Notre Dame, USC, Alabama, Ohio State or Michigan? Which college football program has produced the most Pro Football Hall of Fame players?
As a general rule, if a player is good enough, NFL scouts, general managers and other talent evaluators will find him. Therefore, a Pro Football Hall of Fame player can come from anywhere.
It should come as no surprise that Notre Dame, which has the second highest winning percentage in NCAA’s Division 1-A/FBS level and claims 11 national championships, has produced seven Heisman Trophy winners and 97 consensus All-Americans, would also send more than a dozen players to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Similarly successful programs like Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State and USC also rank highly on the list of colleges with the most Hall of Fame alumni.
There are plenty of surprises, however. For instance, the same number (4) of Pro Football Hall of Famers have attended Morgan State as Texas. Also, Texas A&I (now known as Texas A&M-Kingsville) has produced more Hall of Fame players (3) than Texas A&M (1). Of course, SMU (5) and TCU (3) also have more Hall of Famers than the Aggies.
On another note, more members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame attended the University of San Francisco (5) — a school that no longer plays football — than all but one current SEC program (Alabama). The same can be said for historically black colleges Grambling State (4) and Morgan State (4).
Which school has sent the most players to Canton? And which surprises remain? We explore the college football programs that have produced the most Pro Football Hall of Fame players.
Arkansas, 3
Lance Alworth, WR
One of the most productive receivers in NFL history, Lance Alworth propelled a College Football of Fame career into an 11-year NFL career in which he caught 542 passes for 10,266 yards from 1962-72. Alworth led the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns three times each. A seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro, Alworth ranks No. 15 on the NFL all-time list with 85 touchdown receptions. His No. 19 jersey has been retired by the Chargers, and Alworth was also a member of the Super Bowl VI champion Dallas Cowboys.
Dan Hampton, DL
Selected No. 4 overall in the 1979 NFL Draft by the Bears, Hampton played his entire 12-year career in Chicago. A defensive tackle and defensive end, Hampton was a four-time Pro Bowler and four-time first team All-Pro selection. Hampton won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1982, was selected to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, and helped the Bears win Super Bowl XX.
Jerry Jones, Owner
Co-captain of the 1964 national championship squad at Arkansas, Jerry Jones is best known as the owner, president and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys. Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989 and Dallas has won three Super Bowl titles under his direction. He was recently elected as a member of the 2017 Hall of Fame class.
Duke, 3
Sonny Jurgensen, QB
A five-time Pro Bowler and five-time NFL passing leader, Sonny Jurgensen also led the Philadelphia Eagles to the 1960 NFL Championship, and was selected to the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team. In 18 NFL seasons with Philadelphia and Washington, Jurgensen amassed 32,224 passing yards and 255 TD passes.
George McAfee, HB
George McAfee played for the Blue Devils during one of the most successful periods in program history. From 1937-39, Duke posted a 24-4-1 record, including an unscored upon season in 1938 in which the Blue Devils finished No. 3 in the final AP poll. In eight NFL seasons sandwiched around a stint in the Navy during World War II, McAfee won four NFL Championships with the Chicago Bears. The Bears have retired his No. 5 jersey.
Clarence (Ace) Parker, QB
A consensus All-American at Duke in 1936, Ace Parker found great success as a two-way player in the NFL for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Yanks and New York Yankees (yep, those were pro football teams). A two-time All-Pro, Parker led the NFL in passing yards in 1938 and led the league in interceptions in 1940. He also earned MVP honors in 1940 with the Dodgers.
Fordham, 3
Vince Lombardi, Head Coach
Arguably the greatest coach of all-time, Vince Lombardi was a member of the famed “Seven Blocks of Granite” at Fordham in 1936. Lombardi played right guard for the Rams, and though he never played in the NFL, Lombardi won six NFL championships and the first two Super Bowls as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. The Super Bowl trophy is named in his honor.
Wellington Mara, Owner
The son of Tim Mara, a Pro Football Hall of Famer that owned the New York Giants from 1925-59, Wellington Mara first held an ownership stake in the Giants in 1937 and co-owned the team until his death in 2005. The Giants won two Super Bowls and six NFL championships during Mara’s ownership.
Alex Wojciechowicz, OL
The only Fordham graduate to earn Pro Football Hall of Fame status as an NFL player, Alex Wojciechowicz was a two-time first team All-Pro center for the Detroit Lions and helped the Philadelphia Eagles win back-to-back NFL Championships in 1948-49.
Georgia, 3
Terrell Davis, RB
A member of the 2017 Hall of Fame class, Terrell Davis began his college career at Long Beach State before the 49ers dropped football in 1991. After three years at Georgia, Davis was a sixth round draft pick by the Denver Broncos, with whom he enjoyed a seven-year career. Davis won two Super Bowls with the Broncos, and earned MVP honors in Super Bowl XXXII. He was the 1998 NFL MVP, a three-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro selection.
Fran Tarkenton, QB
One of the most beloved players in Georgia football history, as well as in Minnesota Vikings franchise history, Fran Tarkenton is both a College and Pro Football Hall of Famer. Tarkenton was named NFL MVP in 1975 when he was also a first team All-Pro. A nine-time Pro Bowler, Tarkenton’s No. 10 has been retired by the Vikings.
Charley Trippi, RB
A unanimous All-American and Maxwell Award winner in 1946, Charley Trippi was selected No. 1 overall by the Chicago Cardinals in the NFL Draft and spent his entire nine-year NFL career with the club. A triple threat on offense, Trippi gained 3,506 rushing yards, 1,321 receiving yards and added 2,547 passing yards with the Cardinals. He also intercepted four passes on defense and returned two punts for touchdowns as a pro.
Iowa, 3
Paul Krause, DB
No player in NFL history has intercepted more passes than Paul Krause, who holds the record with 81. Krause earned eight Pro Bowl nods and was named an All-Pro nine times during a 16-year career in Washington and Minnesota.
Andre Tippett, LB
One of just 31 NFL players in history to record 100 or more sacks in a career, Andre Tippett averaged 8.3 sacks across a 12-year career with the New England Patriots. Tippett earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1985 when he also led the Pats to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.
Emlen Tunnell, DB
Undrafted out of Iowa in 1948, former Hawkeyes quarterback and defensive back Emlen Tunnell went on to win NFL championships with both the Giants and Packers. Tunnell earned nine Pro Bowl selections and was named a first-team All-Pro six times. He recorded 79 career interceptions, the second-most in Pro Football history.
Jackson State, 3
Lem Barney, DB
Lem Barney made an immediate impact as a rookie in 1967 when he led the NFL in interceptions and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Barney picked off 56 passes in his 11-year career and returned 10 for touchdowns.
Walter Payton, RB
Walter Payton did it all over a 14-year career with the Chicago Bears. A Super Bowl champion, nine-time Pro Bowler, seven-time All-Pro, 1977 league MVP, and a member of both the 1970s and ‘80s NFL All-Decade Teams, Payton retired as the NFL’s all-time leader with 16,726 rushing yards. The Bears retired Payton’s No. 34 jersey.
Jackie Slater, OL
Few offensive lineman make a big enough impact to have their numbers retired, but because of Jackie Slater’s sterling NFL career, which included seven Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro selections, no member of the Los Angeles Rams will ever wear No. 78 again.
Kansas, 3
Mike McCormack, OL
Mike McCormack won two NFL Championships with the Cleveland Browns and earned six Pro Bowl selections during his 13-year NFL playing career.
John Riggins, RB
The MVP of Super Bowl XVII with Washington, John Riggins amassed 11,352 career rushing yards and 104 touchdowns on the ground in 14 NFL seasons. Many of Riggins’ best years came late in his career, including back-to-back seasons in which he led the NFL in rushing TDs at age 34 and 35.
