Athletes who came out of retirement

With what we know now, Armstrong's comeback has been tainted due to his denial and then admittance of doping. However, his ability to return from an aggressive form of testicular cancer (that essentially forced him to quit racing and into retirement) in 1998, two years after his diagnosis, was quite the accomplishment. Of course, that's still overshadowed after what was learned about Armstrong's doping history.  

There are a couple of things we could count on from Clemens during his career: piling up strikeouts (4,672 - third all time) and coming out of retirement. Clemens retired from baseball following the 2003 season with the New York Yankees but was back in the majors with the Houston Astros in 2004. In 2006 Clemens again intended to retire but by June was throwing for the Astros. The next season, again retired, Clemens made his famous appearance in George Steinbrenner's box at Yankee Stadium during a May game. He was pitching for the Yankees in June 2007. Though 2007 was the last time Clemens pitched in the majors, the then-50-year old did throw the ball in an independent league in Texas.

At age 23, Clijsters retired from tennis in 2007, a move that was made known at the beginning of the season. By 2009, following the death of her father and birth of a daughter, Clijsters was ready to return to the court. In a revival of sorts, Clijsters approached the game in a more relaxed way and wound up winning back-to-back U.S. Open titles (2009-10) and the 2011 Australian Open. She retired again in 2012 but was back playing in early 2020.

A Hall of Famer and six-time NBA champion, Cousy spent 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics before calling it a career following the 1962-63 season. Cousy, an All-Star every season he played for the Celtics, ventured into coaching following his playing career. While coaching the Cincinnati Royals during the 1969-70 campaign, the then-41-year-old returned to the court in an attempt to help the franchise draw more fans. Cousy scored five points in seven games during his brief return.

The versatile Cunningham spent 11 seasons starring for the Philadelphia Eagles before calling it a career after the 1995 season. Or so we thought. Following a one-year stretch away from the NFL, Cunningham was back under center, this time with the Minnesota Vikings. In 1998, Cunningham enjoyed perhaps his best NFL season while throwing for 3,704 with a career-high 34 touchdown passes for the 15-1 Vikings. He spent three total seasons with Minnesota before finishing up in Dallas and Baltimore.

In the one of the more notable retirement-unretirement moments in sports history, Favre announced he was done with football in March 2008. However, reports suggested the Green Bay Packers were ready to move on from their superstar, though Favre seemed to think he had something left to offer the league. The summer of 2008 was filled with drama involving Favre's intended return and the Packers decision to not bring him back or release him. Favre was eventually traded to the New York Jets, where he lasted a season. He then landed in Minnesota, where in 2009, Favre threw for more than 4,200 yards and got the Vikings within a game of the Super Bowl.

Following a 10-year absence from the boxing ring, a 38-year-old Foreman came out of his retirement and back at it 1987. By age 45, Foreman was owner — at least partially — of the heavyweight championship. He's still the oldest boxer to hold a heavyweight title, and he also produced a mighty fine grill in the process. In 1997, Foreman retired for good with 76 victories — 68 by knockouts — to his credit.

When it comes to Gordon, his "retirement" was in regard to no longer racing full time on the NASCAR Cup circuit following the 2015 season. When Dale Earnhardt Jr. was injured during the 2016 season, Gordon, though, hopped back behind the wheel to take Junior's place and finish out the campaign. Does it count that Gordon has come out of retirement again to do some virtual racing amid the coronavirus pandemic? 

The lure of playing with buddy Tom Brady — albeit in a new city — was what it took to bring Gronkowski out of his one-season retirement. However, there had been rumors and thoughts at times during 2019 that Gronk did not have the NFL completely out of his blood. We are all eager to see what is in store for Gronkowski (521 career receptions, 7,861 yards, 79 touchdowns) when he hooks up with Brady in Tampa.

"The Dominator" is one of the greatest netminders in NHL history with 389 career wins. But following the 2001-02 season with Detroit, Hasek announced his retirement to spend more time with his family. Apparently, he had enough quality time and returned to the Red Wings for the 2003-04 campaign. However, injuries limited his return to 14 games. When Hasek retired from the NHL for good in 2008, he resurfaced in his native Czech homeland before retiring in 2012.

The Belgian star began 2008 as the No. 1-ranked female tennis player in the world. By mid-May, she had retired from the sport. A seven-time Grand Slam tournament winner, Henin ended up spending 16 months away from tennis. In September 2019, Henin announced she was making a comeback. She never won another Grand Slam event but reached the 2010 Australian Open final. For her career, Henin claimed more than 40 WTA titles.

