10 of the most inspiring athletic career comebacks in sports history

• Sometimes, athletes retire before they're ready — this can lead to a return to the game they love.
• It doesn't always go well, but these 10 sports legends returned to their sports and won championships and broke records.
• Most famously, Michael Jordan returned to the NBA and won three more championships before once again retiring.
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Plenty of sports legends go out on top, and many more overstay their welcome. These 10 sports legends all decided that they weren't quite ready to give up the game, and made a return to the field, court, ring, or rink.

From the iconic Michael Jordan fax to the surprise return of Marshawn Lynch in the final week of the regular NFL season, all of these returns brought joy to their fans, and even changed the face of their sport. When Magic Johnson returned to basketball, he gave people hope across the world that HIV wasn't a death sentence — you could even play professional basketball while living with it.

Keep scrolling to learn more about the 10 of the most inspirational comebacks in sports history.