Athletes who were drafted but never played
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Athletes Who Were Drafted but Never Played — Daily trivia Monday, August 31, 2026: questions and answers
All 10 questions with answers and explanations. Play this daily
Q 01Which first-overall NFL pick refused to sign with the Buccaneers?
- AArchie Griffin
- BDoug Flutie
- CBo Jackson
- DVinny Testaverde
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Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson blamed a Tampa Bay visit for costing him his last college baseball season, signed with the Royals instead, and joined the Raiders a year later as a seventh-round pick.
Q 02Which NFL quarterback was drafted as a catcher by the Expos?
- APeyton Manning
- BDrew Brees
- CBrett Favre
- DTom Brady
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Tom Brady
Tom Brady was drafted as a catcher by the Montreal Expos in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft. He chose to attend college for football and never played professional baseball.
Q 03Which Olympic sprinter was drafted by both the Cowboys and the Bulls?
- AEdwin Moses
- BCarl Lewis
- CJesse Owens
- DBob Beamon
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Carl Lewis
Carl Lewis, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bulls in 1984 despite not having played college football or basketball. He never pursued a professional career in either sport.
Q 04Which Heisman winner went first-round in both the MLB and NFL drafts?
- AKyler Murray
- BBaker Mayfield
- CJoe Burrow
- DLamar Jackson
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Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray was the first player drafted in the first round of both the NFL and MLB drafts: ninth overall by the Oakland Athletics in 2018, then first overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019 after choosing football.
Q 05Which NFL quarterback was drafted by both the Orioles and the Rockies?
- APhilip Rivers
- BRussell Wilson
- CMatthew Stafford
- DMatt Ryan
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Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson, known for his Super Bowl-winning NFL career, was drafted twice by MLB teams: by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007 and the Colorado Rockies in 2010. He played minor league baseball before committing to football.
Q 06Which Yankees first-overall pick never reached the majors after hurting his shoulder in a fight defending his brother?
- AChipper Jones
- BBrien Taylor
- CAlex Rodriguez
- DKen Griffey Jr.
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Brien Taylor
Brien Taylor. Scott Boras called the 1991 top pick the best high-school pitcher he had ever seen, yet Taylor never pitched above Double-A.
Q 07Which Heisman winner did the Yankees draft despite no college baseball?
- ADanny Wuerffel
- BCharlie Ward
- CGino Torretta
- DEric Crouch
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Charlie Ward
Charlie Ward never played baseball at Florida State, yet the Brewers drafted him in 1993 and the Yankees in 1994. No NFL team drafted him at all; he played 11 NBA seasons instead, mostly for the Knicks.
Q 08Who was drafted by the MLB, NBA, ABA and NFL in 1973?
- ADanny Ainge
- BDave Winfield
- CTony Gonzalez
- DDeion Sanders
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Dave Winfield
Dave Winfield never played college football, yet the Vikings drafted him anyway; the Padres took him fourth overall and he debuted in the majors without a single minor-league game.
Q 09Which first-overall pick did the Mets take ahead of Reggie Jackson?
- AMike Ivie
- BPete Broberg
- CAl Chambers
- DSteve Chilcott
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Steve Chilcott
Steve Chilcott, a high-school catcher, went first in 1966; Reggie Jackson went second to the A's. A shoulder injury kept Chilcott from ever reaching the majors.
Q 10Which BAA first-overall pick skipped the league to coach high school?
- AClifton McNeely
- BHarry Gallatin
- CRalph Beard
- DPaul Arizin
Show answer
Clifton McNeely
Clifton McNeely, the first No. 1 pick in BAA/NBA history, never played pro; he coached Pampa High School in Texas to state titles, and the Pittsburgh Ironmen who drafted him folded that same year.
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