10 NFL Stars Who Left Their Legacies Behind

Manning joins the list of NFL players who moved on.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow - In light of Peyton Manning's departure from the Indianapolis Colts, BET.com takes a look at some other NFL stars who moved on from the teams that helped make them legendary.—Britt Middleton The Colts announced on Wednesday that after 13 seasons they were releasing star quarterback Manning from his five-year, $90 million contract as the team couldn’t afford to pay his $28 million bonus. Money aside, speculation surrounding Manning’s health likely contributed to the split. The Colts are expected to draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick during April’s NFL Draft. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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Here Today, Gone Tomorrow - In light of Peyton Manning's departure from the Indianapolis Colts, BET.com takes a look at some other NFL stars who moved on from the teams that helped make them legendary.—Britt Middleton The Colts announced on Wednesday that after 13 seasons they were releasing star quarterback Manning from his five-year, $90 million contract as the team couldn’t afford to pay his $28 million bonus. Money aside, speculation surrounding Manning’s health likely contributed to the split. The Colts are expected to draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick during April’s NFL Draft. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Archie Manning  - Like father, like son. Peyton’s dad Archie Manning made his name for himself as a quarterback with the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1982, where he would lead the Saints to a 7-9 record in 1978 and be selected to two Pro Bowls (1978 and 1979). However, he would finish his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings (1983–1984). (Photo: Times-Picayune /Landov)

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Archie Manning  - Like father, like son. Peyton’s dad Archie Manning made his name for himself as a quarterback with the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1982, where he would lead the Saints to a 7-9 record in 1978 and be selected to two Pro Bowls (1978 and 1979). However, he would finish his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings (1983–1984). (Photo: Times-Picayune /Landov)

Joe Montana - Known as “Joe Cool” to diehard fans, Joe Montana first came to fame in 1978 as a quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played for 14 seasons. The Hall of Famer won four Super Bowl championships with the team, but was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993, where he spent his two final years in the league. (Photo: Mike Powell/ALLSPORT/Getty Images)

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Joe Montana - Known as “Joe Cool” to diehard fans, Joe Montana first came to fame in 1978 as a quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played for 14 seasons. The Hall of Famer won four Super Bowl championships with the team, but was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993, where he spent his two final years in the league. (Photo: Mike Powell/ALLSPORT/Getty Images)

Emmitt Smith - Emmitt Smith debuted as a running back with the Dallas Cowboys in 1990 and would lead the league in rushing yards and help them win three Super Bowls (1992, 1993, and 1995). He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals, where he played in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.  (Photo: Todd Warshaw /Getty Images)

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Emmitt Smith - Emmitt Smith debuted as a running back with the Dallas Cowboys in 1990 and would lead the league in rushing yards and help them win three Super Bowls (1992, 1993, and 1995). He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals, where he played in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.  (Photo: Todd Warshaw /Getty Images)

Brett Favre  - Brett Favre was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, most of that time spent as QB of the Green Bay Packers, where he played from 1992 until 2007. He lead the team to a Super Bowl title in 1997 and holds numerous NFL passing records. After a string of personal tragedies and a brief retirement in 2008, Favre would be traded to the New York Jets (2008) and the Minnesota Vikings (2009-2010) before retiring for good in 2011.  (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

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Brett Favre  - Brett Favre was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, most of that time spent as QB of the Green Bay Packers, where he played from 1992 until 2007. He lead the team to a Super Bowl title in 1997 and holds numerous NFL passing records. After a string of personal tragedies and a brief retirement in 2008, Favre would be traded to the New York Jets (2008) and the Minnesota Vikings (2009-2010) before retiring for good in 2011.  (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

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Bruce Smith  - Defensive end Bruce Smith debuted with the Buffalo Bills in 1985 and played with the team until 1999. The Hall of Famer and holder of the NFL record for quarterback sacks played in four consecutive Super Bowls with the Bills, though they would lose each run. In 2000, he would be traded to the Washington Redskins. He was released from his contract in 2004.   (Photo: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

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Bruce Smith  - Defensive end Bruce Smith debuted with the Buffalo Bills in 1985 and played with the team until 1999. The Hall of Famer and holder of the NFL record for quarterback sacks played in four consecutive Super Bowls with the Bills, though they would lose each run. In 2000, he would be traded to the Washington Redskins. He was released from his contract in 2004.   (Photo: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Michael Vick  - Before making big plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, quarterback Michael Vick was a star with the Atlanta Falcons, where he played from 2001 until 2006. In 2007, he was implicated in an illegal dog fighting ring that would cost him his spot on the team and land him in jail for 21 months. In the 2009 season, Vick signed with the Eagles, where he is currently the starting quarterback.  (Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

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Michael Vick  - Before making big plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, quarterback Michael Vick was a star with the Atlanta Falcons, where he played from 2001 until 2006. In 2007, he was implicated in an illegal dog fighting ring that would cost him his spot on the team and land him in jail for 21 months. In the 2009 season, Vick signed with the Eagles, where he is currently the starting quarterback.  (Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Marcus Allen  - Running back Marcus Allen played with the Los Angeles Raiders from 1982 until 1992. His claim to fame was his speed — he set the 1,000-yard mark for rushing yards three seasons in a row with the team and helped the Raiders win a Super Bowl Championship in 1984. In 1993, he left the Raiders after a rift with team owner Al Davis and finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs (1993-1997).  (Photo: Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images)

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Marcus Allen  - Running back Marcus Allen played with the Los Angeles Raiders from 1982 until 1992. His claim to fame was his speed — he set the 1,000-yard mark for rushing yards three seasons in a row with the team and helped the Raiders win a Super Bowl Championship in 1984. In 1993, he left the Raiders after a rift with team owner Al Davis and finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs (1993-1997).  (Photo: Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images)

Warren Moon  - Quarterback Warren Moon started his career with the Houston Oilers in 1984, where he set a franchise record for wins (70) among other league records. The Hall of Famer would leave the team in 1993 and play for the Minnesota Vikings (1994–1996), Seattle Seahawks (1997–1998) and Kansas City Chiefs (1999–2000) before retiring from the NFL in 2001. (Photo: Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images)

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Warren Moon  - Quarterback Warren Moon started his career with the Houston Oilers in 1984, where he set a franchise record for wins (70) among other league records. The Hall of Famer would leave the team in 1993 and play for the Minnesota Vikings (1994–1996), Seattle Seahawks (1997–1998) and Kansas City Chiefs (1999–2000) before retiring from the NFL in 2001. (Photo: Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images)

Jerry Rice  - Jerry Rice set a laundry list of NFL records and won Super Bowl championships while playing as a wide receiver with the San Francisco 49ers, where he stayed from 1985 until 2000. He would later be traded and play with the Oakland Raiders (2001–2004), Seattle Seahawks (2004) and Denver Broncos (2005). In 2006, he retired officially with the 49ers after signing a one-day contract worth nearly $2 million.    (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Allsport/Getty Images)

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Jerry Rice  - Jerry Rice set a laundry list of NFL records and won Super Bowl championships while playing as a wide receiver with the San Francisco 49ers, where he stayed from 1985 until 2000. He would later be traded and play with the Oakland Raiders (2001–2004), Seattle Seahawks (2004) and Denver Broncos (2005). In 2006, he retired officially with the 49ers after signing a one-day contract worth nearly $2 million.    (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Allsport/Getty Images)