Some athletes spend their entire careers with one team, some shockingly leave a team and look funny in a different uniform, and others bounce around from team to team and rack up quite a closet of jerseys worn. There are some athletes that ultimately make their way “home” to a place they were primarily known for playing. Below is a list of athletes that returned for a second stint with the team they were known for playing on.
SCOTTIE PIPPEN – CHICAGO BULLS – Pippen famously won 6 NBA Titles with the Chicago Bulls alongside Michael Jordan. Following the 1997-98 season he was traded to the Houston Rockets. He would spend one season in Houston and four seasons in Portland before returning to the Bulls for the 2003-04 season.
ANDREW MCCUTCHEN – PITTSBURGH PIRATES – McCutchen spent the first nine seasons of his career as a member of the Pirates before stops in San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee. The beloved outfielder for the Pirates would return to Pittsburgh in 2023 and play his final two seasons in the MLB as a member of the Pirates.
ALBERT PUJOLS – ST. LOUIS CARDINALS – One of the greatest home run hitters in the history of the game left the Cardinals in 2011 to join the Los Angeles Angels. He would return to the Cardinals in 2022 and record his 700th home run in the MLB.
Antoine Walker of the Boston Celtics celebrates in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Nets during the 2002 NBA Playoffs at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey on May 21, 2002. The Celtics won 93-86. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
ANTOINE WALKER – BOSTON CELTICS – Antoine Walker played the first 7 seasons of his NBA career as a member of the Boston Celtics before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Just a season and a half later he would make his return to the Celtics by the Atlanta Hawks trading him to the team. Walker’s return would only last 30 total games between regular season and playoffs.
SAN FRANCISCO – SEPTEMBER 15: Shannon Sharpe #84 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on September 15, 2002 in San Francisco, California. The Broncos won 24-14. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
SHANNON SHARPE – DENVER BRONCOS – Sharpe spent the first ten seasons of his career and won two Super Bowls as a member of the Denver Broncos. After his 11th season in Denver he would leave for Baltimore for two seasons. After two years with the Ravens he returned to Denver to finish his career as a member of the Broncos.
PHILADELPHIA – APRIL 16: Allen Iverson #3 of the Philadelphia 76ers gestures to hear cheers from the crowd during the NBA game against the Washington Wizards at First Union Center on March 30, 2003 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Sixers won 107-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
ALLEN IVERSON – PHILADELPHIA 76ERS – Allen Iverson was a member of 76ers for 10 and a half seasons before being traded to the Denver Nuggets. However, he would return to the 76ers to play his final NBA games during the2009-10 season.
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 27: Charles Woodson #24 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates with David Amerson #29 after intercepting a pass during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CHARLES WOODSON – OAKLAND RAIDERS – Woodson spent eight years with the Raiders before leaving for joining the Green Bay Packers. After seven seasons in Green Bay he would rejoin the Raiders for three seasons and end his career as a Raider.
SEATTLE – SEPTEMBER 20: Ken Griffey Jr.#24 of the Seattle Mariners swings at the pitch during the game against the New York Yankees on September 20, 2009 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
KEN GRIFFEY JR – SEATTLE MARINERS – Griffey Jr. started his career in Seattle with his father before stops in Cincinnati and Chicago with the White Sox. He would play his final two seasons in the MLB as a member of the Mariners once again.
DENVER – MARCH 23: Peter Forsberg #21 of the Colorado Avalanche waits for the puck to drop on a face-off against the Chicago Blackhawks March 23, 2004 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The teams tied 2-2. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
PETER FORSBERG – COLORADO AVALANCHE – The Swedish forward won two Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche before leaving for brief stints with the Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators. He would return to Colorado to play the final two seasons of his NHL career.
ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 02: Kyle Palmieri #51 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrates his goal with Bobby Ryan #9, Teemu Selanne #8 and Nick Bonino #13 to trail 4-3 to the Detroit Red Wings during the third period in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on May 2, 2013 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
TEEMU SELANNE – ANAHEIM DUCKS – After starting his career in Winnipeg with the Jets, Selanne spent five and a half seasons with the Mighty Ducks before being traded to the San Jose Sharks. After a few seasons in San Jose and a year in Colorado, Selanne would return to the Ducks for nine seasons and help them win a Stanley Cup in 2007.
