10 Things You Didn't Know About Goldberg

10. A Torn Abdominal Muscle Ended His Football Career

Before ever setting foot in a wrestling ring, Bill Goldberg was an accomplished football player. His prowess in high school earned him a scholarship to the University of Georgia, where he was a defensive tackle for the Bulldogs.

Goldberg was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1990 NFL Draft, and played a season with the team. After that, he spent a bit of time in the Canadian Football League (playing for the CFL's first American team, the Sacramento Gold Miners) before signing with the Atlanta Falcons. He spent two seasons with the Falcons, then was cut and signed by the brand-new Carolina Panthers in 1995. He was given the ax before playing a game, though, making him the first player ever cut by the team.

After that, Goldberg would never play in the NFL again. He suffered a torn abdominal muscle (which Mick Foley did, too, and described in his book as the most painful injury of his career) and had to go through the grueling process of rehab. While he did get better, his previous lack of gridiron success meant that he was not considered an attractive prospect for another team.