Four days after the Baltimore Ravens agreed to ship two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for the providers of All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby, the deal was called off. With all trades and free-agent signings unofficial till the league yr formally begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 11, no deal is about in stone till then.
Sources advised The Athletic’s Dianna Russini that Crosby’s medical examination in Baltimore gave the Ravens issues about the long-term health of his left knee. Baltimore backed out of the deal — which is permissible contemplating that every one gamers concerned in a transaction should move a bodily to full a trade — sending Crosby again to the workforce about whom he had already posted a 13-minute goodbye video. The Ravens pivoted to signal The Athletic’s No.1 available player in free agency, edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, as a substitute.
While Crosby received’t be becoming a member of the Ravens, his saga joins the listing of famously nixed trades throughout the sports activities universe. His almost-deal joins earlier cases when one (or a number of) fanbases obtained their hopes up for a franchise-altering transaction, solely to be left holding nothing however desires and “what ifs” shortly after. Here are a few of the most notable.
Chris Paul to Los Angeles Lakers in 2011
Arguably, the most well-known nixing got here when NBA commissioner David Stern and the NBA vetoed an agreed-upon trade in December 2011 that might have despatched New Orleans Hornets 2008 MVP runner-up Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers, the place he would’ve joined Kobe Bryant, the 2008 MVP award winner, in a star-studded backcourt.
Paul was a 26-year-old celebrity level guard getting into the prime of his profession in 2011 when the Hornets agreed to ship their franchise participant to Los Angeles in a three-team deal involving the Houston Rockets that might have netted New Orleans Lamar Odom, Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Goran Dragić and a 2012 first-round choose.
In 2010, the NBA bought the New Orleans Hornets after majority proprietor George Shinn failed to promote the workforce to Gary Chouest over issues about the workforce’s monetary stability. Therefore, Stern was its appearing proprietor in 2011, which empowered him to veto the deal, citing the want to preserve “competitive balance” in the league.
Instead, Paul was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers six days later for a return of Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and a 2012 unprotected first-round draft choose, which grew to become Austin Rivers. The league bought the Hornets to Tom Benson in April 2012 and the franchise was rebranded as the New Orleans Pelicans in 2013.
Bill Belichick to New York Jets in 2000
On Jan. 3, 2000, Bill Belichick formally took the job as the subsequent head coach of the New York Jets. The subsequent day, simply earlier than his first information convention, he reversed course, famously writing on loose-leaf paper that he was resigning as the “HC of the NYJ.”
Belichick reportedly felt uneasy about the workforce’s possession transition and incoming proprietor Woody Johnson. Belichick reportedly needed full management of workforce operations, which he might not get with Johnson and Bill Parcells in the entrance workplace. Belichick had been Parcells’ defensive coordinator for six seasons with the New York Giants, profitable two Super Bowl titles.
Three weeks later, Belichick was employed by the New England Patriots, who despatched the New York Jets a first-round choose in alternate for his contract. In return, the franchise obtained 24 seasons, 296 wins (common season and playoffs), 17 AFC East titles and 6 Super Bowl championships from Belichick.
Terrell Owens to Baltimore Ravens in 2004
Ahead of free company in 2004, Terrell Owens’ agent, David Joseph, failed to file papers formally making Owens a free agent and voiding his remaining yr of his contract by the Feb. 21 deadline. Therefore, the San Francisco 49ers retained his rights and traded him to the Baltimore Ravens for a second-round choose on March 4.
Terrell Owens solely needed to play with the Eagles in 2004 and finally obtained his want. (Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
Owens — who was loud and clear about wanting to play for the Philadelphia Eagles and with star quarterback Donovan McNabb — had no intentions of enjoying for Baltimore and protested the trade by not displaying up for a bodily examination. The National Football League Players Association filed a grievance on his behalf to make him a free agent.
A settlement was later reached between the three groups. Philadelphia despatched defensive finish Brandon Whiting to the 49ers and a fifth-round draft choose to the Ravens, who additionally obtained their second-round choose again from San Francisco. In return, Owens went to the Eagles and helped lead them to Super Bowl XXXIX.
Tyson Chandler to Oklahoma City Thunder in 2009
In February 2009, the New Orleans Hornets traded heart Tyson Chandler to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith and the draft rights to DeVon Hardin. The 26-year-old Chandler had led the league in offensive rebounding twice and had earned NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award votes twice.
One day after the settlement, Thunder physicians flagged Chandler’s left massive toe as a possible concern, inflicting basic supervisor Sam Presti to cancel the deal. Chandler was later dealt to the Charlotte Bobcats in July 2009 for Emeka Okafor.
Chandler went on to win an NBA championship as an integral a part of the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 and change into an NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award winner and an NBA All-Star with the New York Knicks in a three-year tenure from 2011-14.
Carlos Correa to San Francisco Giants and New York Mets in 2023
Star shortstop Carlos Correa’s month-long free-agency ordeal from December 2022 to January 2023 featured two agreed-upon contracts with new groups earlier than he finally wound up the place he began, with the Minnesota Twins.
On Dec. 13, the All-Star agreed to phrases with the San Francisco Giants on a 13-year, $350 million deal. However, medical examinations raised issues for the San Francisco brass that his surgically repaired proper leg from 2014 would finally trigger his leg to deteriorate as the contract wore on.