Gale Sayers, RB
Gale Sayers played just seven seasons in the NFL and was only healthy in five, but he led the league in rushing twice and proved to be an elite kick and punt returner totaling eight return touchdowns in his first three NFL seasons. Sayers was named an All-Pro in each of his first five pro seasons with the Bears and was also named to the Pro Bowl four times.
LSU, 3
Jim Taylor, FB
A Baton Rouge native, Jim Taylor stayed close to home to play for Paul Dietzel at LSU. A second round pick by the Packers in 1958, Taylor won four NFL titles, earned five Pro Bowl selections and was named NFL MVP in 1962.
Y.A. Tittle, QB
Giants quarterback Y.A. Tittle, also a former LSU Tiger, followed Taylor’s MVP performance with one of his own. A seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro in a 17-year career with the Colts, 49ers and Giants, Tittle threw for 212 touchdowns in his career (including a record seven in one game) and ran for 33 more scores.
Steve Van Buren, HB
A member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team, Steve Van Buren starred as a runner, kick returner and defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1944-51. His No. 15 jersey was retired by the team, with whom he won two NFL titles and earned six All-Pro selections.
Louisiana Tech, 3
Terry Bradshaw, QB
Known primarily to young NFL fans for his role as a pregame analyst and for making other appearances on television, Terry Bradshaw won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers (becoming the first QB to win both three and four titles) during his 14-year NFL career. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1970 draft out of Louisiana Tech, Bradshaw won two Super Bowl MVP Awards, was a three-time Pro Bowler and earned league MVP honors in 1978.
Fred Dean, DL
Sacks didn’t become an official NFL stat until 1982, so Fred Dean officially recorded only 28 sacks during his 11-year career with the Chargers and 49ers. However, the four-time Pro Bowler posted 17.5 sacks in 1983 alone. The 1981 NFC Player of the Year, Dean won two Super Bowls with San Francisco, earned four Pro Bowl selections and was named a First Team All-Pro twice.
Willie Roaf, OL
A consensus All-American at Louisiana Tech in 1992, Willie Roaf later became one of the most consistent tackles in NFL history. An 11-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro, Roaf is a member of both the 1990s and 2000s NFL All-Decade Teams.
Michigan State, 3
Herb Adderley, DB
A member of the Super Bowl I and II-winning Green Bay Packers, and the Super Bowl VI champion Dallas Cowboys, Herb Adderley grabbed 48 interceptions (seven returned for TDs) in a 13-year NFL career that also included five Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections.
Morten Anderson, K
Recently elected Hall of Famer Morten Anderson is arguably the greatest kicker in NFL history. Anderson holds NFL records for points scored (2,544), field goals made (565) and attempted (709) and games played (382).
Joe DeLamielleure, OL
A first round draft pick out of Michigan State in 1973, Joe DeLamielleure played 13 seasons in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, earning six Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections as a guard.
South Carolina State, 3
Harry Carson, LB
A well-rounded linebacker with the New York Giants from 1976-87, Harry Carson earned nine Pro Bowl selections and was recognized as a First Team All-Pro twice. Carson recorded 19 sacks and 11 interceptions in his career and was a key piece of the Super Bowl XXI champion defense.
David (Deacon) Jones, DL
Though he graduated from what is now Mississippi Valley State, Deacon Jones began his college career at South Carolina State. A 14th round selection in the 1961 NFL Draft, Jones was an eight-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro and was twice named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Marion Motley, FB/LB
Like Jones, but two decades earlier, Marion Motley began his college career at South Carolina State before transferring elsewhere. Motley attended Nevada, but dropped out of school and spent two years in the US Navy during World War II before finding stardom as a running back with the Cleveland Browns, including two league rushing titles and five league championships.
Stanford, 3
John Elway, QB
Simply one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, John Elway won NFL MVP honors in 1987, led the Denver Broncos to two Super Bowl titles (plus a third as general manager), made nine Pro Bowls, and threw 300 touchdown passes in a 16-year NFL career (which ranks tenth in history). Elway ranks sixth all time with 51,475 career passing yards.
James Lofton, WR
An incredibly dependable receiver that surpassed 800 receiving yards 10 times in 16 NFL seasons, James Lofton ranks No. 12 on the NFL’s all-time receiving list with 14,004 career yards, and sits 33rd with 75 TD receptions.
Ernie Nevers, FB
The No. 1 is retired at Stanford in honor of Ernie Nevers, who earned All-American honors for the school in 1925. Nevers played and coached for the Duluth Eskimos and Chicago Cardinals, earning five All-Pro selections in just five pro seasons.
Texas A&I (Texas A&M-Kingsville), 3
Darrell Green, DB
Darrell Green parlayed a College Football Hall of Fame career at Texas A&I into a first round selection by Washington in 1983. In a 20-year NFL career with the club, Green won two Super Bowl titles, was selected to seven Pro Bowls, made four first-team All-Pro squads and intercepted 54 passes.
John Randle, DL
Defensive tackles aren’t generally known for their pass rushing ability, but John Randle led the Minnesota Vikings in sacks nine times in 11 seasons with the team, and totaled 137.5 career sacks in 14 total pro seasons. Randle led the NFL in sacks in 1997, earned Pro Bowl honors seven times and was a first-team All-Pro every year from 1993-98.
Gene Upshaw, OL
Gene Upshaw spent his entire 15-year NFL career with the Oakland Raiders, helping the team win Super Bowls XI and XV while being named to six Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro squads. Upshaw was also an AFL All-Star, a three-time All-AFL selection, and earned a spot on the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
TCU, 3
Sammy Baugh, QB/DB
One of the greatest all-around players in football history, Sammy Baugh was an All-American at TCU in 1936 before embarking on a 16-year NFL career with Washington. Baugh played quarterback, and led the NFL in passing four times and paced the league in passing TDs twice, and also played defensive back, leading the NFL in interceptions in 1943.
Bob Lilly, DL
Bob Lilly was also an All-American at TCU before beginning a Hall of Fame pro career. A first round pick by the Cowboys in 1961, Lilly spent his entire 15-year pro career in Dallas and earned 11 Pro Bowl nods along the way. Lilly was a member of the Super Bowl VI championship squad, a seven-time All-Pro defensive tackle, and has been recognized as a member of the NFL 1960s and ‘70s All-Decade teams, as well as the 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
LaDanian Tomlinson, RB
When LaDanian Tomlinson played for the Horned Frogs, TCU wasn’t the football power it was during the days of Baugh or Lilly. Nevertheless, Tomlinson — a 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee — played well enough to become the No. 5 overall pick in the 2001 draft before blossoming into one of the greatest running backs of all time. Tomlinson won NFL MVP honors in 2006 when he set the NFL records for rushing TDs in a season (28) and touchdowns from scrimmage (31).
Tulsa, 3
Jim Finks, QB
A 12th round draft pick but the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jim Finks threw for 8,622 yards and 55 touchdowns in six NFL seasons. Far from a star on the field, Finks put together a Hall of Fame resume in a front office career that included stints with the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints.
Steve Largent, WR
A fourth round pick by the Houston Oilers in 1976, Steve Largent was traded to the Seahawks prior to the ’76 season and quickly developed into one of the NFL’s greatest receivers. Largent played 14 seasons in Seattle and amassed 13,089 receiving yards — including eight 1,000-yard seasons — with 100 touchdowns. After retirement, Largent returned to Oklahoma and served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Bob St. Clair, OL
Bob St. Clair began his college career at San Francisco but transferred to Tulsa after the Dons dropped football. St. Clair spent 11 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, with whom he made five Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro teams. A member of the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, St. Clair’s No. 79 has been retired in San Francisco.
