The NFL draft is a high‑stakes lottery where teams hope to strike gold, but every year a handful of selections turn out to be spectacular blunders. In this roundup of the top 10 worst draft choices, we dive into the stories of quarterbacks, running backs and linemen whose lofty expectations crumbled into infamous busts.

10 Rick Mirer

Rick Mirer arrived at Seattle after a glittering Notre Dame career that featured a 19‑7‑1 record and a Sugar Bowl triumph over Florida, where he shared co‑MVP honors with Jerome Bettis. The quarterback‑centric debate of the early ’90s pitted him against Drew Bledsoe, and while Bledsoe snagged the No. 1 slot, Mirer was the No. 2 overall pick. His rookie year looked promising – the Seahawks ranked fifth in the AFC for passing yards – but the momentum fizzled quickly. By 1995 he threw a dismal 13 touchdowns against 20 interceptions, and the following season he managed only five TDs with 12 picks. Mirer spent the rest of his career as a perpetual backup, never recapturing the hype that once surrounded him.

9 Tim Couch

High‑school prodigy Tim Couch shattered national records for completions, yards, touchdowns and accuracy, earning him the label of the best quarterback prospect since John Elway. At Kentucky he kept the momentum alive, racking up impressive numbers that made Cleveland’s front office reach for the No. 1 overall slot in 1999. The expansion Browns hoped Couch would be a franchise savior, but reality was far less kind. Though he posted 64 touchdowns in 62 games, his tenure was riddled with inconsistency and injuries. After being ousted by the Browns, Couch chased a backup role with Green Bay, only to see his NFL dreams evaporate. Rumors later surfaced about his alleged use of HGH, a substance banned by the league, further clouding his legacy.

8 Curtis Enis

Curtis Enis entered the 1998 draft as the premier running‑back prospect, blending Penn State’s raw power with a surprising burst of speed. The Chicago Bears selected him fifth overall, betting on a dual‑threat back. Enis managed a respectable rookie season, appearing in 15 games, shouldering 287 carries for 916 yards and five touchdowns. However, contract negotiations turned sour: he rejected a six‑year, $18 million rookie deal in favor of a three‑year, $5.5 million pact, hoping to prove his worth and secure a bigger payday later. The gamble backfired; after three seasons the Bears released him, and Enis never returned to the league.

7 Jeff George

Jeff George’s path to the NFL was riddled with drama. After a brief stint at Purdue, a coaching change forced him to transfer to Miami, only to leave when Jimmy Johnson wouldn’t guarantee a starting spot. He finally settled at Illinois, where his arm strength earned him the No. 1 overall pick for the Indianapolis Colts in 1990, along with the richest rookie contract of the era. Yet his tenure in Indy was marred by clashes with coaches and fans, resulting in a trade to Atlanta after four tumultuous seasons. A brief resurgence with the Falcons was followed by another move to the Raiders, where he posted his best numbers. However, a mysterious groin injury in 1998 and ongoing controversies cemented his reputation as a talented but erratic bust.

6 Ki‑Jana Carter

Ki‑Jana Carter was the golden boy of the 1995 draft, snatched first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals after a dazzling Penn State career highlighted by a 227‑yard, five‑touchdown outburst against Michigan State. He finished his college tenure with 2,829 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns, ranking among the school’s elite. Unfortunately, his NFL debut was a nightmare: on his very first preseason carry, Carter tore his ACL, a devastating injury that robbed him of his explosiveness. Though he returned as a serviceable backup, he never regained the power that once made him a headline act, and his name became synonymous with one of the draft’s most infamous ‘what‑could‑have‑been’ stories.

5 Lawrence Phillips

Lawrence Phillips dazzled at Nebraska with a rare blend of size, speed and breakaway ability, earning him a reputation as a potential game‑changing back. Drafted sixth overall by the St. Louis Rams in 1996, his professional career was quickly eclipsed by off‑field turmoil. Multiple arrests for assault and domestic violence plagued his tenure, and his on‑field production was underwhelming – averaging just 41 yards per game over four seasons. After a string of legal issues, Phillips was convicted of seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon, cementing his status as a cautionary tale of talent squandered by personal demons.

4 Akili Smith

Akili Smith vaulted into the 1999 draft spotlight after a standout senior season at Oregon, earning him the third overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals. Pre‑draft hype painted him as the next great quarterback, but the pressure proved too great. In three seasons with the Bengals, Smith threw a paltry five touchdowns against 13 interceptions, never finding his rhythm. Cut in 2002, he attempted a comeback with Green Bay, only to be released before the season began. He later resurfaced in the Canadian Football League, but his NFL legacy remains a stark reminder that collegiate brilliance doesn’t always translate to professional success.

