The Most Overrated Sports Legends

Here are 13 legends with un-legendary stats, in no particular order, like Joe Namath, Mike Vick, and Troy Aikman.

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Complex Original

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We’ve been told by Michael Smith and Jemele Hill that numbers never lie.

The truth is, sometimes they lie.

A lot of what sports is cannot be quantified by statistics. Becoming a legend is proof positive of this: One big moment, ad campaign from Nike, or playing on a talented team can elevate you to the status of certified legend. Look at David Tyree. The guy never had more than 211 receiving yards in a season, and he’s one of the most beloved players in Giants history thanks to one catch. He’ll be on Super Bowl highlight reels for the next 100 years. The opposite is true of Bill Buckner, who amassed over 2,700 hits and a batting title in 21 big-league seasons—but is remembered for one bad play.

A lot of guys who are considered legends in their respective sports are not statistically accomplished. Some were great for a short period of time, but then were debilitated by injuries. Others had a bigger cultural impact than they did on the field. With that said, here are 13 legends with un-legendary stats.

Mike Vick

Mike Vick Falcons 2006

Teams: Falcons, Eagles, Jets, Steelers

Career Stats: 61-51-1, 133 TDs, 88 INTs, 6,109 rushing yards

Hall of Fame Induction: None

Vick is sometimes considered as a quasi-legend—but will never wind up close to the Hall of Fame. The signal-caller was a monumental cultural figure before he went to jail, racking up monster jersey sales figures and appearing on the cover of Madden 04 (as the greatest player in Madden history). He also was honored by the Falcons at the last regular season game at the Georgia Dome.

Despite being an uber-exciting dual-threat quarterback with great speed and arm strength, Vick was a lackluster passer at best. He put up a 53.8 completion percentage in six years with the Falcons, and had a 56.2 mark for his career. Vick also turned the ball over 131 times in 143 games, and lead the league in fumbles twice.

Troy Aikman

Troy Aikman Dallas Cowboys 2011

Herschel Walker

Herschel Walker Vikings 1990s

Lynn Swann

Lynn Swann Pittsburgh Steelers 2012

Joe Namath

Joe Namath Jets 1975

Tracy McGrady

Tracy McGrady Rockets 2009

Yao Ming

Yao Ming Hall of Fame 2016

Penny Hardaway

Penny Hardaway 1999 Magic Raptors

Bernard King

Bernard King Knicks MSG 2016

Bill Walton

Bill Walton 2017 Blazers Moda Center

Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan Rangers Brewers 1990

Jim Rice

Jim Rice Hall of Fame 2011

Roger Maris

Roger Maris New York Yankees

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