No, we’re not talking about the XFL.

It’s no secret that many football standouts have gone on to great success in pro wrestling, with some becoming wildly successful WWE superstars.

With the SuperBowl this Sunday I thought it would be cool to take a look at some of these crossover stars and compare their Football and pro wrestling careers, and see which career wins out.

STEVE McMICHAEL

As a member of the Chicago Bears, “Mongo” was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and won a SuperBowl ring in 1986. In his career as a defensive tackle he amassed 838 tackles, 95 sacks and 2 interceptions.

After appearing at WrestleMania 11 as part of Lawrence Taylor’s “All Pro Team”, McMichael would join WCW where he would be a member of the Four Horsemen, and become WCW United States champion.

You could make the case that “Mongo” has success in WCW, but he was never pivotal in swaying fans in WCW’s favor during the Monday Night Wars and never was was a World title challenger fans would accept.

WINNER: Football

BILL GOLDBERG

Also a Defensive Tackle, Goldberg played College ball with the University of Georgia Bulldogs, then spent time in the NFL with the LA Rams in 1990 and the Atlanta Falcons from 1992-1994. After being drafted by the expansion Carolina Panthers in 1995 (and never playing a game with them), an abdominal injury forced him to retire from football.

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Goldberg joined WCW and debuted in September 1997, where he amassed a record of 173-0, winning the World Title from Hulk Hogan in the process. Goldberg would also achieve success in WWE, winning the World Heavyweight Championship once, defeating HHH.

Goldberg had an up and down career in football (mostly down), and achieved huge success in WCW/WWE. It’s an easy choice.

WINNER: WCW/WWE

DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON

The third consecutive defensive tackle in this article, Johnson played 4 seasons with the University of Miami, where he achieved 29 solo tackles (78 total). He unsuccessfully tried his hand in Canada with the Calgary Stampeders of Canadian Football League.

The Rock is a 7 time WWE champion and one of the biggest attractions in WWE history. Yet despite all that, The Rock would achieve his greatest success in Hollywood, becoming an A List action movie star and even starring in some Disney movies.

WINNER: Hollywood

In 2007, well into his success, Johnson made a donation to the University of Miami Hurricanes football program; the largest sum of money they have ever received. The University renamed the locker room in his honor.

RON SIMMONS

A Florida State University standout at defensive nose guard (including seeing his #50 jersey retired in 1988), Ron Simmons would play one season with the Cleveland Browns, the Ottawa Rough Riders of the CFL and two seasons with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL.

In WCW, Simmons became the first African American wrestler to win a World championship in a major organization. He would spend 14 years with WWE as the leader of the Nation of Domination, and later teaming with Bradshaw as the APA (becoming 3 time tag team champions).

Despite having a successful college career, his accomplishments in WCW/WWE speak for themselves.

WINNER: WCW/WWE

BROCK LESNAR

Brock Lesnar had a tremendous 3 year stint with WWE, winning the WWE title 3 times, winning the 2003 Royal Rumble and main eventing WrestleMania 19.

Following his WWE career, Lesnar tried his hand at football, trying out for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings

He was unsuccessful and never played a regular season game in the NFL.

There is no doubt that Lesnar made a name for himself in WWE, the UFC was where he became an even bigger star, going 4-3 including winning the UFC Heavyweight championship before retiring from the sport.

WINNER: UFC

Although the WWE travel schedule was too much for Lesnar (who enjoys his private life) to handle, rumors continue to circulate that Lesnar will one day have one more match with WWE.

WAHOO McDANIEL

Wahoo had success in the AFL (before the AFL/NFL merger in 1969) playing for the Houston Oilers and Denver Broncos, and made a name for himself in the football world playing with the New York Jets from 1964-1965 (once famously making 23 tackles in one game against his former Broncos squad).

“Chief” was a staple in the NWA, working through many of the territories to great success. He would win the NWA Mid Atlantic championship 5 times and the Florida Championship once in his illustrious 30 year career. McDaniel passed away in 2002.

Wahoo achieved great success in both avenues, but will be best remembered for a 30+ year career in pro wrestling.

WINNER: Wrestling

ANGELO MOSCA

Before he was “King Kong”, Angelo Mosca made a big name for himself in Canada in the CFL, mostly playing for the Tiger Cats. He was a two time CFL all star and 5 time Grey Cup champion. Mosca was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

In pro wrestling, “King Kong” wrestled many off the greats, including Antonio Inoki, Jesse “The Body” Ventura, and Gene Kiniski. In his book “Tell me to my Face”, he admits he found it hard to compare both careers but admitted that more accolades came to him from football, despite having fond memories of his wrestling career.

WINNER: Football

ERNIE LADD

Ladd achieved great success in the AFL, playing for the Chargers, Oilers and Chiefs as a (you guessed it) Defensive Tackle, earning 38 sacks in 112 games. He was a 4 time AFL all star and won the AFL championship as a member of the San Diego Chargers – he was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame.

“The Big Cat” enjoyed a 25 year wrestling career, including stints in Georgia Championship Wrestling, Mid South and WWE where he was managed by the Grand Wizard of Wrestling, and engaged in famous battles with Andre the Giant. He was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995. Ladd passed away in 2007.

This may be a case where both careers were so significant that you have to give the nod to both – Ladd is a legend in Chargers lore, and fans remember him for being one off the best big men in the game.

WINNER: Tie

Other crossover examples are Lex Luger (CFL’s Montreal Alouettes), Brian Pillman (NFL’s Cincinatti Bengals), Jim Duggan (NFL’s Atlanta Falcons despite not playing) Tatanka (tryouts with several NFL teams).

Lawrence Taylor had a wildly successful career in the NFL and had a main event match at WrestleMania 11 against the late Bam Bam Bigelow.

Five time pro bowl selection Kevin Greene made short stints in WCW, rivaling with fellow football star Steve McMichael and later teaming with Goldberg to battle the nWo.

NFL Hall of Famer “Reggie White was a member of Taylor’s “All pro team” at WrestleMania 11. “The Minister of Defense” competed in a match at the 1997 edition of WCW Slamboree against Steve McMichael.

Bronko Nagurski is one man to be in both the NFL Hall of Fame and a former NWA World Champion, holding a defeat over Lou Thesz.

Numerous NFL stars entered the Battle Royal at WrestleMania 2, including “Celebrity Wing” WWE Hall of Famer William “The Refrigerator” Perry.

There are certainly other examples. Who is your favorite superstar that played football?