3 Art Schlichter

Art Schlichter was a celebrated quarterback at Ohio State, nearly delivering a national championship in his senior year. Drafted fourth overall by the Baltimore Colts in 1982, expectations were sky‑high. Instead, Schlichter’s career was derailed by a compulsive gambling habit. The league suspended him in 1983 after revelations of massive gambling debts, and the Colts cut ties by 1985. Over the years he amassed more than 20 felony convictions and spent over thirty stints in prison, making his story one of the darkest chapters in draft history.

2 Tony Mandarich

Before Ryan Leaf became the poster boy for draft disappointment, Tony Mandarich was the epitome of a bust. A 1989 first‑rounder taken second overall by the Green Bay Packers, he entered the league after a stellar senior year that earned him All‑American honors, the Big Ten Lineman of the Year award and a finalist spot for the Outland Trophy. Mandarich held out on his contract, finally signing a four‑year deal just before training camp. His tenure was marred by a poor attitude, rumors of steroid use and underwhelming play. After three seasons in Green Bay, he was released, later playing three more years with the Indianapolis Colts without ever recapturing his college dominance. The sting of his bust was amplified by the fact that the same draft produced legends like Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders.

1 Ryan Leaf

Ryan Leaf entered the 1998 draft as the heir apparent to Peyton Manning, even sparking a heated debate over who should be the No. 1 pick. A Heisman finalist, first‑team All‑American and Pac‑10 Offensive Player of the Year at Washington State, Leaf leapt into the San Diego Chargers’ hands after they traded up to acquire the No. 2 slot, handing over a first, a second‑round pick and two players. He signed a four‑year, $31.25 million contract with $11.25 million guaranteed. However, his swagger turned toxic, alienating teammates and coaches alike. Over two seasons he managed just 13 touchdowns against a staggering 33 interceptions, and his career fizzled out amid controversy and off‑field issues, cementing his place as the most notorious bust in NFL draft history.

These ten selections serve as stark reminders that even the most promising prospects can fall flat. Whether due to injuries, off‑field troubles, or simply an inability to transition to the pros, each story underscores the inherent gamble of the NFL draft.

What constitutes a great play is often in the eye of the beholder. Fans of the victims of a great play bemoan missed calls by officials. They claim some of the NFL’s greatest plays occurred because of misinterpretation of rules, unseen interference, or some other explanation of the calamity to their team. Meanwhile, fans of the team benefiting from such plays tout them as signs of their team’s superiority, in players, game calling, and football skill.

Great plays, and great controversies, are magnified during the playoffs, when every game is televised to a national audience. And the NFL has generated plenty of both in the playoffs going back, at least here, to 1958. Here is a subjective list of the top ten plays in NFL playoff history. Spoiler alert: Neither Aaron Rodgers, nor Tom Brady, figure in any of them.

(Note: while these plays are all available to view on YouTube, most are also restricted from being embedded here. We’ve provided links to each play within the body of each entry.)

10. The Hail Mary pass

Many believe the last second long pass to or near the end zone known as the Hail Mary to have been so christened on December 28, 1975, in a divisional playoff game.  The Dallas Cowboys trailed the Minnesota Vikings 14-10. They had the ball near midfield, with 32 seconds left in the game. Roger Staubach launched a desperation pass fifty yards downfield toward Drew Pearson. Pearson collided with a defender while adjusting to the ball, knocking him to the ground. No flags were thrown. The catch gave Dallas the win, advancing them to the NFC Championship game. Afterward, Staubach told reporters, “It was a Hail Mary pass”. The name stuck.

It wasn’t the first time the name had been applied to a desperate play. As far back as the 1920s, players at the University of Notre Dame used the term. Georgetown used it in the 1940s, and even Staubach called a play against Michigan when he played for Navy a Hail Mary pass. But the 1975 play was in the NFL playoffs, on the national stage via television. The Cowboys went on to beat Los Angeles in the NFC Championship before losing to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl X. The desperation pass known as the Hail Mary has been a fixture of close NFL games ever since.

9. The Catch

The 1981 NFL Championship Game, played on January 10, 1982, featured the San Francisco 49ers against the Dallas Cowboys. Late in the fourth quarter the Cowboys led 27-21. San Francisco got the ball on their own 11 yard line, with just under five minutes to play. 49ers quarterback Joe Montana led the team on a drive which placed them on the Dallas six, with 58 seconds to play. On third and four, with a possible first down available if they advanced to the Dallas two, Montana found wide receiver Dwight Clark at the back of the end zone. Clark made a leaping, twisting catch with his fingertips. The Niners had the lead, but Dallas still had 50 seconds to drive for a game winning field goal.

