Greatest Underdogs in Sports History

It’s pretty safe to say there wouldn’t be a Michael Vick or a Cam Newton if it wasn’t for Warren Moon, the NFL’s pioneer African-American quarterback (with all due respect to Doug Williams). Still, while his career accomplishments include induction into both the NFL and CFL (Canadian Football League) Hall of Fames, Moon had to do everything in his power to convince coaches and scouts he was a quarterback, at a time when the concept of a black athlete at the position was foreign. Moon went (surprise) undrafted out of the University of Washington, despite beating the lauded Michigan Wolverines in the 1978 Rose Bowl, during his senior season. The reason for getting snubbed? Moon refused to switch positions.

He joined the CFL as an alternative and enjoyed immense success—leading the Edmonton Eskimos to five consecutive championships. Moon signed with the Houston Oilers in 1984, and while he never played in the Super Bowl, Moon was a top quarterback during his NFL career, racking up nine Pro Bowl and three All-Pro selections.