Throughout history, several sports figures have been associated with gambling, often leading to scandals and suspensions. Among them are NFL players Alex Karras and Paul Hornung. Both were involved in a significant gambling scandal that marked the first of its kind in NFL history.
Paul Hornung, a star running back for the Green Bay Packers and the 1961 NFL MVP, admitted to placing bets on games with wagers ranging from $100 to $500. Alex Karras, a dominant defensive lineman for the Detroit Lions, not only bet on games but also owned a bar where sports gambling was common.
NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle imposed an indefinite suspension on both players, which resulted in them missing the entire 1963 season. Despite this setback, Hornung was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986. Karras received posthumous induction into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
Information from this article can be found here.
