Greatest Underdog Athletes Who Proved Everyone Wrong

Tom Brady

A skinny sixth-round afterthought picked 199th overall, Brady was seen as a career backup at best. He turned that chip on his shoulder into seven Super Bowl rings and the strongest case for greatest quarterback ever, making his draft slot the most quoted number in NFL history.

Sport: American FootballEra: 2000-2022The Long Shot: 199th overall pick, 6th roundSignature Achievement: 7x Super Bowl champion, widely called the GOATUnderdog Factor: 9/10

added by IJRin 10 rankings

Kurt Warner

Cut by the Packers and stocking shelves at a grocery store for $5.50 an hour, Warner looked done before he'd started. Within a few years he was NFL MVP and a Super Bowl champion, one of the most complete rags-to-riches arcs in American sports.

Sport: American FootballEra: 1998-2009The Long Shot: Undrafted, worked as a grocery stock clerkSignature Achievement: 2x NFL MVP, Super Bowl XXXIV championUnderdog Factor: 9/10

added by IJRKurt Warner

Buster Douglas

Nobody gave Douglas a chance against an undefeated, seemingly invincible Mike Tyson in Tokyo — bookmakers had him at 42-to-1. He stunned the world with a 10th-round knockout, delivering one of the single biggest upsets in boxing history.

Sport: BoxingEra: 1989-1990The Long Shot: ~42-1 underdogSignature Achievement: Knocked out undefeated Mike Tyson, Tokyo 1990Underdog Factor: 10/10

added by IJRBuster Douglas

James J. Braddock

Broke, on public relief, and with a broken hand that had ended his early career, Braddock was a forgotten fighter given no shot against champion Max Baer. His stunning title win became the literal 'Cinderella Man' story of the Great Depression.

Sport: BoxingEra: 1934-1937The Long Shot: ~10-1 underdog, on welfare before the fightSignature Achievement: Beat Max Baer for heavyweight title, 1935Underdog Factor: 10/10

added by IJRJames J. Braddock

Rulon Gardner

A Wyoming dairy farmer's son stepped onto the mat against Alexander Karelin, a Russian legend unbeaten in international competition for 13 years and never even scored on. Gardner's shocking decision win is still one of wrestling's greatest upsets.

Sport: Wrestling (Greco-Roman)Era: 2000 OlympicsThe Long Shot: Faced Karelin, unbeaten for 13 yearsSignature Achievement: Olympic gold medal, Sydney 2000Underdog Factor: 9/10

added by IJRRulon Gardner

Muggsy Bogues

At 5-foot-3, Bogues was told repeatedly he was too small to ever play in the NBA. He answered by carving out a 14-year career as a starting point guard, proving heart and handles could outweigh height at the highest level.

Sport: BasketballEra: 1987-2001The Long Shot: 5'3" - shortest player in NBA historySignature Achievement: 14-year NBA career, 6,000+ assistsUnderdog Factor: 8/10

added by IJRMuggsy Bogues

Spud Webb

Standing just 5'7" in a league of giants, Webb was dismissed as a novelty when he entered the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest against players a foot taller. He won it outright, turning a punchline into a permanent highlight reel.

Sport: BasketballEra: 1985-1998The Long Shot: 5'7" guard in a league built for giantsSignature Achievement: Won 1986 NBA Slam Dunk ContestUnderdog Factor: 8/10

added by IJRin 2 rankingsSpud Webb

Jeremy Lin

Undrafted out of Harvard, cut by two teams, and sleeping on a friend's couch with the Knicks, Lin got a desperate emergency start in 2012 and exploded for a scoring streak that became global phenomenon 'Linsanity' almost overnight.

Sport: BasketballEra: 2010-2019The Long Shot: Undrafted, cut twice, couch-surfingSignature Achievement: 'Linsanity' scoring streak, New York Knicks, 2012Underdog Factor: 8/10

added by IJRJeremy Lin

Vince Papale

A 30-year-old substitute teacher with no college football experience talked his way into an open tryout for the Philadelphia Eagles. He made the roster, becoming the improbable true story behind the film 'Invincible.'

Sport: American FootballEra: 1976-1978The Long Shot: Age 30 walk-on, no college football backgroundSignature Achievement: Made the Philadelphia Eagles rosterUnderdog Factor: 8/10

added by IJRVince Papale

Rudy Ruettiger

Dyslexic, undersized, and academically ineligible for years, Rudy clawed his way onto Notre Dame's practice squad through sheer persistence. His single late-game sack in his final home game became one of sports movies' most quoted moments.

Sport: College FootballEra: 1975The Long Shot: Dyslexic walk-on, listed at 5'6"Signature Achievement: Suited up and recorded a sack, final home game at Notre DameUnderdog Factor: 7/10

added by IJRRudy Ruettiger

Wilma Rudolph

Rudolph battled polio as a child and wore a leg brace, told she might never walk normally, let alone run. She went on to become the fastest woman in the world, winning three gold medals at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Sport: Track and FieldEra: 1956-1962The Long Shot: Childhood polio survivor, wore a leg braceSignature Achievement: 3 Olympic gold medals, Rome 1960Underdog Factor: 9/10

added by IJRin 4 rankingsWilma Rudolph

Jesse Owens

Competing in Hitler's Berlin in front of a regime built on racial supremacy, Owens was expected by the host nation to fail. He won four gold medals, delivering a resounding rebuttal to Nazi ideology on its own stage.

Sport: Track and FieldEra: 1933-1938The Long Shot: Targeted by Nazi racial ideology as an unwelcome contenderSignature Achievement: 4 gold medals, 1936 Berlin OlympicsUnderdog Factor: 9/10

added by IJRin 4 rankings

Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards

A self-funded plasterer with thick glasses and minimal training, Edwards was by far the worst ski jumper at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. He finished dead last in both events but became the beloved face of pure underdog spirit.

Sport: Ski JumpingEra: 1988 OlympicsThe Long Shot: Self-funded, minimal formal training, worst jumper in the fieldSignature Achievement: Became breakout folk hero of Calgary 1988 despite finishing lastUnderdog Factor: 7/10

added by IJR

Steven Bradbury

A journeyman short-track skater with a rebuilt body after a career-threatening crash, Bradbury was the longest of long shots in the 2002 final. Every rival ahead of him crashed on the last lap, and he skated through to a stunned gold.

Sport: Speed Skating (Short Track)Era: 2002 OlympicsThe Long Shot: Outsider entry, won after the entire field ahead of him crashedSignature Achievement: First Southern Hemisphere Winter Olympic gold medal, 2002Underdog Factor: 7/10

added by IJRSteven Bradbury

Muhammad Ali

As a brash young challenger named Cassius Clay, he was a heavy underdog against the terrifying, seemingly unbeatable Sonny Liston. His shocking 1964 upset launched the legend of the man who would become boxing's greatest showman and champion.

Sport: BoxingEra: 1964The Long Shot: ~7-1 underdog vs. Sonny ListonSignature Achievement: Upset Liston to win heavyweight title at age 22Underdog Factor: 8/10

added by IJRin 8 rankings

George Foreman

Written off at 45 as a novelty act, Foreman climbed into the ring against a champion two decades younger who was expected to dance around him easily. One thunderous punch later, he became the oldest heavyweight champion ever.

Sport: BoxingEra: 1994The Long Shot: Age 45, considered washed-up and too oldSignature Achievement: Knocked out Michael Moorer to reclaim heavyweight titleUnderdog Factor: 8/10

added by IJRin 5 rankings

Leon Spinks

With only seven professional fights to his name, Spinks was seen as easy work for the legendary Muhammad Ali. He shocked the boxing world with a unanimous decision win, one of the sport's most improbable title victories.

Sport: BoxingEra: 1978The Long Shot: ~10-1 underdog, only 7 pro fightsSignature Achievement: Defeated Muhammad Ali by decision, 1978Underdog Factor: 8/10

added by IJRLeon Spinks

Michael Oher

Homeless and bouncing between schools as a teenager, Oher's path to football seemed nonexistent until a family took him in and helped unlock his potential. He became a first-round NFL draft pick and Super Bowl champion, immortalized in 'The Blind Side.'

Sport: American FootballEra: 2005-2013The Long Shot: Homeless teen with almost no formal athletic recordSignature Achievement: First-round NFL draft pick, Super Bowl championUnderdog Factor: 8/10

added by IJRMichael Oher