at M&T Bank Stadium on December 24, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Every now and then, a player comes out of nowhere and sets the NFL on fire. Maybe it’s a quarterback who suddenly looks like an MVP, a running back who is running like someone turned the sliders up in Madden, or a wide receiver racking up huge stat totals every single week.

For one magical season, they own the league… and then as quickly as the magic started… poof – it vanishes. Seemingly into thin air!

Let’s take a look back at 15 NFL players who were the biggest one-season wonders that the league has ever seen!

Which players had one good season but were quickly forgotten in the NFL?

Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns

December 24, 2011; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis (40) in action against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens beat the Browns 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Peyton Hillis spent his first two years as a relative unknown in Denver, a grinder of a back best suited for keeping depth on the roster.

But when he landed in Cleveland, everything changed.

He exploded for 1,177 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns, and an absurd 61 receptions for 477 yards in 2010. He was unstoppable—a bruising back who ran like a wrecking ball with soft hands to boot. He became a fantasy football legend overnight.

The hype got so crazy that he won the fan vote to be on the cover of Madden NFL 12—a moment that would go down as the peak of his career.

Injuries hit, the production fell off a cliff, and by 2011, he was a shell of himself. He bounced around the league for three more years but was never the same, tacking on less than 600 yards across the three.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins

Aug 29, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) directs receivers before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Few rookies have ever entered the league in a more electric fashion than Robert Griffin III… especially at the quarterback position.

Washington bet the house on him in 2012, trading up to the second overall pick, and early on it looked like a brilliant move.

Griffin took the league by storm—throwing for 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just five picks while adding 815 rushing yards on the ground. He led Washington to the playoffs and won Offensive Rookie of the Year over Andrew Luck.

And then… it all came crashing down. He suffered a brutal knee injury and sadly was never the same—ending up as an all-time what could’ve been—and one-season wonder.

Don Majkowski, QB, Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Don Majkowski (7) celebrates the instant-replay call confirming his game-winning touchdown pass to Sterling Sharpe against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on Nov. 5, 1989. The Packers won 14-13. Packers Bears For Packers Saints Nov 5 1989

In 1989, Majkowski lit up the NFL with 4,318 passing yards, finishing in the top five by tossing 27 touchdowns and even giving the Packers a 10 – 6 record, which was somewhat rare at that time among players.

He wasn’t just good—he was must-watch TV, pulling off clutch wins, a la Tim Tebow, and fans donned him “the Majik Man.”

Unfortunately for Green Bay, Majkowski never hit that level again. He got paid, got hurt, and lost his starting job just two years later.

Daniel Jones, QB, New York Giants

Nov 10, 2024; Munich, Germany; New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) throws the ball against the Carolina Panthers in the second half during the 2024 NFL Munich Game at Allianz Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Daniel Jones’ entire Giants career has been a rollercoaster, but in 2022, it actually looked like he had figured it out.

Jones led New York to a 9-6-1 record, which was the only winning season of his career and a playoff win.

He finished with 3205 yards and 15 touchdowns to 5 picks and added over 700 yards on the ground. This all came in Brian Daboll’s first season leading the org and folks though that perhaps they were building something, but alas, that all came crumbling down in dramatic fashion—as he was eventually cast out of town in humiliating fashion.

Kyle Arrington, CB, New England Patriots

Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington (25) in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Arrington led all the NFL players with seven interceptions in 2011. Seven. The guy was a bonafide ballhawk in a secondary, and a critical part in helping the Patriots go 13-3 and on a nice little playoff run.

Pretty stunning, considering he finished his seven-year career with just nine total picks!

Who knows what black magic Coach Belichick was cooking up that season, but man, was it working!

Marcus Robinson, WR, Chicago Bears

Aug 31, 2006; Irving, TX USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver (87) Marcus Robinson catches a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports(c) Copyright 2006 Tim Heitman
If you weren’t following the NFL in the late ‘90s, you might not even remember Marcus Robinson. But for one season, the former fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bears looked like the next big thing.

In 1999, Robinson torched defenses with 84 receptions, 1,400 yards, and nine touchdowns—one of the best years for a receiver in Bears history.

While it helped him get a nice contract, defenses ultimately adjusted, and Robinson never came close to that level again, only topping 50 catches and 700 yards one time in the other eight years of his career.

Terdell Middleton, RB, Green Bay Packers

Jan 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers helmet on the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Terdell Middleton had one great year in Green Bay. One. And if you blinked, you might have missed it.

Drafted in the third round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1977, Middleton ended up in Green Bay, where, in 1978, he looked like the next great Packers running back. Over 1,100 yards on the ground, 11 touchdowns—numbers that had fans thinking they’d found a star NFL player.

But football has a way of humbling you fast. Middleton never came close to that production again. His rushing totals plummeted, his role diminished, and by 1984, he was out of the league entirely. One season of brilliance, and it was a wrap—he never topped 500 yards again in his NFL career.

Josh Norman, CB, Carolina Panthers

Oct 28, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) makes a catch against Carolina Panthers defensive back Josh Norman (24) during the second half at Soldier Field. The Chicago Bears defeat the Carolina Panthers 23-22. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Josh Norman’s 2015 season was ridiculous. There is no doubt that… Six forced turnovers, two defensive touchdowns, and a level of swagger that made him the talk of the league. He was so good that Washington threw $75 million at him in free agency.

But while he has remained in the zeitgeist in years since—it, frankly, hasn’t been for his play.

Norman never lived up to the hype. He ran his mouth, got burned constantly, and somehow kept getting paid despite being a liability in coverage.

But I guess credit to him for cashing in at the perfect time—because, after 2015, he was just another cornerback.

Le’Ron McClain, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Oct. 24, 2010; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens fullback Le’Ron McClain (33) runs the ball getting away from Buffalo Bills safety Donte Whitner (20), Chris Kelsay (90) and Paul Posluszny (51) during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The best running backs in the NFL don’t always start out as star players. Some get their shot through injuries. Some work their way up from the bottom. And some, like Le’Ron McClain, get their moment in the spotlight and make the absolute most of it—only for it to disappear just as fast.

He rumbled for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns, proving that he wasn’t just a blocker—he was a weapon. He bulldozed his way to an All-Pro selection, and suddenly, Baltimore had a new name in the backfield…

That is… until McGahee returned and Ray Rice entered the scene and wouldn’t know it? His time as a feature back was over just like that.

LaMont Jordan, RB, Oakland Raiders

December 9, 2007; Green Bay, WI, USA; Oakland Raiders running back LaMont Jordan (34) carries the football as Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk (50) readies to make the tackle at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Raiders 38-7. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
For years, LaMont Jordan played the role of backup to Curtis Martin—a former second-round pick and a clearly talented runner stuck behind a Hall of Famer on the Jets depth chart.

He showed flashes in limited action, but no one really knew what he could do as a starter, until in 2005, the Raiders gave him that chance.

Jordan backed their trust nicely by racking up 1,025 rushing yards, 70 receptions, and 11 total touchdowns, proving he could be both a workhorse and a threat in the passing game.

He was the kind of dual-threat back that was just starting to become popular in the league, and it looked like Oakland had found its offensive centerpiece.

Unfortunately, he tore his MCL the following season and was never the same after that.

In fact, he never rushed for more than 500 yards in a season again—and it wasn’t too long after that that the Raiders moved on.

Larry Brown, CB, Dallas Cowboys

Jan 28, 1996; Tempe, AZ, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Larry Brown (24) carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XXX at Sun Devil Stadium. Dallas defeated Pittsburgh 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Paul Gero/The Arizona Republic-USA TODAY Sports
Larry Brown didn’t just have a good season in 1995. He had the season—one that landed him on the sport’s biggest stage with the sport’s biggest prize.

That Cowboys defense was stacked, but in Super Bowl XXX, it was Brown who made the plays. Two interceptions. Super Bowl MVP. A parade, a ring, a legacy cemented. And, of course, a massive payday.

The Raiders did what the Raiders always have seem to do—and they threw $12.5 million at him, convinced they were getting an elite corner.

Brown, however, lasted eight games in Oakland before getting benched and suspended shortly thereafter.

In 1998, with his career hanging on by a thread, he found his way back to Dallas, barely clinging to an NFL roster, but alas, the magic of that wonderous one season was nowhere to be found for the former player.

Patrick Jeffers, WR, Carolina Panthers

Dec 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Panthers helmet rests on the bench against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
If you don’t remember Patrick Jeffers, don’t worry—you’re not alone. He isn’t exactly a household name…

The guy played five seasons in the NFL. Only twice did he suit up for more than 10 games. But for one glorious season in 1999, he was the guy in Carolina, posting a stat line of 63 catches, 1,082 yards, and 12 touchdowns.

He was fast, he had great hands, and for that one stretch, he was unstoppable. Panthers fans thought that with him and Muhsin Muhammad, they might have a duo they could really build around.

Sad to say it, but knee injuries ended up wrecking him. He missed the entire 2000 season, played sparingly in 2001, and was out of the league before most fans even learned his name.

Michael Clayton, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

August 21, 2010; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Michael Clayton (80) warms up before their game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
When the Buccaneers spent the 15th overall pick on Michael Clayton in 2004, they thought they had a future star. And for a little while, they were right.

Clayton’s rookie year was everything you could want from a young wideout—80 catches, 1,193 yards, and seven touchdowns. He was smooth, physical, and had a knack for making tough catches in traffic.

The kind of player NFL defenses immediately had to respect and gameplan for… Bucs fans thought that they had finally found the offensive star the franchise was after.

What happened from that point on, well, your guess is as good as ours! He was a shell of himself the following year, failing to surpass the 400 yard mark.

And though he managed to stick around until 2011, he never came close to rediscovering the form he had his rookie year… Never even sniffed it!

Derek Anderson, QB, Cleveland Browns

Dec 27, 2009; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson (3) reacts after a touchdown during the first quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
There weren’t exactly high expectations for Derek Anderson entering the NFL as a sixth-round pick in 2005 by Baltimore.

He failed to stick there and landed in Cleveland, where he expectedly rode pine for the majority of his tenure.

But eventually, he stuck around long enough and a sort of miracle happened.

It was 2007, and for a brief moment, Derek Anderson turned into a guy that some thought could potentially develop into a franchise quarterback.

People couldn’t believe it. After years of turmoil, the Browns had a quarterback who looked legitimate.

Yes… there were the interceptions, but lest we forget—this is the 2000s Browns we are talking about! And Anderson threw for 3,787 yards, 29 touchdowns, made the Pro Bowl, and even led Cleveland to a 10-6 record, their best in forever.

The next year, however, that all changed as Anderson regressed fast. He threw just 9 touchdowns in 10 games, got benched, and never came close to hitting the peaks that he hit in that crazy 2007 season.

Over the next 11 seasons, he started 31 games total and became just another backup bouncing around the league… Of course, in Cleveland it was too good to be true!

Steve Slaton, RB Houston Texans

Oct 3, 2010; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Texans running back Steve Slaton (20) straight arms Oakland Raiders safety Tyvon Branch (33) on a 23-yard run at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Texans defeated the Raiders 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
There were few college running backs more than electric than a young Steve Slaton… the man was a revelation running alongside quarterback Pat White.

Speed, vision, versatility—Slaton had everything you wanted in a modern running back. And when he fell to the Texans in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft, it looked like Houston had just stolen a future star.

And you know what? There was a time when Slaton looked like a steal for the Texans in 2008. As a rookie, he ran for 1,282 yards, added another 50 catches, and had double-digit touchdowns.

The fact of the matter is the guy seemed like he was Houston’s long-term answer at running back.

The next season, however, Slaton went off a cliff, finishing with just 437 yards in 11 games, as he dealt with injuries and fumbling issues.

By 2010, Slaton was barely an afterthought in Houston’s offense, and the following year, he was cut.

And just like that, a player who once looked like one of the league’s brightest young stars was completely out of the NFL. Just insane, considering how promising the start to his career looked.