Aside from those who are already trained in combat sports like wrestling and other martial arts, it seems like a safe bet that a number of NFL players could find success if they crossed over to MMA. They push their bodies to withstand the physical toll of an entire season through repeated impacts, lifting weights and cardiovascular conditioning. Strip them of their pads and helmets, and they are still true gladiators in terms of physicality and mental toughness.
Herschel Walker remains perhaps the best known former NFL player to make the jump. He was a three-time NCAA All-American at the University of Georgia, where he led the Bulldogs to a national championship in 1980 and won a Heisman Trophy in 1982.