List of NFL players who missed season due to contract issue

[Bryan]

Was reading an old blurb on John Riggins, and it was mentioned that he was the only guy to actually miss an entire season due to a contract dispute. I thought Jeris White sat out a couple years later with the Redskins, but White never played again so I guess technically he retired. I remember Todd Bell and Al Harris sitting out during the 1985 Bears season. My informal research shows Sean Gilbert sitting out the 1997 season. But I can't find/recall other instances of missed seasons. Does anyone have a list?

[BD Sullivan]

Was reading an old blurb on John Riggins, and it was mentioned that he was the only guy to actually miss an entire season due to a contract dispute. I thought Jeris White sat out a couple years later with the Redskins, but White never played again so I guess technically he retired. I remember Todd Bell and Al Harris sitting out during the 1985 Bears season. My informal research shows Sean Gilbert sitting out the 1997 season. But I can't find/recall other instances of missed seasons. Does anyone have a list?

Not sure if Tom Skladany qualifies, but here goes: he was drafted in the second round by the Browns in 1977, then wouldn't sign because of a contract dispute and didn't play all season. Just prior to the 1978 Draft, he was dealt to the Lions for a #3 (RB Larry Collins) and #7 (Jack Matia).

A decade later, a similar situation developed when Kelly Stouffer was drafted in the 1st round by the Cardinals and refused to sign. Just before the '88 Draft, he was dealt to Seattle.

Mike Merriwether sat out the 1988 season with the Steelers, then was traded to the Vikings during the offseason for their 1st round pick.

Gary Anderson sat out the 1989 season while with the Chargers.

[JWL]

Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert sat out the 1990 season due to a contract dispute.

[L.C. Greenwood]

Was reading an old blurb on John Riggins, and it was mentioned that he was the only guy to actually miss an entire season due to a contract dispute. I thought Jeris White sat out a couple years later with the Redskins, but White never played again so I guess technically he retired. I remember Todd Bell and Al Harris sitting out during the 1985 Bears season. My informal research shows Sean Gilbert sitting out the 1997 season. But I can't find/recall other instances of missed seasons. Does anyone have a list?

Not sure if Tom Skladany qualifies, but here goes: he was drafted in the second round by the Browns in 1977, then wouldn't sign because of a contract dispute and didn't play all season. Just prior to the 1978 Draft, he was dealt to the Lions for a #3 (RB Larry Collins) and #7 (Jack Matia).

A decade later, a similar situation developed when Kelly Stouffer was drafted in the 1st round by the Cardinals and refused to sign. Just before the '88 Draft, he was dealt to Seattle.

Mike Merriwether sat out the 1988 season with the Steelers, then was traded to the Vikings during the offseason for their 1st round pick.

Gary Anderson sat out the 1989 season while with the Chargers.

I think we'll find most players who decided not to play after signing a contract hurt their own careers. Mike Merriweather and Gary Anderson weren't the same players after sitting out a year, and Todd Bell/Al Harris missed out on playing for the 1985 Bears. Kelly Stouffer was a bust with Seattle.

[JohnTurney]

Steve Beuerlein, 1990? Not sure about details but he sat out

[BD Sullivan]

Sam Cunningham, 1980
Chip Banks, 1988
Stephone Paige, 1992

[conace21]

Steve Beuerlein, 1990? Not sure about details but he sat out

Beuerlein actually was signed in September of 1990, after a summer holdout. A spiteful Al Davis, who favored Jay Schroeder, made Beuerlein the third string quarterback, behind 35 year old Vince Evans. He was inactive for every game and traded to Dallas the following summer.

[JohnTurney]

Steve Beuerlein, 1990? Not sure about details but he sat out

Beuerlein actually was signed in September of 1990, after a summer holdout. A spiteful Al Davis, who favored Jay Schroeder, made Beuerlein the third string quarterback, behind 35 year old Vince Evans. He was inactive for every game and traded to Dallas the following summer.

thanks... I forgot details, I know SB hated Davis...I had forgotten that he did sign, appreciated

[BD Sullivan]

Steve Beuerlein, 1990? Not sure about details but he sat out

Beuerlein actually was signed in September of 1990, after a summer holdout. A spiteful Al Davis, who favored Jay Schroeder, made Beuerlein the third string quarterback, behind 35 year old Vince Evans. He was inactive for every game and traded to Dallas the following summer.

I know SB hated Davis

He was about four millionth in that line.

[Jay Z]

I think we'll find most players who decided not to play after signing a contract hurt their own careers. Mike Merriweather and Gary Anderson weren't the same players after sitting out a year, and Todd Bell/Al Harris missed out on playing for the 1985 Bears. Kelly Stouffer was a bust with Seattle.

It wasn't a full season, but I don't think Dan Fouts was hurt by holding out most of the season in 1977. The Chargers didn't have a better option, and I guess trading him wouldn't have made any sense. In a lot of these cases, if the player in question is significant, a trade will be forced as the team doesn't want to see the value go out the window. That would happen later for the Chargers with John Jefferson and Fred Dean.

The Chicago Bears had a ton of problems in the early 1970s due to the presumably cheapskate ways of the Halas family. Ross Brupbacher, only in his fourth season, retired in 1973, came back for 1974 in the WFL, was inactive again in 1975, came back to the Bears one more time in 1976, and retired for good the next year. Jim Cadile was another who retired from the Bears and wound up in the NFL. Jack Concannon wound up leaving as a FA for the Cowboys' taxi squad. The Bears ruined Dick Gordon's career; Gordon played out his option, but missed most of 1972 when the Bears could never agree on compensation with any team. Gordon's career never recovered.