They Couldn’t Stay Away
1. Michael Jordan
Retired January 1999–September 2001
His Airness actually stepped aside twice. The first was a season-and-a-half hiatus between the Bulls’ three-peats in the 1990s, when Jordan tried his hand at minor league baseball. But when he called it a career in the midst of an NBA lockout in 1999, it seemed like the 35-year-old was done for good. A year later he took over as president of the Wizards. When they won just 19 games in his first season, MJ realized that a potential solution to his team’s talent shortage was the guy looking back at him in the mirror. Jordan came back as a player and made the All-Star team in both of his seasons—but the Wizards never got to the playoffs.
2. Muhammad Ali
Retired July 1979–July 1980
Boxers are notorious for unretiring, and the Greatest is no exception. Ali hung up his gloves at age 37, but the lure of an $8 million payday to fight heavyweight champ Larry Holmes was too much to pass up. Holmes easily stopped Ali in the 10th round. Ali then entered the ring one last time in 1981, when he was beaten by unheralded Trevor Berbick, finally convincing the three-time heavyweight champ to quit for good.
3. Justine Henin Retired May 2008– September 2009
Ranked No. 1 in the world heading into the French Open, an event she had won each of the previous three years, Henin sent shock waves through tennis by announcing her retirement. Just 25, Henin said, “I don’t feel sadness, it’s more relief.” She added, “It’s the end of a marvelous adventure.” Not quite. She reached the finals of her first Grand Slam event after returning, the 2010 Australian Open. But an elbow injury suffered that year at Wimbledon hounded her, and she left the sport for good after the 2011 Aussie Open.
4. Gordie Howe
Retired September 1971—June 1973
Brady’s return wasn’t much of a surprise because he’s known for the great lengths to which he goes to stay in shape. That includes a diet that forbids gluten, dairy, and sugar. When Howe—who spent 25 seasons with the Red Wings—returned to the ice at age 45 to skate with his sons for the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association, his diet was more old school. His wife told sports illustrated: “Gordie’s big on cottage cheese, fruit salad, ground round, Jell-O, hot and cold cereals, and ice cream.” It worked, though. Howe stuck around seven more seasons and was the WHA MVP in 1974. He came back one last time in 1997, skating one shift for the minor league Detroit Vipers, meaning he played in six decades.
5. Brett Favre
Retired March 2008–July 2008
Before Brady, the benchmark for a QB with a short retirement was Favre. After months of speculation, the longtime Packer was gone for just four months before he admitted he was “guilty of retiring early.” He signed with the Jets and also had a stint with one of Green Bay’s division rivals, the Vikings. He led Minnesota to the NFC title game before retiring for good following the 2010 season.