"Mr. Hockey" played in the NHL for over five decades then retired following the 1970-71 season due to some nagging injuries. But after working in Detroit's front office, Howe was healthy enough to return to the ice as part of the new World Hockey Association. When that league folded at the end of the 1970s, Howe's Hartford Whalers joined the NHL, and he played one final campaign in 1979-80. The late Howe ranks second all time in NHL history in goals (801) fourth for points (1,850).

After testing HIV positive in November 1991, Johnson announced his immediate retirement from the NBA. It still remains one of the most stunning moments in sports history, considering the time and the general public's knowledge — or lack thereof — about HIV and AIDS. Though he played for 1992 Olympic "Dream Team" and in some preseason games in 1992-93, Johnson, who coached the Lakers in 1994, managed a full return to the NBA for one final season in 1995-96.  

In one of the most memorable moments in sports history, Jordan announced his retirement from basketball in 1993, following the Chicago Bulls' third straight NBA title. A lack of desire to play and the recent death of his father were cited as fueling Jordan's decision. He then turned to baseball but then announced "I'm back" on March 18, 1995. With Jordan's passion for basketball revived, the Bulls returned to prominence by winning another three consecutive titles from from 1996-98

After the Bulls were broken up by general manager Jerry Krause, and amid the 1998-99 lockout, Jordan retired a second time. Then his Airness said it was "99.9 percent certain" he would never play in the NBA again. Apparently those .1 percent odds were pretty good. Jordan stepped out of his executive role with Washington to play his final two seasons with the Wizards (2001-'03) before retiring for good.

With Kyle Larson out at Chip Ganassi Racing, Kenseth has reportedly come out of retirement to take his place. The 48-year-old Kenseth could begin racing as early as 2020 — whenever the season restarts. He retired from Joe Gibbs Racing in 2017 but then came back to race for Roush Fenway Racing the next year. Kenseth has 39 NASCAR Cup Series victories.

While Lafleur is among the all-time greats in Montreal Canadiens' history, a rocky relationship with coach Jacques Lemiere and the club's unwillingness to trade him left Lafleur to end his 14-year career with the Habs in retirement in 1985. After being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Lafleur (560 career goals) made an NHL comeback, this time with the New York Rangers in 1988-89, followed by two seasons with the Quebec Nordiques. 

One of the hardest working, and sometimes most agitating, players in NHL history, Lemieux retired in 2003 following 20 seasons in the NHL. After a short spell playing in Switzerland, Lemieux did a stint as an ECHL executive and dabbled in figure skating. He eventually made his way back to the NHL, with San Jose in January 2009. A Stanley Cup champ with Colorado, Lemieux recorded one point in 18 games with the Sharks before hanging up the blades for good.

Lemieux remains one of the great comeback stories. After sitting out the 1994-95 season to regain his overall strength and health follow treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, Lemieux returned to play two more campaigns with Pittsburgh before retiring in 1997. It was then that Lemieux became a majority owner and front office star of the Penguins. However, that wasn't enough as Super Mario returned to the ice to play parts of five more seasons with Pittsburgh from 2000-'06.

As much as he wanted to stay away, Ray Leonard never seemed ready to give up the sport he loved. Sugar Ray first retired from boxing in late 1982, but even though there was concern about his injured eye, he was back fighting in 1984. By the end of that year, Leonard retired again. However, he returned to upset Marvin Hagler in the "Fight of the Year" in 1987. After stepping away again, Leonard fought from 1988-91. Following another retirement, Leonard, in his 40s, returned to fight Hector Camacho in March 1997. It would be his final bout.

One of the greats in the history of the Detroit Red Wings, Lindsay registered 851 points during his NHL career. He was also a champion for players' rights and helped start the NHL Players' Association. That was partially the reason Lindsay was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he spent three seasons before retiring in 1960. However, with old pal Sid Abel in charge of the Red Wings, Lindsay returned to Detroit for one final season, recording 14 goals and 14 assists in 1964-65. 

Lynch just could not seem to make up his mind about whether to keep playing football. The longtime Seattle Seahawks running back, Lynch retired following the 2015 season but resurfaced with the Oakland Raiders for 2017 and '18. Lynch retired a second time but never actually filled any paperwork to make it official. In December 2019 he was back with the Seahawks, and he rushed for four TDs in three regular-season and playoff contests. 

Digging deep in the annals of the Lakers, back when they were residing in Minneapolis, the great 6-foot-10 Mikan ruled the court. In seven seasons with the Lakers, Mikan averaged more than 23 points and double-digit rebounds. During that run, though, a seemingly uninterested Mikan retired after the 1953-54 season. Following that season off, Mikan returned to the Lakers for one final push that included 37 games in 1955-56.

