5 Athletes That Had Their Careers Killed By The Kardashians

The Kardashian family is one of the more polarizing clans in Hollywood. They've spawned a famous reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians and they're always driving the media and news, like it or not.

Robert Kardashian became famous for his close relationship with disgraced football star O.J. Simpson, and the entire family earned fame during The Juice's murder trial. Even more than a decade after Rob's death, his children (namely Kim and Khloe), have become some of the most talked-about celebrities in all of Hollywood.

The Kardashian daughters have also been involved in romances with some famous athletes. Everyone is aware of Khloe's marriage to Lamar Odom, which ended in divorce. But did you know some other athletes had their careers somewhat destroyed before, during, or after a relationship with one of the kids?

Here are five athletes whose careers were essentially ruined by the Kardashians.

5. Miles Austin

Austin and Dez Bryant once formed a dominant receiving duo for the Dallas Cowboys. The undrafted receiver out of Monmouth broke out for Dallas in 2009 after racking up 1,320 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. That helped the Cowboys take home the NFC East division crown.

Austin had another Pro Bowl season in 2010 that saw him reach the 1,000-yard mark again. However, his career went downhill after his relationship ended with Kim Kardashian during the 2010 campaign.

Tony Romo went down with a season-ending injury, the Cowboys struggled and Austin was never the same player after that. It just seems like dating Kardashian brought bad luck upon Austin, who never regained his old form after the relationship ended.

So we guess Kim will just take the blame for that.

4. Derrick Ward

Ward was the third running back on the New York Giants during their stunning Super Bowl 42 victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots. A year later, Ward rushed for 1,025 yards and helped the G-Men earn the top seed in the NFC. That would be the only productive season of Ward's career, however.

He and Khloe Kardashian began a brief romance in 2009, but the relationship didn't last long (hence the word "brief"). This relationship seemed to be the end for Ward, as he rushed for no more than 409 yards in a season after that and was out of the NFL after the 2011 season.

3. Reggie Bush

Bush was one of the most hyped up NFL prospects ever. He won two national championships at USC and took home the 2005 Heisman Trophy before eventually forfeiting it for accepting benefits and gifts, which college athletes aren't to receive.

Bush was drafted second overall by the New Orleans Saints in 2006 and would win Super Bowl 44 with them despite a disappointing tenure there. Bush and Kim Kardashian met in 2007 and endured an off-again, off-again relationship through 2010. Unfortunately for Bush, he wasn't able to live up to the hype as he got busy dating one of the more infamous women in Hollywood.

If he didn't spend so much time with Kim K, perhaps Bush would have been a perennial running back in the NFL.

2. Matt Kemp

Matt Kemp was once the face of the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise. The two-time All-Star has a pair of Gold Gloves and Silver Slugger Awards under his belt, but he's been mired in mediocrity since the Dodgers traded him to the San Diego Padres in 2014. What could have caused Kemp to go from feared slugger to an overpaid and forgotten commodity?

Let's take a look at his relationship with Khloe Kardashian. The two were often spotted together in late 2013, shortly after Khloe and Lamar Odom filed for divorce. Kemp denied that there was any romance involved. But either way, we know his career went downhill after being involved with Khloe—as friend or boyfriend.

1. Kris Humphries

Drafted 14th overall by the Utah Jazz in 2004, Kris Humphries looked poised for a promising NBA career. He and Kim Kardashian started dating in late 2010 and were married in 2011. But as everyone knows, that marriage lasted 72 days which caused many to scoff and start making the Kim K marriage jokes. But come on, 72 days?

The divorce wouldn't be official until 2013, which is also the year Humphries saw his career downhill. He averaged double-digit points per game during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, including 13.8 PPG in the latter year.

Humphries averaged just 5.8 points per game the following season (also the year the divorce was finalized). He has since become a fairly average NBA player. So, it's probably safe to blame the marriage with Kim K.

NEXT: WHO WORE IT BETTER- KIM KARDASHIAN OR RIC FLAIR?