The Best NFL Player From Every State

This ranking has been compiled from various NFL stats and sports experts. You can argue some random fan’s fave, but you can’t argue with data.

From Reggie White to Tom Brady, here are the best players born in each state.

Pennsylvania

Dan Marino — Quarterback

A lot of amazing quarterbacks have come out of Pennsylvania, but Dan Marino still stands as one of the best.

Retiring the year he led the league in passing yards, Marino shattered a number of passing records during his time with the Miami Dolphins.

A nine-time Pro Bowler with three All-Pro team picks, he started 240 of his career 242 games and amassed 61,361 passing yards, a 1986 leading long pass of 85 yards and 420 passing touchdowns — nice.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, Marino left the league with the Bert Bell Award, Walter Payton Man of the Year, the PWFA Comeback Award and, in 1984, both the league MVP and AP Offensive Player of the Year.

Michigan

Paul Krause — Safety

Many modern NFL players from Michigan have had great NFL careers, but Paul Krause accumulated some of the best stats of any player from the state.

He started his 16-year career after being drafted 18th overall, then led the league in interceptions in his first year with 12. An eight-time Pro Bowler with three All-Pro picks, he became the NFL’s leading pass interceptor of all time with 81 career interceptions, a record he still holds to this day.

After being the starting free safety in four Super Bowls — IV, VIII, IX and XI — Krause was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

Alabama

Bart Starr — Quarterback

While Brett Favre may be the top choice for greatest quarterback in Green Bay history, Bart Starr was the one who paved the way for Green Bay in its early years.

As a 17th-round draft pick, Starr had a rocky start to his career, leading Green Bay’s 4-8 losing season in his first year as quarterback. But starting in 1961, he began one of the best runs in NFL history.

He led the league in pass completion for several years, led Green Bay to five NFL championships and two Super Bowl wins, and was named MVP in 1966.

He also was Green Bay’s coach from 1975 to 1983 and ended his career with 152 passing touchdowns and 24,718 yards gained by passing.

Minnesota

Larry Fitzgerald — Wide Receiver

Larry Fitzgerald holds so many NFL records that he was a no-brainer for the Minnesota spot. A career-long Arizona Cardinal, he’s regarded as one of the nicest people to ever play football.

Throughout his career, Fitzgerald led the league in receiving touchdowns and receptions multiple times, and he holds the record of second-most receiving yards in NFL history with 17,429, second to Jerry Rice.

An 11-time Pro Bowler, he was picked for the All-Pro team only once and holds the sixth most receiving touchdowns in the league's history with 121.

Fitzgerald won the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year award and was picked for the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade team. While he hasn’t retired just yet, his free agent status is ongoing with no urge to play at the moment.

Tennessee

Reggie White — Defensive End

As the “Minister of Defense,” Reggie White gave himself the authority by God to be the best NFL player to come out of Tennessee.

With 13 consecutive Pro Bowls and eight All-Pro team picks, White led the NFL in sacks twice, ending his career with a total of 198.

He won Super Bowl XXXI with the Green Bay Packers and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 and 1998.

Chosen as part of the NFL’s 1980s and 1990s All-Decade teams, White was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Alaska

Mark Schlereth — Guard

Alaska has contributed a low number of players to the NFL, with 13 overall. Still, Mark Schlereth is among the best defensemen, with some quirky habits to boot.

Drafted in the 10th round to Washington in 1989 and ultimately winning a Super Bowl with them in ‘92, Schlereth spent the latter half of his career in Denver supporting John Elway in two Super Bowls wins.

He’s a two-time Pro Bowler who started 140 of his 156 career games.

While his stats aren’t super noteworthy, his weird superstitions are. He had a habit of peeing his pants during huddles. But hey, he was one of the best defenseman of the ‘90s, so who are we to judge?

New Mexico

Ronnie Lott — Defensive Back

A true ball hawk, Ronnie Lott led the league in interceptions twice during his 14-season career and finished with 63 total. He’s also in the top 10 for most interceptions of all time.

A 10-time Pro Bowler with six All-Pro picks, Lott won eight NFC Western Division titles and four Super Bowls during his time with the 49ers. Drafted 8th overall in 1981, he accumulated 1,146 tackles in his career with the NFL.

Lott was also selected to both the 1980s and 1990s NFL All-Decade teams and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

Kentucky

Champ Bailey — Defensive Back

With 52 interceptions and 931 tackles in his 15-year career, Champ Bailey was one of the most durable and talented defensive backs.

A three-time All-Pro team selection, he was a 12-time Pro Bowler, tied with Ken Houston for the most Pro Bowls of any defensive back in NFL history, and started 212 of the 215 games played.

In 2006, he led the league in interceptions and yards intercepted — 10 and 162, respectively.

Picked for the NFL’s All-Decade team in the 2000s, Bailey was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Hawaii

Olin Kreutz — Center

Hawaii hasn’t contributed much in terms of Hall of Famers to the NFL, but Olin Kreutz’s career stands out.

Drafted 64th overall, Kreutz retired as a six-time Pro Bowler with one All-Pro team pick in 2006. He was named to join the NFL’s ‘00s All-Decade team and was named one the 100 best players in the first century of the league’s existence.

After his first season, he started in every game he played — his starting record of 183 games with the Bears is second only to that of Walter Payton.

While he didn’t make the cut in 2020 for the Hall of Fame, Kreutz’s longevity continues in his role as a sports commentator for NBC Sports.

Virginia

Lawrence Taylor — Linebacker

Lawrence Taylor is regarded as one of the most fearsome linebackers in NFL history. Glossing over him would be a threat to personal safety.

Taylor, who spent his whole career with the New York Giants, was drafted second overall in 1981, winning the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

A 10-time Pro Bowler with eight All-Pro team selections, he’s one of the only players in league history to win the AP Defensive Player of the Year three times. He won two Super Bowl championships and was named league MVP in 1986.

After retiring with 142 career sacks, Taylor was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

New York

Sid Luckman — Quarterback

Sorry, Rob Gronkowski, but Sid Luckman put New York on the map. Drafted second overall in 1939 as the Chicago Bears’ left halfback, he moved to quarterback the following year where he flourished.

As a three-time Pro Bowler with four NFL championships and five All-Pro team selections, Luckman is arguably one of the best passers of his generation. He led the league multiple years in yards gained by passing and for pass completion in 1941.

Luckman helped revolutionize modern offensive play and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1965.

Arkansas

Don Hutson — Defensive End

Don Hutson’s legacy with the Green Bay Packers is everlasting, and it’s only right that he is the first player in the team's history to have his number retired.

He was a key player in helping Green Bay win three league titles from 1936 to 1944, and he developed many of the plays that are still run to this day.

As one of the very first Hall of Fame inductees, Hutson led the league in receiving touchdowns nine times and in receiving yards seven times over his 11-season career. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler, was an All-Pro team pick eight times and won three Super Bowls.

It’s no surprise that Hutson was named the NFL’s MVP twice in his career. He has truly earned his place in the Packers Hall of Fame.

Maryland

Cameron Wake — Linebacker

Cameron Wake’s career didn’t have the greatest start. He was initially signed to the New York Giants out of college but was dropped that season. After two seasons in the Canadian Football League and even a brief stint as a mortgage broker, he was signed to the Miami Dolphins in 2009.

Wake has since made a name for himself as one of the Dolphins’ 50 greatest players. A five-time Pro Bowler with one All-Pro pick in 2012, he’s racked up 100.5 sacks and 364 tackles — leading the league in tackles for loss in 2010 with 21.

Wake has flourished and persevered throughout his career. While he still refuted talk of retirement in 2020, he hasn’t played a game since 2019 due to a hamstring injury, and he was released from the Titans that season.

North Carolina

Bruce Matthews — Offensive Lineman

With three Offensive Lineman of the Year awards, there was no way Bruce Matthews wasn’t going to bring it home for North Carolina.

As a 14-time consecutive Pro Bowler, Matthews is tied with Merlin Olsen for most consecutive Pro Bowls. He’s played in seven All-Pros and was named to the NFL's 1990s All-Decade team. He was also selected for the 100th Anniversary All-Time team in 2020.

Matthews was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007 and won the prestigious Bart Starr Award in 2001.

Missouri

Ezekiel Elliott — Running Back

Though his career is still ongoing, Ezekiel Elliott has proven to be one of the NFL’s most effective running backs on the field.

In 2016, he was lauded as one of the best, most complete running back prospects since Adrian Peterson by sports stats analytics site PFF, and was picked fourth overall in the draft that year.

After leading the league in rushing his first and third year in the game, he’s already earned three Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team pick.

He has started all 87 games he’s played with the Dallas Cowboys and shows no signs of slowing down.

Indiana

Rod Woodson — Defensive Back

As an eleven-time Pro Bowler and with six All-Pro team selections, Rod Woodson retired his 17-year career with the most interception return yards — 1,483.

Named the AP 1993 Defensive Player of the Year, Woodson went on to win Super Bowl XXXV, racking up six combined tackles that game. He ended his career with a total 1,158 tackles, leaving him with the 44th most tackles in the league's history.

Selected for the NFL 1990s All-Decade team, Woodson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Arizona

Randall McDaniel — Guard

A lot of great players have come out of Arizona, but the only one to make the NFL’s 100 greatest in 2020 was Randall McDaniel. Drafted nineteenth overall in 1988, he is considered to be one of the finest offensive linemen in NFL history.

McDaniel, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, started 202 consecutive games throughout his career.

