Even though the 80’s doesn’t really stand out in the world of music videos or sitcoms, some of the most legendary athletes graced us during that time.

The Best 80s Athletes

Even though this is up for debate, here are a few of the best pro athletes of the 80s. There are many more, but this gives you a taste of who brought the heat in those days.

Here are our picks for the best 80s athletes:

1. Joe Montana

One of the most famous football players of all time, Joe Montana earned several nicknames during his time in the big leagues. Also known as The Comeback Kid and Cool Joe, Montana carried the 49s to win four Super Bowls, and was named the Super Bowl MVP for three of those years.

Joe Montana

Montana did spend two years with the Kansas Chiefs, but his glory days were about over by that time so he retired shortly after joining.

2. Mike Tyson

One of the greatest boxers of all-time, Mike Tyson holds several records and was, for a while, an undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. He was the first heavyweight boxer to hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles at the same time.

Mike Tyson

Mike was a great boxer, but his is prime in the 80s. In 1991, he had to pull out of a fight with Evander Holyfield due to an injury, and he was sent to prison the next year after raping Desiree Washington.

Tyson is considered one of the greatest boxes of all time, earning the #1 seat of ESPN’s “hardest hitters in heavyweight history.”

3. Magic Johnson

Born in Lansing Michigan, Johnson became one of the league’s most followed players when he joined the L.A. Lakers. He took the Lakers to win four championships, and actually earned the NBA’s Finals Most Valuable Player Award his rookie year with the team.

Magic Johnson

Unfortunately, Magic only got to play for about 13 years. He contracted HIV in 1991, and even though he returned to play several times such as the All Stars game and 1992 men’s Olympic basketball team, Johnson never get back into the pros after 91.

4. Larry Bird

Larry Bird was one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Even though he was somewhat shadowed by Michael Jordan, he still held his own and was a 12-time NBA All-Star. He retired in 1992 as a player, although he did play for the 1992 men’s Olympic basketball team.

Larry Bird

Playing for the Celtics for his entire career, Larry went to work for the Pacers shortly afterward. He has now coached and worked with the Pacers. He is the only player in NBA history to get the Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year and Executive of the year.

5. Wayne Gretzky

You don’t need to be from Canada or a huge hockey fan to know who Wayne Gretzky is. Usually argued as the greatest hockey player to ever live, he was often called The Great One.

Wayne Gretzky

Gretzky played for a long time, 21 years, giving him the opportunity to earn numerous MVP awards and championships. He retired in 1999, and was immediately inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame.

So those are our picks for the most iconic athletes of the 1980s. Did yours make the cut?