him a chance, Warner turned to the Arena Football League (AFL)and signed with the Iowa Barnstormers. He went on to play for the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. Warner was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017, and is the only person inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Arena Football Hall of Fame.