Virginia, 3
Bill Dudley, HB/DB
The No. 1 overall draft pick by the Steelers in 1942, Bill Dudley led the NFL in rushing and was an All-Pro as a rookie before spending three years in World War II. When he returned, Dudley earned three more All-Pro selections, including a stellar 1946 season in which he led the NFL in both rushing and interceptions.
Henry Jordan, DT
In 13 pro seasons with the Browns and Packers, Henry Jordan won two Super Bowls and five NFL championships and was named All-Pro seven times.
Ralph Wilson, Jr.
As the owner of the Buffalo Bills from 1959 until his death in 2014, Ralph C. Wilson oversaw a franchise that won the AFL twice (1964 and 1965) and represented the AFC in the Super Bowl in four straight seasons from 1990-93.
Washington, 3
Hugh McElhenny, HB
The first Washington Huskies running back to rush for 1,000 in a season, Hugh McElhenny spent 13 seasons in the NFL as a versatile running back that gained 5,281 yards on the ground and totaled 3,247 receiving yards while scoring 58 total touchdowns from 1952-64.
Warren Moon, QB
Warren Moon took a long, winding journey to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, through junior college, Washington and six years in the CFL before the Houston Oilers (with whom he won MVP honors in 1990) finally gave him a shot to become an NFL quarterback. In 17 NFL seasons, Moon threw for 49,325 yards, which ranks No. 7 in league history.
Arnie Weinmeister, DL
The only Pro Football Hall of Famer born in Saskatchewan, Arnie Weinmeister spent just six seasons in the NFL and two in the CFL, though he earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in four consecutive seasons from 1950-53.
Wisconsin, 3
Arnie Herber, QB
A 40.9 career completion percentage and 81-to-106 TD-to-interception rate aren’t Hall of Fame worthy today, but Arnie Herber (who played on the freshman team for the Badgers in 1928 before leaving for Regis University) was one of the best quarterbacks of the 1930s.
Elroy Hirsch, RB
Nicknamed Crazylegs, Elroy Hirsch played football at both Wisconsin and Michigan before embarking on a 12-year NFL career that included three Pro Bowls, two All-Pro selections and the 1951 NFL title. Hirsch, whose No. 40 is retired at Wisconsin, was the athletic director at the school from 1969-87.
Mike Webster, C
The only Pro Football Hall of Famer to spend his entire collegiate career at Wisconsin, Mike Webster won four Super Bowls as a center with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Florida State, 4
Fred Biletnikoff, WR
An All-American at Florida State in 1964 (long before the Seminoles became a national powerhouse), Fred Biletnikoff played so well that the Biletnikoff Award is presented annually to the best receiver in college football. Biletnikoff’s college success earned him a second round selection by the Oakland Raiders in 1965. He spent 14 years wearing silver and black, earned four Pro Bowl selections and an All-Pro nod, in addition to All-AFL honors prior to the merger. Most impressively, Biletnikoff was the MVP of Super Bowl XI, in which the Raiders beat the Vikings 32-14.
Derrick Brooks, LB
A two-time All-American at Florida State that helped lead the Seminoles to the 1993 national championship, Derrick Brooks was selected in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brooks spent his entire 14-year NFL career with the Bucs, and was named to the Pro Bowl 11 times, and the All-Pro team nine straight years from 1997-2005. The 2002 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, Brooks’ No. 55 is retired in Tampa Bay and his No. 10 is retired in Tallahassee.
Walter Jones, OL
Walter Jones began his college career at the JUCO level before transferring to FSU in 1995. He played just one season for the Seminoles, but was impressive enough to leave school early to be picked No. 6 overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. Jones played his entire 13-year NFL career with the Seahawks, with home he made nine Pro Bowls and was selected as a first-team All-Pro four times. Jones, who started all 180 games he played, had his No. 71 jersey is retired in Seattle.
Deion Sanders, DB
Arguably the best defensive playmaker in NFL history, Deion Sanders returned 10 of his 53 career interceptions for touchdowns and added nine combined touchdowns on kick and punt returns (and even scored on three TD passes). After earning All-American recognition in 1987-88 and winning the Thorpe Award in ’88, Sanders was drafted fifth overall in 1989 by the Atlanta Falcons and later won Super Bowls with the 49ers and Cowboys. He won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1994 and was an eight-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro. His No. 2 jersey has been retired by the Seminoles.
Grambling State, 4
Willie Brown, DB
Undrafted out of Grambling State in 1963, Willie Brown landed with the Denver Broncos in 1963 and quickly established himself as one of the best defensive backs in the NFL. Following four seasons (and 15 interceptions) in Denver, Brown was traded to Oakland. In 12 seasons with the Raiders, Brown was part of three Super Bowl champions, including Super Bowl XI, in which he scored a 75-yard touchdowns after intercepting fellow future Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton.
Junious (Buck) Buchanan, DL
Buck Buchanan was the No. 1 overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1963 AFL following a Hall of Fame career at Grambling. In 13 NFL seasons with the Chiefs, Buchanan was part of two AFL title teams and also won a ring for KC’s victory in Super Bowl IV. The Alabama native was a six-time AFL All-Star and two-time Pro Bowler, and had his No. 86 number retired in Kansas City.
Willie Davis, DL
A 15th round draft pick in 1956, Willie Davis spent two seasons with the Cleveland Browns before spending a decade as one of the best defensive lineman in the history of the Green Bay Packers. A member of the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, Davis won three NFL titles, helped the Packers win Super Bowl I and II, and was named a Pro Bowler and All-Pro five times each.
Charlie Joiner, WR
The Oilers drafted Charlie Joiner as a defensive back in 1969, but moved him to offense as a rookie. The move paid off as Joiner amassed 750 receptions for 12,146 yards and 65 touchdowns with Houston, Cincinnati and San Diego. Joiner’s best seasons came with the Chargers, with whom he was a three-time Pro Bowler and a first team All-Pro in 1980.
Morgan State, 4
Roosevelt Brown, OL
Rosey Brown was a 27th (!) round draft pick out of Morgan State, selected No. 321 overall in the 1953 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. A true diamond in the rough, Brown played his entire 13-year pro career with the Giants, winning an NFL Championship in 1956 and earning Pro Bowl honors nine times, as well as All-Pro honors six times. A member of the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, Brown was also named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Len Ford, DL
Len Ford attended Morgan State but left for the U.S. Navy before eventually landing at Michigan. In 11 NFL seasons, Ford was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and All-Pro, earning the honors in each season from 1951-54, and won three NFL Championships with the Browns. He was named to the NFL 1960s All-Decade team as a defensive end.
Leroy Kelly, RB
Leroy Kelly gained more than 1,000 rushing yards in three consecutive seasons from 1966-68, twice leading the league in rushing yardage and topping the league leaderboard in rushing touchdowns all three years. A six-time Pro Bowl Selection and three-time All-Pro, Kelly also helped the Browns win the 1964 NFL title.
Willie Lanier, LB
Like Brown, Willie Lanier was selected for the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time team. An eight-time All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-AFL performer, Lanier helped the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl IV. After 11 seasons in Kansas City, the Chiefs retired Lanier’s No. 63 jersey.
Texas, 4
Earl Campbell, RB
One of the greatest Texas Longhorns in history, Earl Campbell won the 1977 Heisman Trophy and had his No. 20 retired by the school. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft, Campbell spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Houston Oilers, including three consecutive NFL rushing titles in his first three seasons — before a two-year stint with the New Orleans Saints. His No. 34 was retired by the Tennessee Titans organization.
Tom Landry, Head Coach
Tom Landry was an All-Pro with the New York Giants in 1950 but didn’t reach superstar status until he won five NFC championships and two Super Bowls as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Over 29 seasons on the sidelines in Dallas, Landry won 270 games, which ranks third in NFL history.