The Cowboys drove to mid-field before their offense sputtered, and the 49ers won the game. The game winning play instantly became known as “The Catch.” Neither Montana nor 49ers head coach Bill Walsh saw the catch as it was made. Montana was on the ground after being hit, and Walsh assumed the ball had been thrown away due to its altitude in the end zone. The 49ers went on to win the Super Bowl that year, and three additional Super Bowls during the decade. The Cowboys fell into a period of decline. In 2019 NFL films listed The Catch second on their list of the 100 Greatest NFL Plays of All Time.

8. Alan Ameche’s touchdown in “The Greatest Game Ever Played”

Often called “The Greatest Game Ever Played” the 1958 NFL Championship Game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants featured 12 players who eventually were enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame. Among them were Frank Gifford, Sam Huff and Don Maynard from the Giants. Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry, and Gino Marchetti were among the Colts. Legendary coaches and rivals Tom Landry and Vince Lombardi ran the New York defense and offense respectively. The Colts head coach Weeb Ewbank joined them in the Hall.

The game was nationally televised by NBC and despite a blackout in the New York area, 45 million fans watched it on television. Unitas led the Colts in a late fourth quarter drive, called the first to utilize the two-minute drill, to tie the game with a field goal with just seven seconds left in regulation. When the game went into sudden death overtime the Giants received the football first. They failed to advance, punted, and Unitas led the Colts on an 80-yard drive to the New York one yard line. From there, Alan Ameche, on a third down play, scored the winning touchdown. Until the 1958 championship, college football was more popular in the United States than its professional counterpart. Following the game NFL popularity exploded on the still relatively new medium of television, and has grown with it ever since.

7. The Immaculate Reception

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a long record of failure in the NFL when they faced the Oakland Raiders in an AFC divisional playoff game on December 3, 1972. At that point, the Steelers had never won a playoff game. In the fourth quarter it appeared that drought would continue. The Raiders led, 7-6, late in the quarter. Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw, with 30 seconds left in regulation, through a deep pass to receiver John Fuqua. What happened next remains controversial. Either the ball hit Fuqua’s helmet, his hands, or the hands of Raiders safety John Tatum. It ricocheted backwards, heading toward the ground. Steelers running Franco Harris back caught the ball and ran to the end zone with the winning touchdown. It became known as the Immaculate Reception.

Raiders fans contended the ball hit Fuqua and Tatum never touched it, which made Harris’s catch illegal since a defender had not touched the ball. Others claimed Harris snatched the ball just as it touched the ground, making it an incomplete pass. The Steelers won the game. Though they lost that year’s AFC Championship to the Miami Dolphins (who went undefeated) it began a run of success which saw them win four Super Bowls within the decade. The Immaculate Reception fueled a long and bitter rivalry between the Steelers and Raiders, which included some of the most physically fought  games in NFL history.

6. Earnest Byner’s fumble at the goal line cost the Browns a Super Bowl appearance

As of this writing, the Cleveland Browns have never appeared in a Super Bowl, one of just four teams to share that dubious distinction. But they have come close, never closer than on January 17, 1988, when they faced the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium. Trailing 21-3 at halftime, the Browns, led by running back Earnest Byner and quarterback Bernie Kosar, clawed their way back in the third and fourth quarter. After Denver scored a late touchdown the Browns began another drive, reaching the Denver eight-yard line. On second and five, Kosar handed the ball yet again to Byner, who ran to his left, picked up the first down, and continued toward the end zone.

He reached the end zone, but the ball didn’t. Bronco defender Jeremiah Castille, unblocked, hit Byner at the three yard line. Castille later admitted he knew he couldn’t stop Byner and went after the ball. He succeeded in knocking it free and the Broncos recovered. After forcing Cleveland to use their timeouts, Denver deliberately gave up a safety. That made the score 38-33 Denver. Cleveland got the ball back with time for a Hail Mary from mid-field, which failed. Earnest Byner had 67 yards and a touchdown running the ball that day, and 120 yards and another touchdown receiving. He is remembered for what entered NFL lore as “The Fumble.” To Cleveland fans it remains another piece of evidence all their sports teams are cursed.

5. Bart Starr’s quarterback sneak to win the Ice Bowl

New Year’s Eve, 1967, saw the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers in a rematch of the preceding season’s NFL Championship Game. It remains the coldest game in NFL history. At game time the temperature in frigid Green Bay was minus 12 degrees. It became known as the Ice Bowl. The system meant to keep Lambeau Field’s playing surface from freezing failed. Several players suffered frostbite. Some players believed the game would be postponed. Officials considered postponing the game, until they learned the forecast predicted the next day would be even colder. The game went on, though the pregame performance by the Wisconsin-La Crosse marching band was canceled when the musicians’ lips froze to their mouthpieces.

The game was hard-fought. Late in the fourth quarter, with Dallas leading 17-14, Green Bay executed a 67-yard drive, bringing them to the one-yard line (actually about a foot from the goal line) with 16 seconds remaining. People glancing at the scoreboard could see the time remaining, yard line, down, score, and the temperature, minus 20 degrees. On the next play, Packer guard Jerry Kramer drove the fearsome Cowboy defensive lineman Jethro Pugh off the line of scrimmage and quarterback Bart Starr dove across for the touchdown and a Packer victory. It was their third straight NFL Championship.

4. Ben Roethlisberger’s touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes

Super Bowl XLIII (43 for those challenged by Roman numerals) is remembered for, among other things, being the last appearance in the television booth by the late John Madden. It also featured a 100 yard interception return for a touchdown by Steelers linebacker James Harrison. Despite that play and other heroics, with 2:37 remaining to play, Pittsburgh trailed the Arizona Cardinals 23-20.

Led by Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh drove 78 yards, with 73 of those yards via receptions made by Santonio Holmes. The final play of the drive was a six-yard completion in the back corner of the end zone, when Holmes made one of the most spectacular catches in NFL playoff history. Some fans call the game itself the best in Super Bowl history, though not many of them are Arizona supporters. The play gave Pittsburgh its sixth Super Bowl win, making them the first team to reach that level of continued success.

3. The Ghost to the Post

On Christmas Eve, 1977, the Raiders, who then called Oakland home, faced the Baltimore Colts in an AFC Divisional Playoff game. The game seesawed in the second half, and late in the fourth quarter Oakland trailed the Colts by three. They got the ball with just under three minutes left on their own 30-yard line. Raider quarterback Ken Stabler needed to get the team into at least field goal range to force overtime.

He got them there with a 42-yard completion to tight end Dave Casper (known to teammates as “the Ghost,” a la Casper the Friendly Ghost) on a play the Raiders called “Ghost to the Post.” Casper altered his route and made an over-the-head catch of the high-arching pass which put the Raiders in field goal range. The Raiders tied the game a few plays later, forcing overtime. In the second overtime, Casper caught a 10 yard pass from Stabler which won the game, but it would not have been possible if not for the athletic catch he made late in the fourth quarter.

2. Malcolm Butler’s goal line interception in Super Bowl XLIX

Super Bowl XLIX saw the Seattle Seahawks, winners of the preceding year, playing the New England Patriots, which had not won a championship for ten years. Played on February 1, 2015, the game pitted a Seattle defense they called the Legion of Boom against New England’s explosive offense. In the end though, it was New England’s defense which completed the winning play. Seattle built a 10 point lead in the third quarter, but the Patriots scored two touchdowns in the fourth, giving them a 28-24 lead late in the game.

With just two minutes and two seconds remaining, the Seahawks weren’t finished. They drove from their own 20 yard line to the Patriot one, where they faced second and goal with 26 seconds to play. Inexplicably to some fans, the Seahawks called a pass play, and Malcolm Butler intercepted the ball. The play did not end the game. A penalty for excessive celebration made the possibility of a safety on the Patriots real. But an encroachment penalty on Seattle moved the ball back, and a following brawl led to a personal foul on the Seahawks, driving them back further, and giving Tom Brady sufficient room to take a knee and run out the clock.

1. Knile Davis’s 106 yard kickoff return on the first play of the 2015 playoffs

On January 9, 2016, the NFL Playoffs for the 2015 season opened with the wildcard game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans in Houston. On the opening kickoff, Chiefs return specialist and running back Knile Davis caught the football six yards deep in his end zone. He elected to run it out. 11 seconds later he was in the Texans’ endzone, having completed the longest kickoff return in NFL playoff history. It was also the quickest score in playoff history.

The stunned Texans never recovered. By halftime they trailed 13-0, and the game ended with a score of 30-0. The Chiefs logged four interceptions during the rout. It was the first time the Texans had failed to score in a game on their home field. In the end, the only points the Chiefs needed for their first playoff victory in 26 years came on the opening kickoff .By the way, Davis’s kickoff return was not the longest of his career. In his rookie season, 2013, he returned a kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos, tying the second longest in NFL history. The record is 109 yards, currently held by three players.