Stacey Jones has been off the pace in the NRL this year. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Stacey Jones has been off the pace in the NRL this year. Photo / Brett Phibbs

American football legend Brett Favre turned his back on retirement for a second time today after agreeing to turn out for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL this year.

Favre could be a sucker for punishment, having already gone through one doomed comeback with the New York Jets last year. But when it comes to giving it "one last shot", it seems the greats just don't know how to say no.

1. Muhammad Ali
One of the greatest athletes the world has seen, Ali retired from boxing after regaining his world heavyweight title from Leon Spinks on September 15, 1978. After two years on the sidelines, he re-laced his gloves at the age of 39 but was badly beaten by world champion Larry Holmes who stopped Ali in the 11th round in October 1981.

2. Stacey Jones
The 'Little General' was coaxed out of retirement by Warriors coach Ivan Cleary at the end of last year to give the club more options at the troublesome halfback position. Jones put on a vintage performance in his first game back to beat defending premiers Manly but has weaved little magic since, with the club battling to avoid the wooden spoon.

3. Michael Schumacher
When Schumacher announced his return last month for the injured Felipe Massa, it was a rare bright spark in what has been a turbulent year for Formula One.

However, the Schu's comeback was so brief he didn't even make the track as a lingering neck injury from in a motorbike accident in February forced him to cancel his plans.

4. Jonah Lomu
Following his kidney transplant in 2004, the 63-test All Black announced his desire to return to rugby and the All Blacks for the 2007 World Cup. The blockbusting winger made it back to field with North Harbour in the NPC and with Welsh club Cardiff but his comeback was littered with injury. Lomu's World Cup dream was brought to an end when he failed to receive a Super 14 contract in 2007 - ruining his All Blacks chances. However, Lomu is yet to hang the boots up, signing with French third division side Marseille Vitrolles earlier this year.

5. Mike Tyson
'Iron' Mike's comeback in 1995 after serving three years in prison was somewhat successful. He regained one of the heavyweight titles he first won in 1986 but it all went down hill from there. He lost his much-anticipated fight with Evander Holyfield in 1996 before shocking the boxing world by biting a piece of Holyfield's ear off in their rematch a year later. Tyson went on to fight for the title once more in 2002 but was embarrassed by Lennox Lewis. He retired in 2005 after two consecutive knockout losses to Danny Williams and Kevin McBride.

6. Mark Spitz
Mark Spitz was the greatest swimmer in Olympic history until Michael Phelps eclipsed his record of seven gold medals at a single Games in Beijing last year. Spitz, who retired after his epic feat at Munich in 1972, came out of retirement to try and qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Games but was two seconds slower than the required qualifying time, putting his career to an official end.