NFL Teams That Will Never Live Down Their Embarrassing Mistakes

The NFL is a tricky business. Sometimes what seems like the right things to do blows up in a team or player’s face. A high draft can be a dream come true for the Cleveland Browns, but it can also be the mistake that sets back their success for multiple seasons. Luckily for Cleveland, they have one of the most loyal and patient fan bases in the league. Other teams are not so lucky and have made some near franchise ending mistakes. Heck, even the league itself has made some bone-headed calls. Here are our favorites!

You’ll never believe what happened to the Detroit Lions in 2008!

The Chicago Bears Trade Greg Olsen

Greg Olsen was originally drafted by the Bears, who thought he was a bust

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Drafted in the first round of the 2007 draft, few NFL fans remember Greg Olsen started his career with the Chicago Bears. During his three years there, the now elite tight end didn’t produce incredible results. Then again, it didn’t help that Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton, and Brian Griese were his quarterbacks. Having convinced themselves that Olsen was part of the problem, the Bears traded him away after the 2010 season to the Carolina Panthers. Finally playing football with a good quarterback (one Cameron Newton), Olsen became the first tight end in NFL history to record three straight 1,000 yard seasons. He even appeared in the Super Bowl in 2016, getting beat by the Broncos 24-10.

Next up, do you remember the time the league replaced their referees?