Poker and Sports: Seven Athletes Who Dominate the Felt

Many notable athletes who have dominated the poker felt and have found that their journeys from sports to poker have inspired a whole new fanbase. From the Celebrity Poker Tour to World Series of Poker events, poker captivates athletes from various sports who seek the strategic depth and competitive thrill the game offers.

1. Richard Seymour: From the Gridiron to the Green Felt

Richard Seymour, a former NFL defensive lineman renowned for his tenure with the New England Patriots, has seamlessly transitioned into the world of professional poker. Seymour’s poker journey began during his football career, but it wasn’t until his retirement that he dedicated himself fully to the game of poker. Since then, he’s become the MVP from the NFL to make it at the felt.

Seymour’s most notable poker accomplishment came in 2019 at the World Series of Poker in the legendary $10,000-entry WSOP Main Event. Seymour finished in 131^st place out of 8,569 players, earning $59,295 for his deep run in poker’s most prestigious tournament. Beyond his run in the world championship, Seymour has accumulated over $600,000 in live tournament earnings, reflecting his commitment to the development of his second career in poker.

Watch Richard Seymour during his deep run at the 2023 WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas here:

2. Paul Pierce: The NBA All-Star with a Passion for Poker

“Even when I lose, I’m winning.”

Paul Pierce is a former NBA superstar primarily known for his time with the Boston Celtics, but Pierce is also an avid poker enthusiast. Pierce’s love for the game in series such as Poker After Dark and Hustler Casino Live is legendary, and he loves to mix it with players of all levels… preferably at high stakes!  Pierce, who often participated in high-stakes home games during his basketball career, played in the 2014 WSOP Main Event and while he didn’t make the money places, it gave him the ‘poker bug’.

Pierce’s transition from the field to the felt only highlighting the crossover between professional sports and poker, the NBA star’s charismatic presence at the poker table sees him engage with opponents, made him a fan favorite. His involvement in poker continues post-retirement, with appearances in various celebrity poker events and tournaments. This led to his exit from ESPN after an Instagram Live session in 2021 but even then, the former Small Forward and Shooting Guard was bullish, saying: ‘I can’t lose – even when I lose, I’m winning.”

Watch these incredible Top 5 Paul Pierce hands and see what the fuss is all about:

3. Michael Phelps: Olympic Champion Dives into Poker

The most decorated Olympian in history with 23 gold medals, Michael Phelps has also found a passion for poker in his later life. Introduced to the game by fellow swimmer and poker player Jeff Gross, Phelps’ deep appreciation for the strategic elements of poker tallied with his ability to put in the hours in the pool, doing everything he could to be the best.

While Phelps has not pursued poker professionally in his later life, he has participated in several high-profile tournaments and cash games, most notably at the 2008 WSOP, where he supported friends, played in side events, WSOP tournaments and even Rio dailies back in the day.

A passionate player to this day, Phelps credits poker with providing mental stimulation and a competitive outlet similar to swimming, aiding in his post-Olympic transition, and has cashed in ranking poker events in 2022, 2023 and 2024, including his first official live victory, where he won the $150-entry No Limit Hold’em Bounty event at The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for a return of $1,443.

Phelps took part in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in 2021 to the excitement of poker fans around the world.

4. Colby Covington: UFC Fighter with a Poker Presence

Colby Covington, a prominent figure in mixed martial arts and a top-ranked UFC fighter, has also made his mark in the poker world. Known for his aggressive style in the Octagon, Covington brings the same intensity to the poker table, participating in various tournaments with notable success.

In 2022, Covington showcased his poker skills by finishing seventh in a $400 Deepstack event during the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, earning $48,298. He also claimed victory in the $1,100 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or Better event at the same festival, adding $25,875 to his poker earnings. Covington’s total live tournament winnings exceed $315,000, demonstrating his versatility and competitive spirit across different disciplines.

Add to those results a deep run in the 2024 WSOP Main Event, as he turned a $10,000 buy-in into a cash of $17,500 in 1,077^th place and Covington could be one to watch. He’s already putting together great video blog content from The Bahamas!

5. Gerard Piqué: From Football Pitches to Poker Tables

A former Manchester United and Barcelona center back Gerard Piqué, the esteemed Spanish defender who is well-known for his international prowess with Spain’s national team, has made significant strides in the poker world too. Often playing with PokerStars players at events around Europe, Piqué’s passion for poker became evident as he frequently participated in European Poker Tour (EPT) events in Barcelona.

Back in August 2019, Piqué showcased his poker prowess by finishing second in the €25,000-entry No Limit Hold’em High Roller event at EPT Barcelona, earning an impressive €352,950. This achievement stands as his largest recorded poker cash to date but he also won big back in 2017. Locking up a fifth-place finish in the €25,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em event at the PokerStars Championships in Barcelona, adding €129,350 to his poker earnings. Piqué’s total live tournament winnings exceed $738,000, reflecting his successful crossover from football to poker.

The former Spanish soccer star certainly has the passion for the game and temperament to take part.

6. Terrence Chan: From MMA to MTTs

One of the most accomplished players ever to transfer from the world of sports to poker, Terrence Chan calls himself a “fightin’, gamblin’ Dad” and has turned his MMA past into a fearsome presence at the poker felt. Winning over $1.38 million playing live poker, Chan is a full-time poker professional with some superb results, such as the $287,345 he won when he came second in a WSOP 6-Max event to Hoyt Corkins in 2007.

Chan, who recently cashed in half a dozen WSOP Events for over $100,000, even finds time to defend his poker peers, saying this about Phil Hellmuth’s decision to ask for a rest day late in future WSOP Main Events.

“Hellmuth finally says something reasonable and the poker world is like ‘No, let’s throw everyone in a dungeon without food or water and prod them with flaming hot pokers and see who the best poker player is.’”

Terrence Chan is a principled, passionate poker player who we can see winning bigger and better in the years to come. Here’s Chan on the Chasing Poker Greatness podcast with Brad Wilson, describing how to boss online poker tournaments.

7. Adrian Peterson: Running into Poker Stardom

The NFL running back Adrian Peterson has become one of our favorite poker players to watch. Starring on the Celebrity Poker Tour (CPT) is no easy feat when it includes some of the biggest personalities on the planet. On a consistent basis, however, Peterson has managed it and last year’s season-ending CPT Championship was a great example of it.

For most of his epic two-decade career in the NFL, Peterson starred for the Minnesota Vikings but after his football career, experiences such as boxing and Dancing with the Stars have transformed Peterson’s life into one lived under the constant spotlight of celebrity. Joining the CPT, Peterson has become one of its biggest stars and came sixth in the most recent CPT Championship held at the PokerGO Studio at ARIA on the Las Vegas Strip.

Check out Adrian Peterson’s amazing run in the CPT Championship right here:

The Competitive Drive Never Fades

From the football field to the Octagon, the basketball court to the Olympic pool, these elite athletes have proven that their competitive instincts don’t retire when their sports careers end. Poker offers them a new arena—one where strategy, discipline, and mental endurance take center stage. Whether they’re chasing bracelets at the WSOP, grinding high-stakes tournaments, or battling it out on televised poker shows, these sports legends bring a level of excitement that captivates fans both old and new.

As more athletes discover poker’s unique blend of skill and competition, we can expect to see even more crossover stars making deep runs at the felt. Who will be the next sports icon to make their mark on the game? Only time will tell.