The Top 5 What-Ifs in NFL History

Over the past decade, the NFL has delivered unforgettable moments that reshaped franchises, legacies, and even the direction of the sport itself. But for every Lombardi Trophy lifted, there’s a lingering “what if” that could have completely rewritten NFL history. In this post, I'll break down the top 5 "what-ifs" in NFL history and explore how differently the league might look today if just one moment had changed.

5. What if the Bears drafted Mahomes?

It is safe to say that Mahomes has solidified himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history with 3 super bowls after only 9 seasons. But that all could have been different if he had never been on the Chiefs. In the 2017 draft, the Bears held an earlier pick and needed a qb. However, they opted to choose Mitchell Tribusky instead. Tribusky's stint with the Bears lasted only a few years before they moved on from him. But if the Bears had drafted Mahomes instead, this would have been much different. Pairing such an elite quarterback with such an elite defense in 2018 would almost certainly have led the Bears to success. They may have even had the next dynasty with Mahomes' potential. The Chiefs, on the other hand, would have had to look for a different QB at the time and may have never gotten the success they have today without Mahomes.

4. What if RGIII never got hurt?

RGIII came into the league as one of the best young quarterbacks. He had an elite rookie season, putting up 3200 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions, earning a Pro Bowl selection and 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year. He led the redskins to a 10-6 season, winning the NFC East. However, after the playoffs, nothing was the same for RG3. He entered wild card weekend with a weak knee after an injury in December. He ended up tearing his ACL, LCL, and meniscus in his right knee in this wild-card game against the Seahawks. After this, he never regained his spark and was no longer considered elite. But if he had never gotten hurt? He had the potential to be a consistently top quarterback every year and may even have had a shot at bringing the Redskins to the Super Bowl. He could have even still been elite to this day.

3. What if Luck didn't retire early?

Just like RG3, Andrew Luck entered the league and solidified himself as a top quarterback in his rookie year in 2012. And just like RG3, injuries limited his potential to be an all time great quarterback. Luck played 7 seasons for the Colts, where he made 4 Pro Bowls. Luck made a huge impact in his first year by setting the rookie records for most passing yards in a season and game, and led a team that went 2–14 the previous year to an 11–5 record. He famously led the Indianapolis Colts back from a 38-10 deficit against the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2013 Wild Card round, which is the second-largest comeback in NFL playoff history. His furthest playoff run was the AFC title game in 2014, which was statistically one of his best seasons. However, he suffered many injuries, with the most notable being a torn labrum in his shoulder in 2017, which made him miss the whole season. He ended up retiring after one of his best seasons at the age of only 29. But had he not dealt with all these issues? He would still be performing at the top of the league at the age of 36. With his talent, he could have solidified himself as an all-time great quarterback, but instead, his career was unfortunately cut short.

2. What if the Seahawks ran the ball?

This one is the most self-explanatory, but still has great magnitude. It was so simple for Seattle. They had arguably the best RB in the league at the time with Marshawn Lynch and were one yard away from scoring a touchdown and basically securing the Super Bowl. But instead, they chose to pass it and threw a pick to Malcom Butler, giving the Patriots the Super Bowl. Had they run the ball, not only would they have been champions that year, but they could also have been a dynasty with the Legion of Boom. However, the team was never the same after this play, and it started the downfall of the LOB.

1. What if Drew Bledsoe never got hurt?

Drew Bledsoe getting hurt in 2001 opened the door for Tom Brady to prove himself. If he had never gotten injured, Brady may have never been able to get a shot as a starter, as he wasn't the highest regarded prospect coming into the league. Bledsoe getting hurt may have been the most important factor in Brady's legendary career, and if he had never gotten hurt, Brady may have just been another irrelevant quarterback instead of the consensus GOAT that he is regarded as today.