The bruising Nagurski played all nine of his NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears. He left the team following the 1937 season and then spent some time as a professional wrestler, something he also did prior to his first retirement and well after he officially ended his football career. Nagurski returned to help the Bears win a championship in 1943 — when the league was light on players due to World War II.

A celebrated closer with 358 career saves, injuries forced Percival out of the game for the 2006 season. However, upon returning to health, Percival was back on the mound with St. Louis in 2007. The right-hander then pitched two more seasons with Tampa Bay, where he converted 28 of 32 save opportunities during 2008. 

Prior to the 2011 season, Pettitte announced his retirement after 16 seasons with the New York Yankees and Houston Astros. But after sitting out one season, the left-hander was ready to return to the hill. Pettitte came back to pitch two more seasons with the Yankees, in 2012 and '13. He won 11 games over 30 starts in what would become his final major league season of 2013 — the 16th time he posted at least 10 victories.  

With 28 medals, Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time. But he needed a pause in the action to make it happen. Following the 2012 Games, with 22 of those medals already in tow, Phelps retired from the pool. By 2014, though, he was ready to get back and prepare for the 2016 Olympics. Despite being charged with a DUI, Phelps trudged through that setback to win his final six Olympic medals in Rio.

After years with Montreal, the great netminder Plante played two seasons with the New York Rangers before he retired in 1965. By the 1968-69 season, Plante was ready to return to the net, and he did so with the St. Louis Blues. Plante went on to play two seasons with the Blues and another three with Toronto and Boston before playing his final NHL game during the 1972-73 run. 

In the middle of the 1994 season, Sandberg abruptly retired from baseball while struggling with the Chicago Cubs at the time. The Hall of Famer said he simply lost his ability to approach the game with passion every day. However, Sandberg regained that fire and returned to the Cubs in 1996, playing two more seasons before retiring for good. Over the 1995 and '96 seasons, Sandberg hit .253 with 37 home runs and 156 RBIs while making just 14 errors.

After three seasons away from pro football, Sanders returned to the NFL to play two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2004 and '05). "Prime Time" played both cornerback and safety with the Ravens during that time and showed some flashes of his old self. Over 25 games during those two seasons, Sanders recorded five total interceptions for a Baltimore squad that failed to make the playoffs each year.

The Formula One superstar retired in 2006, opting to remain with Ferrari in a non-racing capacity. By 2010, though, Schumacher was back on the track, this time for Mercedes in a run that lasted into the 2012 season. It was then that Schumacher decided to again announce his retirement from F1 racing after more than 20 years of competition. He finished his brilliant, and sometime controversial, career, with a record 91 Grand Prix wins and seven F1 world championships. 

Stieb won 176 games during a 16-year career — all but one coming with the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-hander dealt with injuries during the early 1990s and retired from baseball after pitching in just four games with the Chicago White Sox in 1993. In 1998, Stieb returned to the Blue Jays. He went 1-2 with three starts, two saves and a 4.83 ERA over 19 appearances in his final season.

If we want to get technical, Torres did not officially retire from competitive swimming after making appearances in the 1984, '88 and '92 Olympics. Following a lengthy break from the pool, the then-33-year-old Torres returned to the Olympic scene by winning five of her total 12 Olympic medals at the 2000 Sydney Games. Then, after more time off and following the birth of her first child, Torres won silver three times at the 2008 Beijing Games at age 41.

Wallace called it quits — the first time — in 2010 following a solid 15-year career that included an NBA title with Detroit in 2004. However, Wallace came out of retirement to play for the New York Knicks in 2012-13. Wallace played just 21 games for New York and only one after the middle of December. He averaged 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds for the Knicks during his rather uneventful return.

One of the great players at any position in NFL history, the late White totaled 198 sacks (second all time) during his Hall-of-Fame, 15-year career in the NFL. White retired from the league, first after the 1998 season with Green Bay. However, following one year out of the game, White resurfaced with the Carolina Panthers. Though starting all 16 games for Carolina in 2000, White managed just 5.5 sacks and then called it a career for good.

One season away from the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys was apparently too long to keep the star tight end down. After spending the 2018 season as an analyst for "Monday Night Football," Witten returned to the Cowboys in 2019 and was quite solid. Witten, 39 in May, caught 63 passes for 529 yards and four touchdowns on his 2019 return. He signed a one-year deal to play with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020.