Bobby Layne, QB
There have been better quarterbacks to play for the Longhorns, but none converted their college talent into a Hall of Fame pro career like Bobby Layne. Layne played 15 NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears, New York Bulldogs, Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers, but the vast majority of his success came while wearing the now retired No. 22 for the Lions. Under his direction, the Lions three NFL titles and Layne was a six-time Pro Bowler and a three-time first team All-Pro selection.
Tex Schramm, GM
University of Texas graduate Tex Schramm spent a decade working in the Los Angeles Rams’ front office before becoming the president and general manager of the expansion Cowboys in 1960. Schramm hired fellow Longhorn Tom Landry to coach the team, and Dallas won Super Bowls VI and XII under his direction.
Arizona State, 5
Curley Culp, DL
As a punishing defensive tackle, Curley Culp helped the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl IV. Culp earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1975 with the Houston Oilers, and was a five-time Pro Bowler in 14 pro seasons. Though sacks did not become an official NFL statistic until 1982 — the year following Culp’s retirement — he has been credited with 68 career sacks.
Mike Haynes, DB
Drafted No. 5 overall by the New England Patriots in 1976, Mike Haynes made an immediate impact by winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Haynes would go on to nine Pro Bowls in 14 seasons split between the Patriots and Los Angeles Raiders, with whom he won Super Bowl XVIII.
John Henry Johnson, FB
A dynamic running back early in his career with the 49ers, John Henry Johnson was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler as a rookie in 1954, but spent two lackluster seasons in San Francisco and three in Detroit before eventually landing with the Steelers, the team that originally drafted him. Johnson was an All-Pro three times in Pittsburgh and surpassed 1,000 rushing yards twice with the team.
Randall McDaniel, OL
A key member of the first Sun Devils squad to play in the Rose Bowl, Randall McDaniel was a first round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 1988, and spent 12 years with the franchise, which included 11 Pro Bowl selections and nine consecutive All-Pro performances from 1990-98. McDaniel was also a Pro Bowler in one of his two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Charley Taylor, WR
A two-time All-American as a two-way player at Arizona State, Charley Taylor blossomed into an eight-time Pro Bowl receiver. Taylor spent his entire 14-year NFL career in Washington and amassed 9,110 receiving yards, 79 receiving touchdowns and 11 rushing TDs from 1964-77.
Nebraska, 5
Bob (Boomer) Brown, OL
A unanimous All-American at Nebraska in 1963, Bob Brown was the second overall pick in the 1964 NFL Draft by the Eagles. Brown played five seasons in Philadelphia, two with the Los Angeles Rams, and three in Oakland. In 10 NFL seasons, Brown was a Pro Bowler six times and was named a first-team All-Pro on five occasions.
Guy Chamberlin, End
Guy Chamberlin earned All-American honors at Nebraska in 1915 before embarking on an eight-year pro football career that included stops with seven different teams, four of which he coached. Chamberlain won five NFL titles and was recognized as an All-Pro three times.
William Roy (Link) Lyman, OL
A contemporary of Chamberlain’s, Link Lyman played 13 pro seasons with five teams from 1922-34. A tackle, Kyman was a four-time NFL champion and a five-time All-Pro selection.
Will Shields, OL
An All-American and Outland Trophy winner at Nebraska, few offensive linemen have a more impressive resume than Will Shields, who played 14 seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1993-2006. Shields was a Pro Bowl selection 12 straight years from 1995-2006 and also earned first-team All-Pro honors three times.
Mick Tingelhoff, OL
Like Shields, Mick Tingelhoff spent his entire career with one franchise. A member of the Vikings from 1962-78, Tingelhoff was a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time first team All-Pro. The Nebraska native started all 240 career games in which he played, helped Minnesota win the 1969 NFL championship, and had his No. 53 jersey retired by the franchise.
San Francisco, 5
Gino Marchetti, DL
A second round pick by the Dallas Texans in 1952 (following the famous undefeated 1951 San Francisco Dons football season), Gino Marchetti spent just one season in Dallas before the franchise relocated to Baltimore to become the Colts. Marchetti helped the Colts win two NFL titles in his 14 seasons with the franchise, and earned Pro Bowl recognition 11 times and was a nine-time All-Pro during that span. His No. 89 jersey is retired in Indianapolis, and Marchetti was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Ollie Matson, HB
Like Marchetti, Ollie Matson was a star at the University of San Francisco and a member of the 9-0 1951 squad. Matson led the nation in rushing and caught the eye of the Chicago Cardinals, who selected him No. 3 overall in the 1952 NFL Draft. A seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro selection, Matson gained 5,173 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns in 15 NFL seasons, and added 3,285 receiving yards and 23 more TDs as a dual-threat back.
Pete Rozelle, NFL Commissioner
He didn’t play football at USF, but Pete Rozelle attended the school during its football heyday, graduating in 1950. After a series of jobs, including a stint as the general manager of the Los Angeles Rams, Rozelle was named NFL Commissioner in 1959 at the age of 33. He held the job for 29 years and oversaw some of the most pivotal moments in league history, including the NFL-AFL merger.
Bob St. Clair, OL
The Dons dropped football in 1952, which forced offensive lineman Bob St. Clair to transfer from USF to Tulsa. A 6-foot-9, 263-pound tackle, St. Clair was a third round pick by his hometown 49ers in 1953, with whom he played 11 seasons., earning five Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections. The 49ers retired St. Clair’s No. 79.
Dick Stanfel, OL
Dick Stanfel was a second round draft pick by the Detroit Lions in 1951. Stanfel played two of his five Pro Bowl and All-Pro seasons in Detroit from 1952-55, and won two NFL titles with the Lions before he was traded to Washington. Stanfel later spent 30 years as a college and pro coach and earned a Super Bowl ring with the 49ers in 1986.
SMU, 5
Raymond Berry, End
Selected in the 20th round of the 1954 NFL Draft, Ray Berry spent 13 seasons with the Baltimore Colts and helped guide the team to the 1958 and ’59 NFL Championship. Berry gained 9,275 receiving yards and scored 68 times on 631 catches, earning six Pro Bowl selections and four First Team All-Pro nods along the way. He led the NFL in receiving yards and receptions three times each and touchdowns twice. A member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, Berry’s No. 82 jersey has been retired by the Colts.
Eric Dickerson, RB
Arguably the greatest and most recognizable player in SMU football history, Eric Dickerson was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. Dickerson set a rookie record and led the NFL with 1,808 rushing yards in 1983, his first of six Pro Bowls and five All-Pro seasons. He followed with an NFL record 2,105 rushing yards in 1984, and would go on to lead the league in rushing again in 1986 and 1988. Dickerson finished his 11-year pro career with 13,259 rushing yards, which ranks No. 7 in NFL history.
Forrest Gregg, OL
One of the several players on our list that starred for the Vince Lombardi-coached Packers, Forrest Gregg played in Green Bay from 1956-70. During that span, Gregg was the member of five NFL Championship teams, three Super Bowl winners, and earned nine Pro Bowl selections and seven first-team All-Pro selections. A member of the Packers Hall of Fame, Gregg was also selected to the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team and the 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Lamar Hunt, Executive
SMU-educated executive Lamar Hunt had a huge impact on professional sports as a whole and pro football (and U.S. pro soccer) in particular. The owner of the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs from 1959-2006, Hunt helped create the AFL and helped coin the term Super Bowl after the AFL-NFL merger in 1966.
Doak Walker, HB
The 1948 Heisman Trophy winner and a three-time All-American with the Mustangs, Doak Walker was an amazingly versatile football player that contributed as a runner, receiver, passer, defender, kicker and return man for the Detroit Lions from 1950-55. Walker was a five-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro selection who won NFL Rookie of the Year honors and two NFL Championships and had his No. 37 jersey retired by the Lions.
Illinois, 6
Dick Butkus, LB
One of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, Dick Butkus was selected to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time team, as well as the 1960s and 1970s All-Decade Teams. The No. 3 overall draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 1965, Butkus earned Pro Bowl recognition eight times, was a six-time All-Pro and won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1969 and 1970. The Bears, with whom he spent his entire nine-year NFL career, have retired his No. 51 jersey.
Harold (Red) Grange, HB
Red Grange joined the Chicago Bears in 1925 following a Hall of Fame college career at Illinois that included the 1923 national championship and three All-American seasons. Grange spent a total of six seasons with the Bears during his eight-year NFL career. He helped Chicago win the 1932 and 1933 NFL Championship, and had his No. 77 jersey retired by both the Bears and Illinois.
George Halas, End, Coach, Executive
George Halas did it all during a pro football career that spanned from 1919-83. Halas played 11 seasons as an end, coached the Chicago Bears in four separate stints from 1920-67, and owned the team for more than six decades. Halas won six NFL titles, was twice named NFL Coach of the Year and had his No. 7 retired by the team.
Bobby Mitchell, HB/FL
A multi-purpose back that led the NFL in receiving twice and earned four Pro Bowl selections, Bobby Mitchell caught 521 passes for 7,954 yards and 83 touchdowns in an 11-year NFL career in Cleveland and Washington. After his playing career came to an end, he joined the Washington front office in 1969 and worked for the franchise until 2002.
Ray Nitschke, LB
Vince Lombardi’s middle linebacker for the Super Bowl I and II champions, as well as five NFL championship squads during his 15-year career with the Packers, Ray Nitschke was a two-time All-Pro, a Pro Bowler, and a member of both the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team and the 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. His No. 66 has been retired in Green Bay.
Hugh (Shorty) Ray
Shorty Ray played three sports at Illinois, including football, but his largest impact came as the Technical Advisor on the Rules and Supervisor of Officials to the NFL, a job he held officially from 1947-52, though he helped write the league’s rules as far back as 1938.
Miami, 6
Ted Hendricks, LB
Long before Miami became a national college football power, the Hurricanes produced Ted Hendricks, a member of the NFL 1970s and 1980s All-Decade Teams as well as the 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. Hendricks played 15 seasons in the NFL with the Colts, Packers and Raiders, and was a member of four Super Bowl-winning teams. Individually, Hendricks earned Pro Bowl recognition eight times and was a four-time first team All-Pro selection.
Michael Irvin, WR
A member of the 1987 national championship team at Miami, Michael Irvin was a first round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 1988 and gained 11,904 receiving yards with 65 touchdowns in 12 seasons with the franchise. Irvin was a five-time Pro Bowler, earned All-Pro recognition in 1991, and helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowls.
Jim Kelly, QB
Irvin and the Cowboys beat Jim Kelly’s Buffalo Bills in both Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII — two in a string of four straight losses for Kelly in football’s biggest game. After two years in the USFL, Kelly played 11 seasons for the Bills and threw for 35,467 yards and 237 touchdowns with Buffalo. Kelly was a five-time Pro Bowler and earned first-team All-Pro recognition in 1991. The Bills retired the No. 12 in his honor.
Cortez Kennedy, DL
Cortez Kennedy was selected No. 3 overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1990 NFL Draft after an All-American campaign with the Hurricanes. In 11 years with Seattle, Kennedy made eight Pro Bowls and was named a first-team All-Pro three times. Kennedy was also named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992. The Seahawks retired Kennedy’s No. 96 jersey.
Jim Otto, OL
Like Hendricks, Jim Otto’s success predated Miami’s emergence as a college football blue blood. In 15 NFL seasons with the Oakland Raiders from 1960-74, Otto was named to the first team All-AFL team 10 times, earned All-Pro honors twice and was selected to the Pro Bowl three times.
Warren Sapp, DL
A first round pick by Tampa Bay in 1995, Warren Sapp spent the first nine seasons of a 13-year NFL career with the Bucs. Sapp earned Pro Bowl honors seven times with the Buccaneers, was a four-time All-Pro selection and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1999. Sapp and the Bucs also won Super Bowl XXXVII, and his No. 99 was later retired by the franchise.
Oregon, 6
Dan Fouts, QB
Dan Fouts had a solid but largely unspectacular career at the University of Oregon before he was selected in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Chargers. However, in 15 seasons in San Diego, Fouts grew into a Hall of Famer, passing for 43,040 yards and 181 touchdowns while earning Pro Bowl recognition six times and All-Pro honors twice. Fouts was named NFL MVP in 1982 and his No. 14 jersey is retired.
Alphonse (Tuffy) Leemans, HB
Tuffy Leemans spent one year at Oregon before transferring to George Washington. A second round pick by the New York Giants in 1936, Leemans spent eight seasons with the team and helped win the 1938 NFL Championship.
Mel Renfro, DB
Mel Renfro was selected to 10 Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors five times in his 14-year career with the Dallas Cowboys. Renfro led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 1969 and finished with 52 career picks. A member of the Cowboys Ring of Honor, Renfro was also part of the Super Bowl VI and XII championship squads.
Norm Van Brocklin, QB
Norm Van Brocklin was a fourth round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 1949 and quickly emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Van Brocklin was a six-time Pro Bowler with the Rams, and made three Pro Bowls in his three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles as well, including the 1960 campaign in which he won NFL MVP honors.
Dave Wilcox, LB
A third round pick out of Oregon in 1964, Dave Wilcox spent 11 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He earned seven Pro Bowl selections and was twice named a first-team All-Pro.
Gary Zimmerman, OL
Gary Zimmerman spent two years with the USFL’s Los Angeles Express before landing with the Minnesota Vikings in 1986. In seven seasons with the Vikings, Zimmerman was named to four Pro Bowls and All-Pro squads. Zimmerman earned three more trips to the Pro Bowl as a member of the Denver Broncos, made one more appearance on the All-Pro first team in Denver, and also won a Super Bowl ring with the Broncos before retiring in 1997.
Penn State, 6
Jack Ham, LB
Jack Ham won four Super Bowls in 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In addition to winning 1975 NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, Ham was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a six-time first team All-Pro performer, as well as a member of the league’s 1970s All-Decade Team and the 75th Anniversary All-Time team.
Franco Harris, RB
Ham’s teammate with both the Nittany Lions and the Steelers, Franco Harris was drafted No. 13 overall by Pittsburgh in 1972 and won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors later that season. A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Harris rushed for 12,120 yards and 91 touchdowns in 13 seasons in the NFL (12 with the Steelers and one with the Seahawks). He was also a member of the Super Bowl IX, X, XIII and XIV championship squads.
Mike Michalske, OL
A member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team, Mike Michalske played guard and fullback in an 11-year pro career with the New York Yankees and Green Bay Packers. Michalske was a member of three NFL Championship squads with the Packers, and earned first-team All-Pro honors seven times.
Lenny Moore, HB
A first round pick out of Penn State in 1956, Lenny Moore spent 12 seasons with the Baltimore Colts during which he ran for 5,174 yards and 63 touchdowns and added 6,039 receiving yards and 48 TDs. Moore was named to the Pro Bowl seven times and earned first-team All-Pro honors five times. He won two NFL Championships in 1958 and ’59 and was named NFL MVP in 1964.
Mike Munchak, OL
Before embarking on an NFL coaching career that included a three-year stint as the head coach of the Titans, Mike Munchak was a first round pick in the 1982 draft by the Houston Oilers. Munchak was a nine-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro in 12 seasons with the Oilers. He is currently the offensive line coach for the Steelers.
Dave Robinson, LB
A key member of the three-time NFL champion and two-time Super Bowl-winning Green Bay Packers from 1963-75, Dave Robinson also earned Pro Bowl recognition three times and was named 1967 Pro Bowl MVP. A three-time All-Pro with the Packers, Robinson was named to the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team.
UCLA, 6
Troy Aikman, QB
Troy Aikman began his college football career at Oklahoma before transferring to UCLA in 1986. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and receiver Michael Irvin became the nucleus for three Super Bowl championship teams with the Dallas Cowboys. Aikman won MVP honors in Super Bowl XXVII.
Kenny Easley, DB
The most recently elected member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Kenny Easley was a three-time All-American before he was selected No. 4 overall in the 1981 draft. Easley was a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time first team All-Pro selection during his eight-year career with the Seattle Seahawks and won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1984.
Tom Fears, WR
Tom Fears caught 400 passes for 5,347 yards and 38 touchdowns during a nine-year career with the Los Angeles Rams. Fears led the NFL in receiving yards in 1950, when he also earned his first and only All-Pro recognition. He and the Rams won the 1951 NFL Championship.
Jimmy Johnson, DB
Not to be confused with Aikman’s Super Bowl-winning head coach with the Cowboys, Jimmy Johnson was a standout defensive back at UCLA picked No. 6 overall in the 1961 NFL Draft. Johnson played his entire 16-year NFL career with the 49ers, who retired his No. 37 after five Pro Bowl selections and four first-team All-Pro nods.
Jonathan Ogden, OL
If you could build a left tackle in a factory, he would probably look a lot like the 6-foot-9, 345-pound Jonathan Ogden, who commanded the position for the Baltimore Ravens from 1996-2007. Ogden was a Pro Bowler in each of his 11 seasons in he league and earned first-team All-Pro recognition four times. He and the Ravens also won Super Bowl XXXV.
Bob Waterfield, QB
Bob Waterfield played his entire eight-year NFL career with the Rams organization and moved with the franchise from Cleveland to Los Angeles after winning the NFL Championship and NFL MVP in 1945. Waterfield was a three-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler with the Rams, and also guided the franchise to the league title in 1951. His No. 7 jersey is retired by the Rams.
Minnesota, 7
Bobby Bell, LB/DL
Even in 1962 it was rare to see a defensive lineman earn Heisman Trophy recognition, but Minnesota’s Bobby Bell finished third in the voting that season after his second All-American campaign. Bell also won the Outland Trophy and was a member of the 1960 national championship squad before going on to a 12-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs. A three-time Pro Bowler, Bell was also the 1969 AFL Defensive Player of the Year and helped lead the Chiefs to a win in Super Bowl IV. His No. 78 is retired by both Kansas City and the Gophers.
Tony Dungy, Head Coach
Tony Dungy had a three-year NFL career as a defensive back (which included a Super Bowl XIII win with the Steelers) before moving on to a Hall of Fame coaching career. Dungy posted a 139-69 career record as a head coach with the Buccaneers and Colts, and led Indianapolis to a victory in Super Bowl XLI to become the first African-American head coach to win a World Championship.
Carl Eller, DL
After an All-American career with the Golden Gophers, Carl Eller caught the eye of the nearby Minnesota Vikings, who selected him No. 6 overall in the 1964 NFL Draft. In 15 years with the Vikings, Eller earned six Pro Bowl and five First Team All-Pro selections. A member of the “Purple People Eaters” 1969 NFL title squad, Eller also earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year recognition in 1971.
Bud Grant, Head Coach
Bud Grant played in both the NFL and NBA, but became a star as a head coach. Grant won four Grey Cups in the CFL (which earned him a spot in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame) and posted a 158-96-5 record while winning the 1969 NFL title with the Minnesota Vikings, as well as three NFC titles in 1973, ’74 and ’76.
Bronko Nagurski, LB/FB
A two-way star in nine seasons with the Chicago Bears, Bronko Nagurski won three NFL titles, earned four All-Pro selections, and was named a member of both the NFL 1930s All-Decade and 75th Anniversary All-Time Teams. An All-American at Minnesota, and a College and Pro Football Hall of Fame player, the Gophers retired his No. 72 jersey and the Bears retired his No. 3.
Leo Nomellini, OL/DL
A first round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 1950, Leo Nomellini played 14 seasons in the Bay Area. Nomellini earned Pro Bowl recognition 10 times and was named an All-Pro nine times.
Charlie Sanders, TE
Charlie Sanders caught 336 passes for 4,817 yards and 31 touchdowns in 10 seasons with the Detroit Lions. Sanders was a seven-time Pro Bowl performer and twice earned first-team All-Pro recognition.
Alabama, 8
John Hannah, OL
A member of both the NFL 1970s and 1980s All-Decade Teams, as well as the 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, John Hannah played his entire 13-year career with the New England Patriots. Hannah was a 10-time All-Pro selection at guard and was selected to the Pro Bowl nine times.
Don Hutson, SE
One of the early stars of the Green Bay Packers under Curly Lambeau, Don Hutson won three NFL titles, was a four-time NFL All-Star and received first team All-Pro recognition eight times in his 11-year NFL career. Hutson led the NFL in receptions eight times, receiving yardage seven times, and touchdowns on nine occasions. He even led the NFL in interceptions in 1940, then won league MVP honors in 1941 and ’42.
Joe Namath, QB
Broadway Joe was the No. 1 overall pick by the New York Jets in the 1965 AFL Draft and led the team to an upset victory in Super Bowl III with an MVP performance after famously guaranteeing victory three days before the game. Namath won AFL MVP honors in 1968 and 1969, and was a four-time AFL All-Star before earning Pro Bowl recognition in 1972. He spent the first 12 years of his pro career with the Jets, and played one season with the Los Angeles Rams.
Ozzie Newsome, TE
The current GM of the Baltimore Ravens, Ozzie Newsome was a three-time Pro Bowler and earned All-Pro recognition in 1984 as a member of the Cleveland Browns. Newsome spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Browns, and joined the organization’s front office after retiring in 1990. Under his direction, the Ravens have won two Super Bowls.
Ken Stabler, QB
Ken Stabler spent two seasons in the Continental Football League before joining the Oakland Raiders in 1970. The Snake was named NFL MVP in 1974 and guided the Raiders to a victory in Super Bowl XI in 1977. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and twice earned first-team All-Pro honors with the Raiders before moving on to short stints with the Oilers and Saints.
Bart Starr, QB
The winning quarterback and MVP in both Super Bowl I and II (giving Alabama the distinction of producing the winning QB in each of the first three World Championships), Bart Starr collected five NFL titles during a 16-year career with the Packers. A four-time Pro Bowler and the 1966 NFL MVP (when he was also named first team All-Pro), Starr has had hit No. 15 jersey retired in Green Bay.
Dwight Stephenson, OL
Dwight Stephenson helped Alabama win two national championships before an eight-year career with the Miami Dolphins. Stephenson was a five-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection with the Phins.
Derrick Thomas, LB
One of the greatest pass rushers in football history, Derrick Thomas amassed 126.5 sacks in 11 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1989 until his untimely death in 2000. Thomas was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time All Pro that set an NFL record for sacks in a game (7). His No. 58 jersey is retired.
Michigan, 8
George Allen, Coach, GM
George Allen, who posted a 116-47-5 career record in 12 seasons as an NFL head coach, earned a master’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1947.
Dan Dierdorf, OL
After earning consensus All-American recognition as a senior for the Wolverines, Dan Dierdorf was selected in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Dierdorf was a six-time Pro Bowler and earned All-Pro recognition five times in his 13 years with the same organization.
Len Ford, DL
Len Ford already appeared on our list because of the short time he spent at Morgan State, but Ford earned his football reputation as a two-way end for the 1947 national champion Michigan Wolverines. Undrafted after earning All-American recognition during the championship season, Ford landed with the Los Angeles Dons in 1948. He played two seasons in LA, eight in Cleveland (where he won three NFL titles and earned four Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections) and finished with one season in Green Bay.
Benny Friedman, QB
Benny Friedman graduated from Michigan in 1927 and began his pro career with the Cleveland Bulldogs. He played a total of eight NFL seasons with four teams, throwing a total of 66 touchdown passes and 18 rushing TDs and earning All-Pro recognition four times.
Bill Hewitt, End
Another former Wolverine that plied his trade in the early days of the NFL, Bill Hewitt played five seasons with the Chicago Bears (with whom he won two NFL titles) and spent three years with the Philadelphia Eagles. A six-time All-Pro, Hewitt had his No. 56 jersey retired in Chicago.
Elroy Hirsch
Another second-timer, “Crazylegs” played at both Michigan and Wisconsin before beginning a 12-year NFL career in Chicago and Los Angeles. A three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Hirsch spent 10 years as the GM of the Rams and the majority of two decades as the AD at Wisconsin after his playing days ended.
Tom Mack, OL
The No. 2 overall pick in the 1966 draft by the Los Angeles Rams, Tom Mack earned Pro Bowl recognition in 11 of his 13 seasons with the team. He was also a four-time First Team All-Pro selection.
Ralph Wilson, Jr., Owner
Our third and final dual-school Michigander, Ralph C. Wilson graduated from Michigan Law School before embarking on a 55-year career as the owner of the Buffalo Bills.
Pitt, 8
Mike Ditka, TE
Most recognizable to fans today as a television personality, or possibly as the Super Bowl-winning head coach of the Chicago Bears, Mike Ditka was a first round pick by the Bears out of Pitt in 1961 and immediately established himself as one of the top tight ends in the NFL. Ditka was the 1961 Rookie of the Year, and earned the first of five consecutive Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections. A member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, his No. 89 jersey has been retired both in Chicago and at Pitt.
Chris Doleman, DL
A first rounder in 1985, Chris Doleman was an eight-time Pro Bowler with three NFL franchises: the Vikings, Falcons and 49ers. A three-time first team All-Pro with Minnesota, Doleman led the NFL with 21 sacks in 1989 and finished his 15-year NFL career with 150.5 sacks.
Tony Dorsett, RB
Few players in football history can compete with the combined production Tony Dorsett had at Pitt and in the NFL. In four years with the Panthers, Dorsett set an NCAA rushing record, won the Heimsan Trophy and helped Pitt win the 1976 national title. In 12 NFL seasons, primarily with the Cowboys, Dorsett gained 12,739 rushing yards and 77 touchdowns, won a Super Bowl Ring and set an NFL record that will never be broken with a 99-yard TD run.
Russ Grimm, OL
Russ Grimm earned four Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections during an 11-year NFL career with Washington, which also included three Super Bowl rings. Grimm, who currently serves as the offensive line coach for the Titans, added another championship ring as a coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rickey Jackson, LB
Grimm’s teammate at Pitt, Rickey Jackson, spent 15 years in the NFL with the Saints and 49ers. A six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro (all with New Orleans), Jackson was a member of the Super Bowl XXIX champion defense with the Niners in 1995 — his final pro season. Jackson tallied 128 career sacks.
Dan Marino, QB
The greatest quarterback never to win a Super Bowl, Dan Marino set nearly every major passing record during his 17-year career with the Miami Dolphins. Marino, who won NFL MVP honors in 1984, made nine Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro squads, amassed 61,361 passing yards and 420 touchdowns as a pro, both of which rank fifth in NFL history.
Curtis Martin, RB
A third round pick by the Patriots in 1995, Curtis Martin began his career with 10 consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. A five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first team All-Pro, Martin finished his career with 14,101 career rushing yards and 90 TDs. The New York Jets, with whom Martin played from 1998-2006, retired his No. 28 jersey.
Joe Schmidt, LB
Joe Schmidt was a First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in each of his first 10 of 13 NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions. Schmidt helped the Lions win two NFL titles in 1953 and 1957, and he earned NFL Defensive MVP honors in 1960 and 1963.
Syracuse, 8
Jim Brown, RB
Though he played just nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Jim Brown set the NFL rushing record with 12,312 yards and added a record 106 rushing touchdowns. Brown was voted NFL MVP three times, earned eight All-Pro selections and was a Pro Bowler in every season in which he played. He also led the NFL in rushing eight times, had his No. 32 jersey retired by the Browns, and was selected to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Larry Csonka, RB
A big, powerful runner, Larry Csonka was a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro selection and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Miami Dolphins from 1968-74 and again in ’79 — his final pro season. In 11 NFL seasons, Csonka ran for 8,081 yards and 64 TDs.
Al Davis, Owner
Al Davis didn’t play football at Syracuse, but his time as a student there helped point him toward a football career. Davis was an assistant coach in college and pro football, served as a scout, was commissioner of the AFL, and served as head coach, owner and general manager of the Raiders. During his tenure with the franchise, the Raiders won three Super Bowls.
Marvin Harrison, WR
An incredibly consistent and productive receiver with the Indianapolis Colts from 1996-2008, Marvin Harrison amassed 14,580 career receiving yards and 128 touchdowns on 1,102 receptions — all of which rank among the top 10 in NFL history.
Floyd Little, RB
Another former No. 44 at Syracuse, Floyd Little was a three-time Pro Bowler that led the NFL in rushing in 1971 and led the league in TDs in 1973. Little gained 6,323 yards on the ground and scored 43 rushing touchdowns in nine seasons with the Broncos, who, like Syracuse, retired his No. 44 jersey.
John Mackey, TE
One of the best tight ends in history, John Mackey (for whom the college award is named) caught 331 passes for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns in 10 NFL seasons. Mackey was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time All-Pro that helped the Baltimore Colts win the 1968 NFL title and Super Bowl V.
Art Monk, WR
It’s hard to believe, but Art Monk was arguably an even more consistent receiver than Marvin Harrison. Monk caught at least one touchdown pass in 15 straight NFL seasons, which stands as an NFL record. He retired with a record 940 receptions, which ranks tenth in league history now, and 12,026 receiving yards, which sits No. 14 on the all-time list.
Jim Ringo, OL
A 10-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro selection as a center, Jim Ringo played 15 NFL seasons with the Packers and Eagles and is a member of both teams’ Halls of Fame. A two-time NFL champion as a player, Ringo later spent two decades as an NFL coach, including as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills in 1976-77.
Ohio State, 10
Cris Carter, WR
As Chris Berman was fond of saying, all he does is catch touchdowns. Cris Carter was a Round 4 selection in the 1987 Supplemental Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles that gained superstardom as an eight-time Pro Bowler with the Vikings. Carter led the NFL in TD catches three times, and finished with 130 touchdowns, which ranks fourth in NFL history.
Sid Gillman, Coach
Few coaches have a more impressive coaching tree than Sid Gillman, who mentored Al Davis, Chuck Noll, Chuck Knox, Dick Vermeil, George Allen and Don Coryell.
Lou Groza, K
The Lou Groza Award is given annually to the best kicker in college football, which is a testament to the success Groza had as a player. A nine-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro selection, Groza spent 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns and won four AAFC titles and four NFL championships with the team.
Dante Lavelli, End
Another former Buckeye that spent his entire pro career with the Browns, Lavelli caught 62 touchdowns passes with Cleveland from 1946-56. The three-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection helped the Browns win seven league titles.
