Back to the Top News Newsfeed

Before 'Rocky,' Carl Weathers was a Raiders linebacker with acting aspirations

Related Topics: Carl Weathers

Beloved actor Carl Weathers, who died Thursday, was known for many roles throughout his career, from Apollo Creed in "Rocky" to Greef Karga in "The Mandalorian" to himself in "Arrested Development."

What most fans didn't know, however, was that a professional football career preceded all of them.

Before crossover stars such as Dwayne Johnson and Terry Crews, Weathers played in two seasons with the NFL's Oakland Raiders and three seasons for the Canadian Football League's BC Lions. Both teams paid tribute to him after his death was reported.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences.