When athletes are at the peak of their careers, they're often in the best shape of their lives. They follow proper eating habits, and they get to exercise consistently. Of course, things change when they finally retire because they finally get to have their freedom.
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This means that they will start to eat all the foods they weren't allowed to when they were still competing. Many athletes were lucky enough to stay in shape, but others experienced gaining a lot of weight. Let's take a look at some of the most popular retired athletes who lost their form, and let's see what they're up to these days.
Wesley Sneijder, Retired Since 2019 - Divorced With 2 Kids
Dutch footballer Wesley Sneijder only retired in 2019, but he is already packing on some extra weight. He followed a strict diet program for so many years. It looks like he now wants to experience living life, not caring how "fattening" or "unhealthy" a particular meal is.
Sneijder will still be involved in the soccer scene because he reportedly now has a director role in FC Utrecht. In 2010, he tied the knot with the beautiful Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen who's a host and actress. Unfortunately, they called it quits in 2019.
JaMarcus Russell, Retired Since 2009 - Single
JaMarcus Russell was an NFL player who had a three-season career with the Oakland Raiders. The team released him back in 2010 because he has a poor work ethic, and his performance on the field is just too inconsistent. Russell has been trying to get into other teams, but no one wants to sign him.
He is 34 years old today, and experts say there is a little to no chance of any team signing him because of his poor track record. Russel has been going through some weight gain and is not prioritizing staying in shape anymore. Russell ended his career with about 4,083 passing yards.
Scott Mitchell, Retired Since 2002 - Married With 2 Kids
After playing football for the University of Utah, Scott Mithcell was able to enter the NFL and become part of teams like the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Cincinnati Bengals. Scott has been in retirement from playing since 2002. He later spent some time working as a football coach.
Scott stopped coaching in 2012 and later focused on the software business he had. His weight became such a problem for him that he then ended up joining The Biggest Loser: Glory Days. Unfortunately, Scott didn't win the show, but he was able to show some improvements.
Roger Clemens, Retired Since 2008 - Married With 4 Kids
Roger Clemens became part of several baseball teams throughout the entire course of his career. He is famous for his time with the New York Yankees. After retiring, controversy followed him because he was facing accusations of using performance-enhancing drugs.
Clemens said he was not guilty of the accusations thrown at him, so they later accused him of lying. In 2016, they pronounced him not guilty of giving false statements. His stomach has been growing in recent years, and this is because he eats a lot of unhealthy meals. In 2019, Clemens was able to make it into the Hall of Fame of the Pawtucket Red Sox.
Ken Griffey Jr., Retired Since 2010 - Married With 3 Kids
Ken Griffey Jr. enjoyed a fruitful baseball career during the '90s and 2000s. Griffey was a member of teams like the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. If you see him today, you will notice how he is way bigger than he was.
It's as if his intake of calories has doubled in recent years. Griffey has begun retirement since 2010, and he has since worked as a special consultant for the Mariners. He lives a peaceful life in Winter Garden, Florida, with his wife Melissa and their three kids. His eldest son is an NFL player while his daughter is a basketball player.
Kevin Stevens, Retired Since 2002 - Married With 3 Kids
Kevin Stevens was a memorable member of the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team. His hockey career came to an end back in 2002. He later pursued a career as a talent scout for the Penguins. Stevens was officially named their Special Assignment Scout in 2017.
He doesn't watch his diet today, and you can see it through his massive physique. There was a time wherein Stevens was heavily addicted to prescription medication. After authorities caught him red-handed, he had to do community service and was under probation. This part of his life was in the 2018 documentary titled Shattered.
Diego Maradona, Retired Since 1997 - Divorced With 5 Kids
Diego Maradona had a fantastic career as a soccer player and coach. In 2019, he started coaching a new club, Gimnasia de La Plata. If you have been a fan of his since way back, you would know that Maradona did struggle with his weight even when he was still playing.
Natural ways just didn't cut it, so he had to get a gastric bypass surgery in 2005. Unfortunately, Maradona eventually did gain back the weight. One of the things that probably caused him to gain weight was his drinking problem, but he says he has been sober since the mid-2000s.
Keith McCants, Retired Since 1995 - Divorced With 3 Kids
In 2019, Keith McCants became one of the hosts of Hear It Now!. Back then, he was famous for his sports career, wherein he was a linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Oilers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His playing career ended in 1995, and it looks like he hasn't stopped eating since then.
McCants is a big guy today, and it looks like he barely does anything to keep his fitness intact. He was able to pursue a career as a police officer and was the first marine officer in the state of Alabama, who was black.
Paul Gascoigne, Retired Since 2004 - Divorced With 3 Kids
You guys might have seen Paul Gascoigne's on some headlines in December 2019. News broke out that a security guard tackled him in London after he left a store without paying for the bottle of wine he took. For those of you who don't know him, he's a former soccer player and manager.
After retiring from playing back in 2004, Paul got addicted to alcohol and just had poor eating habits. This is why he just kept getting heavier and heavier as the years passed. His drinking problem caused him to have a ton of run-ins with the law for over a decade already.
Shaquille O'Neal, Retired Since 2011 - Divorced With 5 Kids
Former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal was famous even after retiring from the NBA back in 2011 because of his different ventures. He got to have his podcast, reality shows, and rap albums. O'Neal even went on tour as a DJ under the alias, DIESEL.
He has put on some extra pounds over the years, but it hasn't gotten to the point wherein he needs to get weight loss surgery or something. Although, we're sure spending more time exercising will do wonders for his current physique. O'Neal became a spokesperson and part of the board of directors of the Papa John's pizza chain in 2019.
Mike Scioscia, Retired Since 1992 - Married With 2 Kids
Mike Scioscia is far from looking like how he used to be during his Major League Baseball career. He has a beer belly now, and his hair is entirely white. It seems like restricting himself from tasty meals is not really what he wants to be doing at 61 years old.
Scioscia used to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers but later became a baseball manager. He spent over a decade managing the Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels. Scioscia officially stepped down from the role back in September 2018.
Charles Barkley, Retired Since 2000 - Married With 1 Kid
Charles Barkley was famous for his superb skills as a power forward in the NBA. He was part of teams like the Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, and Houston Rockets. Barkley used to look like he was going to the gym every day, but today, he is not that fit anymore.
After retiring back in 2000, Barkley was able to start working as an NBA analyst. He was also featured as a guest in numerous shows over the years, and he even got to book acting jobs. In 2019, Barkley had a role in an episode of The Goldbergs show.
William "The Refrigerator" Perry, Retired Since 1996 - Single With 4 Kids
Some football players need to consume a lot of food to maintain the bulky physique they need. William Perry is a perfect example, for he was known for being a big guy. His size even earned him nicknames like The Refrigerator and The Biscuit.
When Perry stopped playing in 1996, he never got to get his weight under control. He developed diabetes and lost his ability to walk. Perry was in marriage twice in his life, but both marriages didn't last. He is a father to four children, but reports say he doesn't spend much time with them since he now lives in a retirement facility.
John Kruk, Retired Since 1995 - Married With 2 Kids
John Kruk was quite chubby when he was still active in Major League Baseball. Once Kruk retired, he just got bigger and bigger. It looks like a healthy diet isn't really in the cards for him, but he can still get back in shape if he works hard for it.
Kruk did not experience winning the World Series during his career, but he was able to be named an All-Star thrice. He spent some time working for ESPN as a baseball analyst. In 2016, Kruk became the color commentator of NBC Sports Philadelphia's telecasts of the games of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Tomas Brolin, Retired Since 1998 - Single With 1 Child
Back when former soccer player Tomas Brolin was playing for the national team of Sweden, you could still see his jawline. Today, he has put on a lot of extra weight, and his double chin is probably the first thing you notice. Since retiring in 1998, Brolin didn't stay active.
He started different business ventures and was able to invest in real estate. Since 2006, Brolin has been playing poker in the World Series of Poker. Brolin has one child from a former girlfriend named Susan Hardenborg. He later had a failed marriage with Annika Duckmark, and it looks like he has remained single ever since they ended things.
Tonya Harding, Retired Since 1994 - Married With 1 Kid
A lot of you might be more familiar with who Tonya Harding is because actress Margot Robbie played her in the film called I, Tonya. She was a successful figure skater whose career was ruined after her ex-husband planned an attack on Nancy Kerrigan.
She has been banned from figure skating since 1994, but she later pursued a career in boxing. Once she stopped competing professionally, she was no longer strict with her eating habits and put on some pounds. She has been married to Joseph Price since 2010, and they are parents to a child named Gordon.
Rulon Gardner, Retired Since 2004 - Married
Rulon Gardner is yet another former athlete who was able to compete on The Biggest Loser. He didn't have a final weigh-in on the show because he had an early exit due to "personal reasons." Sadly, Gardner never got to get his weight under control and is still a big guy today.
It looks like he loves food too much and is not willing to go on a strict diet plan. Gardner was a wrestler who competed in the Olympics back in 2000 and 2004. He has been in a marriage with Kamie Gardner since 2008, but it's unclear if they have children together.
Roberto Durán, Retired Since 2002 - Married With 6 Kids
Roberto Durán was a boxer who was able to become successful in four different weight classes. He did retire for good back in 2002. It looks like he would instead be eating pizzas and pasta over salad these days. Roberto doesn't have the same figure anymore, but it seems like he's okay with it.
Outside of boxing, he was able to earn money from acting in films and TV shows. There was even a time wherein Roberto was a Salsa singer. Back in 2016, a biopic about him titled Hands of Stone was released.
Tony Gwynn, Retired Since 2001 - Married With 2 Kids
Former baseball player Tony Gwynn was a member of the San Diego Padres for nearly two decades. He was an eight-time National League batting champion. Gwynn became a baseball coach after retiring in 2001. It looks like coaching didn't stop him from overeating.
He did gain a lot of weight, and despite getting surgery, he couldn't get fit. Gwynn did have salivary gland cancer in 2010, and this later became the cause of his death back in 2014. His wife and two kids survive him.
Ronaldo, Retired Since 2011 - Married With 4 Kids
When you hear "Ronaldo," you will probably think of Cristiano Ronaldo. Back in the '90s, another "Ronaldo" was popular in the soccer scene. Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima played for the national team of Brazil and was part of soccer clubs like Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
He was in such great shape when he was playing. After his career ended in 2011, Ronaldo just did more binge-eating than cardio. You can barely recognize him anymore because he now has a double chin. Ronaldo still makes a ton of earnings from the soccer industry because he is Real Valladolid's majority owner.
Neville Southall, Retired Since 2002 - Married With 3 Kids
Neville Southall is an iconic goalkeeper who played for the national team of Wales and soccer clubs like Torquay United, Everton, and Shrewsbury Town. He was fit enough to chase the ball back then, but today, his stamina isn't good anymore.
Southhall has lost track of his weight and is looking like he consumes a lot of calories regularly. He became a soccer coach and manager after retiring from playing and was also able to put up an educational consultancy. Southall has one child with his first wife and two foster kids with his current wife.
Jan Mølby, Retired Since 1998 - Married With 2 Kids
The photos above will show you how gaining weight made Jan Mølby's experience having sagging skin in his jaw area. In case you didn't know, Jan did play soccer for the national team of Denmark during the '80s. It looks like he lost track of his weight once he stopped playing in the late '90s.
Jan was able to pursue a managerial career, but this was only until the mid-2000s. He lives a quiet life today, and he has his podcast called Molby on the Spot. Jan has two kids with his wife Mandy, who he has been together with since 1992.
Adriano, Retired Since 2016 - Single With 3 Kids
Brazilian soccer player Adriano received a lot of praise for his skills as a striker, but he had no consistency in his career. Many believe that his father's death did cause his performance to decline. He also lost track of his fitness routine and got bigger.
Adriano hasn't played since 2016, and it looks like he doesn't plan on embarking on a weight loss journey anytime soon. Adriano is very active on social media today. You can often catch him post photos and videos on his Instagram account, which has 5.4 million followers.
Jeroen Verhoeven, Retired Since 2017 - Married
Jeroen Verhoeven had quite the reputation of being the big goalkeeper. Sources say there was even a time wherein audience members shouted "pizza" when Jeroen had the ball. It must've hurt his confidence badly. It looks like he never really planned on changing his eating habits.
Jeroen did retire back in 2017 due to several injuries. Unfortunately, he has been experiencing more weight gain since then. Not much is known about what Jeroen is up to these days, but we do know that he is married to Manon Verhoeven.
Mark Bosnich, Retired Since 2009 - Engaged With 1 Kid
Mark Bosnich was a soccer player who played for the Australian national team and clubs like Aston Villa, Sydney United, and Manchester United. His clothes always used to look loose on him, but today, his weight makes almost everything look tight on him.
Bosnich is not eating healthy meals every day, and it shows how wide his waist is getting. He had a lot of personal issues over the years, and we're sure he found comfort in food. Bosnich had two failed marriages in the past, but he's now engaged to Sarah Jones.
Neil Ruddock, Retired Since 2015 - Married With 2 Kids
Neil Ruddock was a soccer player who played for England, but his club career was way better than his international career. He has been struggling with his weight for many years. It looks like Ruddock might have to go under the knife if he wants to drop weight fast today.
You guys might have been seeing a lot of Ruddock on TV over the years because he appeared in different reality shows. Unfortunately, he struggled to manage his wealth wisely that he ended up bankrupt in 2014. Ruddock seems to be doing his best to make ends meet these days. In 2019, he did compete in Celebrity Masterchef.
Neil Shipperley, Retired Since 2007 - Unknown
Neil Shipperley was one of the soccer players who were able to become a manager after his playing career ended. He got to manage clubs like the North Greenford United and Walton Casuals. Shipperley looks unrecognizable today because of how much weight he has gained.
His daily meals have a lot of carbs, and he needs a healthier diet plan if he wants to have a slimmer physique. Shipperley resigned from being the manager of North Greenford United in 2014. In 2019, he made headlines due to legal troubles he faced after indecently flashing a mother and daughter.
Michael Jordan, Retired Since 2003 - Married With 6 Kids
Michael Jordan is one of the most notable legends in NBA history. He was a six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls. His career made his affluence grow tremendously, and he is proudly a billionaire already today.
Jordan is 56 years old, and he doesn't have a flat stomach anymore. He eats a lot of meals that used to be too "unhealthy" for him during his NBA days. Jordan already has a total of six children today. As of 2019, he is already a grandfather for his daughter Jasmine did welcome a child with Rakeem Christmas.
O.J. Simpson, Retired Since 1980 - Divorced With 5 Kids
O.J. Simpson was in such a massive scandal that a lot of you might have forgotten that he was once a professional athlete. He got to play for the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills. He retired in 1980 and later got into broadcasting and acting.
Simpson went to jail in 2008 due to kidnapping and robbery charges, but in 2017, he got an early release. He isn't in the best shape because he isn't working out as much anymore. Simpson still looks great for a 72-year-old. He hasn't gotten remarried since his divorce to his late wife, Nicole Brown, but he has five children.
Bartolo Colon, Retired Since 2018 - Married With 6 Kids
It might not shock you seeing how big baseball player Bartolo Colón got. He was already quite chunky when he was still playing. Bartolo was previously part of teams like the Cleveland Indians, Anaheim Angels/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and New York Mets.
He became a free agent back in 2018, and the fact that his career lasted until his 40s is awe-inspiring. The only downside of playing when you're quite old is that you won't be in the mood to follow a strict diet anymore. Let's hope his weight doesn't bring him any medical issues.
George Foreman, Retired Since 1997 - Married With 12 Kids
George Foreman is famous for his professional boxing career that lasted from the late '60s until the '90s. Foreman looks very different today because he lost track of his weight due to poor lifestyle habits. Another noticeable thing is that he has gotten bald.
Foreman stopped competing in 1997. He later got to pursue a career as an entrepreneur, author, and he even became an ordained minister. Foreman had four failed marriages in his life, but his fifth marriage to Mary Joan Martelly has lasted until today. He has a total of twelve kids, but his daughter, Freeda, sadly took her own life in 2019.
Magic Johnson, Retired Since 2000 - Married With 3 Kids
Magic Johnson won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was still heavily involved with the team even after he stopped playing because he became their basketball operations president. Although, Johnson stepped down from the position in 2019.
Johnson had a strict fitness routine when he was still an active player. It looks like he maximized his freedom with his eating habits after retiring in 2000. Johnson won't be leaving the basketball scene anytime soon because he plans to focus on being an NBA ambassador.
Mido, Retired Since 2013 - Married
Mido played soccer for the national team of Egypt, and he later got to share his knowledge in the sport through his career as a manager. His weight has been a problem for him for many years since he stopped playing. It came to a point where it seriously affected his health.
Fortunately, Mido had an epiphany and realized he needed to change. He was able to change his unhealthy lifestyle and lose a lot of weight. He still has a long way to go if he wants to get back to the physique he had back then. In June 2019, Mido became Misr Lel Makkasa SC's newest manager.
NEXT: Before-and-After Photos of Hollywood's Most Shocking Incidents of Celebrity Weight Gain
Russell Crowe - 60 LBS
It’s always strange to see actors, who have been praised for their physiques, let their bodies go. However, this is not the case here. Russell Crowe reportedly had to gain about 60 pounds in order to portray his character in the TV mini-series The Loudest Voice in the Room, which will air sometime in 2019.
Even though there are rumors going around of his friends and family worrying about his health, especially following his divorce to Danielle Spencer in 2018, everyone’s curious to see how Russell will recuperate from the weight he recently gained.
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