Dick LeBeau, DB
Another standout coach, Dick LeBeau recorded 62 interceptions in 14 seasons with the Detroit Lions. LeBeau was a three-time Pro Bowl selection from 1964-66. He spent just three years as a head coach, but LeBeau established himself as one of the greatest defensive minds in football and won two Super Bowl rings as defensive coordinator with the Steelers.
Orlando Pace, OL
The last offensive lineman to finish in top four of the Heisman vote, Orlando Pace is one of the most highly celebrated offensive linemen in college football history. After being selected No. 1 overall in 1997, Pace earned seven Pro Bowl selections and was named to the All-Pro first team three times.
Jim Parker, OL
After an All-American, national championship career at Ohio State, Jim Parker spent 11 years with the Baltimore Colts. Parker was selected to the All-Pro first team nine times and made eight Pro Bowls. He was also a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and had his No. 77 jersey retired by the Colts.
Ed Sabol, NFL Films
Though he never played a down in the league, Ed Sabol made a huge impact on the NFL through NFL Films, which have won 91 Emmy Awards to date.
Paul Warfield, WR
Paul Warfield was a first round pick by the Browns in 1964, and helped the team win the NFL title as a rookie. Warfield also earned the first of eight Pro Bowl selections and six first-team All-Pro nods as a rookie. He later starred for the Super Bowl VII and VIII champion Miami Dolphins.
Bill Willis, DL
Bill Willis played eight seasons for the Browns and helped the team win five league titles. Willis was selected to three Pro Bowls and four All-Pro first teams from 1950-53.
USC, 12
Marcus Allen, RB
One of the greatest college running backs of all time, Marcus Allen can also boast a long list of accomplishments as a pro. The MVP of Super Bowl XVIII, Allen was also 1982 Rookie of the Year, 1985 NFL MVP and a six-time Pro Bowler with 12,243 career rushing yards, 5,411 receiving yards and 144 total touchdowns.
Morris (Red) Badgro, End
One of the earliest Trojans to star in the NFL, Red Badgro caught 35 passes for 560 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 pro seasons, four of which earned him All-Pro honors.
Frank Gifford, HB/FL
Gifford was equally skilled as a runner and receiver during a 12-year career with the New York Giants. In 1956, Gifford was named NFL MVP and led the Giants to the NFL title. He was a six-time All-Pro selection and eight-time Pro Bowler.
Ronnie Lott, DB
Few defensive backs in the history of football were as feared as Ronnie Lott, who was selected to 10 Pro Bowls and named an All-Pro eight times. Lott won four Super Bowls in 15 NFL seasons, twice led the NFL in interceptions and was recognized on the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in addition to the 1980s and ‘90s All-Decade Teams.
Bruce Matthews, OL
Across 19 years with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans organization, Bruce Matthews earned 14 Pro Bowl selections and was named a first team All-Pro 10 times. A member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade team, Matthews had his No. 74 jersey retired by the Titans.
Ron Mix, OL
A first round pick in both the NFL and AFL Drafts, Ron Mix spent a decade with the Chargers from 1960-69, winning an AFL title, eight AFL All-Star selections and was recognized as All-AFL nine times.
Anthony Munoz, OL
Anthony Munoz spent 13 of his 14 NFL seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, earning 11 Pro Bowl selections and was honored as a First Team All-Pro nine times. A member of the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, Munoz also represented the Bengals on the 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Junior Seau, LB
One of the best linebackers to ever suit up on Sundays, Junior Seau roamed the field for the San Diego Chargers from 1990-2002, and was named a Pro Bowler 12 straight years from 1991-2002. He was also the 1992 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. An eight-time All-Pro in 20 NFL seasons, Seau recorded 1,849 career tackles, 56.5 sacks, 18 interceptions and had his No. 55 jersey retired in San Diego.
O.J. Simpson, RB
O.J. Simpson spent just two years with the Trojans, and led the nation in rushing yardage in both, including his 1968 Heisman-winning campaign. After college, Simpson gained 11,236 rushing yards and scored 61 touchdowns, earning five Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections from 1972-76, including this ‘73 MVP season.
Lynn Swann, WR
The current athletic director at USC, Lynn Swann starred as a receiver for the Steelers from 1974-82, winning four Super Bowls and amassing 5,462 career receiving yards and 51 touchdowns along the way.
Willie Wood, DB
Despite going undrafted out of USC in 1960, Willie Wood carved out a 12-year NFL career with the Packers that included eight Pro Bowls, five All-Pro selections, five NFL titles and two Super Bowl wins.
Ron Yary, OL
The No. 1 overall pick in the 1968 NFL Draft, Ron Yary was a seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro for the Minnesota Vikings from 1968-69. Yary was part of three NFC championship squads and one NFL champion in Minnesota, and retired in 1982 after one year with the LA Rams.
Notre Dame, 13
Jerome Bettis, RB
Bettis ran for 1,912 yards with the Fighting Irish from 1990-92 before being selected in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. A big back known for his punishing running style, Bettis gained 13,662 rushing yards and scored 91 touchdowns on the ground in 13 NFL seasons. He also won All-Pro honors twice, and helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl XL.
Tim Brown, WR
The 1987 Heisman Trophy winner, Brown went on to make nine Pro Bowls as a member of the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, twice earned All=Pro honors and was recognized as a member of the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade team. 16 NFL seasons, Brown caught 1,094 passes for 14,934 yards and 100 touchdowns.
Nick Buoniconti, LB
A 13th round pick in the 1962 AFL Draft, Buoniconti played 14 NFL seasons – seven with the Boston Patriots and seven with the Miami Dolphins. During his career, the middle linebacker made eight Pro Bowls, was named an All-Pro five times, and won two Super Bowls with the Dolphins, including with the undefeated 1972 squad.
Dave Casper, TE
A member of the 1973 National Championship team, “The Ghost” played 11 NFL seasons for four teams, winning Super Bowl XI with the Oakland Raiders.
George Connor, LB
Conner won two national titles and was twice named an All-American with the Irish. A two-way star at linebacker and tackle, Conner earned All-Pro honors four times with the Bears.
Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Owner
DeBartolo, Jr. owned the San Francisco 49ers from 1977-2000, during which time the team won four Super Bowls.
Paul Hornung, HB
The 1956 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick by the Green Bay Packers, Hornung was a four-time NFL champion and won Super Bowl I with the Packers. Hornung also won the 1961 MVP Award, and was a member of the 1960s All-Decade Team.
Earl (Curly) Lambeau, Head Coach
Curly Lambeau was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the inaugural 1963 class. Lambeau played for the Green Bay Packers from 1919-29 and served as head coach for the franchise from 1919-49, and later coached in Chicago and Washington. Green Bay’s Lambeau Field is named in his honor.
John (Blood) McNally, HB
McNally won four NFL championships with the Packers, was a member of the NFL’s 1930 All-Decade team as a halfback, and posted a 6-19 career record as a head coach.
Wayne Millner, End
Millner earned All-American honors at Notre Dame in 1935 and the 1937 NFL Championship with Washington in 1937. In seven NFL seasons, Millner caught 124 passes for 1,578 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Joe Montana, QB
After leading Notre Dame to the 1977 national championship, Joe Montana became one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Montana won four Super Bowl titles as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, was named Super Bowl MVP three times, earned first team All-Pro honors three times, was named league MVP twice and was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. His No. 16 jersey was retired by the 49ers.
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Alan Page, DT
The 1971 NFL MVP and a member of the 1969 NFL Champion Vikings, Alan Page played 12 NFL seasons, was a nine-time Pro Bowler and earned All-Pro honors three times. After a Hall of Fame career, Page went on to a sterling legal career and eventually was elected as an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
George Trafton, C
A member of the 1919 undefeated Notre Dame squad coached by Knute Rockne, Trafton won two NFL Championships, was a six-time All-Pro selection and was named to the 1920s NFL All-Decade Team as a center.