The Giants backed out, and fewer than 12 hours later, the New York Mets introduced they’d agreed to a 12-year, $315 million cope with Correa, pending his bodily. On Dec. 24, Mets docs flagged comparable issues with Correa’s leg that led to contract disputes by way of damage provisions the Mets needed in his contract.
On Jan. 10, 2023, the Twins ended the saga by formally signing Correa to a $200 million assured deal over six years, with incentives reaching up to $270 million. The Twins felt extra comfy with higher data of Correa’s well being, having already had nearer appears at him whereas he was with the franchise. Correa was an All-Star in 2024 earlier than requesting a trade, waiving a no-trade clause, and being dealt again to the Houston Astros in July 2025.
George O’Leary to Notre Dame in 2001
On Dec. 8, 2001, Notre Dame employed former Georgia Tech coach George O’Leary to be its subsequent head soccer coach. O’Leary led the Yellow Jackets to a 52-33 report over eight seasons.
Days after the hiring, New Hampshire Union Leader reporter Jim Fennell discovered that O’Leary had lied on his resume and by no means performed soccer at the University of New Hampshire nor obtained a grasp’s diploma from New York University, as he had claimed.
In response, simply 5 days after being employed, O’Leary resigned as head coach of the Fighting Irish, admitting he falsified his credentials. The workforce went on to rent Tyrone Willingham, who grew to become the first Black head coach in the college’s historical past for any sport. O’Leary took a job in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings months later, returning to faculty soccer as head coach at UCF from 2004 to 2015.
Bobby Cremins to South Carolina in 1993
In March 1993, Bobby Cremins left Georgia Tech to coach his alma mater, South Carolina. Cremins was a two-time ACC Coach of the Year via his first 12 years with the Yellow Jackets, and received the Naismith College Coach of the Year award after main Georgia Tech to the 1990 NCAA Final Four.
Three days after agreeing to a five-year cope with the Gamecocks, Cremins had a change of heart and opted to keep in Atlanta with Georgia Tech, writing in a handwritten assertion that he felt deep remorse, might not sleep and felt he was abandoning his gamers over the preliminary resolution.
“I made a mistake, and this is the most embarrassing moment of my life,” he wrote.
Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid in 2022
In 2022, then Paris Saint-Germain star French ahead Kylian Mbappé was broadly anticipated to be part of Spanish giants Real Madrid. Mbappé had been a phenomenon since breaking onto the scene for French membership AS Monaco, main them to the Ligue 1 championship in 2017 at 18 years previous. Shortly after, he transferred to PSG in August 2017 for roughly $195 million. At 19, Mbappé helped lead France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title, scoring 4 objectives in the match, together with one in the remaining.
Star French ahead Kylian Mbappé was broadly anticipated to be part of Spanish giants Real Madrid as early as 2022, however didn’t achieve this till 2024. (Franck Fife / AFP by way of Getty Images)
As his stardom grew, so did his public flirtations with Real Madrid, which reached a boiling level in May 2022 as his contract neared its finish with PSG. However, after reviews closely linked Mbappé to an imminent transfer, the membership and its star participant agreed to a three-year contract extension, two assured years with a third-year participant possibility.
The contract additionally gave him enter on the hiring and firing of coaches, the signing and departure of gamers, and affect on the impending appointment of a brand new sporting director with the membership.
After two extra seasons with PSG, Mbappé wound up with Real Madrid in 2024, waiving the remaining elective third yr of the huge extension he signed in 2022.
Josh McDaniels to Indianapolis Colts in 2018
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels verbally agreed to change into the Indianapolis Colts head coach in February 2018. He had been a key Patriots assistant for all 5 of the franchise’s Super Bowl wins to that time.
One day after the Patriots received Super Bowl LI, the Colts introduced an settlement for McDaniels to change into their coach on Feb. 6, 2018, saying they might maintain the introductory information convention the subsequent day. The transfer had lengthy been anticipated, and Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft spent the two days after the championship attractive McDaniels to keep on his employees. By the evening of Feb. 6, hours after Indianapolis’ announcement, McDaniels advised the Colts he can be staying with the Patriots.
McDaniels mentioned at the time that his want to preserve his household steady and in New England finally influenced his resolution. He stayed with the Patriots till 2021 earlier than accepting a job as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in January 2022, going 9-16 in two seasons earlier than returning for a 3rd stint as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator in 2025.
Billy Donovan to Orlando Magic in 2007
Billy Donovan was a star faculty coach, having simply led the Florida Gators to back-to-back NCAA titles, when he agreed to a five-year, $27.5 million contract to coach the Orlando Magic on June 1, 2007. Donovan even held a information convention in Orlando after accepting the job
However, shortly after, Donovan obtained chilly toes and determined to return to faculty basketball, telling reporters he felt “terrible about it” and known as Orlando a fantastic group, admitting it was his resolution and mistake to signal the contract.
While Orlando had the authorized proper to drive Donovan to honor his contract, the workforce relented and permitted him to return to Florida. The Magic then employed former Miami Heat head coach Stan Van Gundy as a substitute, instantly going to two of the subsequent three NBA Eastern Conference Finals and making an NBA Finals look in 2009.
Donovan coached the Gators for eight extra years and made yet another NCAA Final Four in 2014 earlier than lastly making the leap to the NBA, taking the Oklahoma City Thunder job in 2015.