He was selected for the All-Pro team nine times, and he’s also a 12-time Pro Bowler who became the first guard in AFC-NFC Pro Bowl history to catch a touchdown pass.

Overall, McDaniel led Minnesota's offensive line, with his efforts resulting in just one sack every 22.7 pass attempts — the second-best ratio in the team’s history.

Massachusetts

Nick Buoniconti — Linebacker

While this spot could’ve easily gone to Howie Long, Nick Buoniconti’s career stats and accolades are stronger. After being drafted in the 13th round, he went on to make a Hall of Fame career for himself as a linebacker.

An eight-time Pro Bowler, Buoniconti has five All-Pro team picks, more than twice as many as any other player from the state. He won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins and went on to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

Buoniconti was also a big champion of medical research. After his son, Marc, was paralyzed from a college football injury, he helped raise around $500 million for spinal cord and brain research.

After his battle with dementia and death in 2019, his brain was donated to Boston University so it could determine the influence of his football career on his condition.

Oklahoma

Wes Welker — Wide Receiver

Oklahoma has produced a lot of amazing players, from Steve Largent to Lee Roy Selmon, but Wesley Carter Welker gets the nod on this list for league-leading reception stats.

A big underdog when he started his career, Welker spent his first season getting traded and dropped. A tenacious worker, he trained hard and made it to the New England Patriots, where he led the league in receptions in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

He played five consecutive Pro Bowls from 2008 to 2012 and was picked twice for the All-Pro team.

Ending with a career total of 903 receptions, Welker currently works as the wide receiver coach with the 49ers.

Utah

Steve Young — Quarterback

With two league MVPs, a Super Bowl MVP and an AP Offensive Player of the Year award, Steve Young is the one true MVP of Utah.

Drafted first overall in 1984 to Tampa, Young moved on to the 49ers to become a seven-time Pro Bowler with three All-Pro team picks.

He led the NFL in percentage of passes completed and touchdown throws multiple times throughout his 15-season career. He retired with three Super Bowl wins, 232 career touchdowns and a 97-yard pass.

A two-time recipient of the Bert Bell Award, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

South Dakota

Adam Vinatieri — Kicker

There aren’t a lot of kickers in the NFL with a record like Adam Vinatieri’s, which is why he gets this spot.

A three-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro pick, Vinatieri has four Super Bowl wins between two franchises — making him the kicker with the most wins in NFL history. He holds the record for top scorer in the NFL with 2,673 points.

Over the course of this 365-game career, he led the league in percentage of field goals made numerous times.

Louisiana

Peyton Manning — Quarterback

Sorry Eli, but Peyton is overshadowing you as the first overall draft pick in 1998.

With two Super Bowl wins with two franchises — Indianapolis in 2007 and Denver in 2016 — he’s the only starting quarterback to do so in NFL history.

Over the course of his 18-season career, Manning had a 96.5% QB rating and 65.3% pass competition rate, and he accumulated 71,940 regular-season passing yards and 539 touchdowns. He retired in 2016.

A 14-time Pro Bowler, he won five MVPs and the 2012 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Wyoming

Boyd Dowler — Flanker/Left End

As one of the few Pro Bowlers from the state of Wyoming, Boyd Dowler’s career is the most impressive.

Winning the AP Rookie of the Year award after being drafted 25th overall in 1959, Dowler was a career Green Bay Packer until he came out of retirement for a victory lap with Washington.

He amassed five NFL championships, winning the first two ever Super Bowls. He retired with a career 474 receptions, 7,270 receiving yards and caught the longest pass of 91 yards in 1960.

Even though he was named to the NFL’s 1960s All-Decade team, Dowler has yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Maine

John Bunting — Linebacker

Maine hasn’t produced a ton of NFL talent — no player from the state has ever earned a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team pick. Regardless, John Bunting’s career at the Philadelphia Eagles boasts some of the best stats from the state.

After being drafted in the 10th round, Bunting went on to start 116 of 132 games in his 11-year career. During his tenure, the Eagles made it to Super Bowl XV, and despite Bunting having a few key tackles that game, they ended up losing to the Oakland Raiders.

While Bunting’s career as a player wasn’t exactly the most notable, he went on to become a memorable assistant coach. He coached in Kansas City, New Orleans and St Louis, helping them win Super Bowl XXXIV as co-coordinator and linebacker coach in 2000.

Delaware

Duron Harmon — Free Safety

Delaware has never produced a Pro Bowler or an All-Pro team member, so this spot was a little hard to fill. While Tim Wilson was a contender, Duron Harmon’s three Super Bowl wins edged him out as the best player from Delaware.

Drafted 91st overall in 2013, Harmon is known for grabbing interceptions in the final minutes of the game — of his 13 interceptions in 2017, 10 were caught in the final quarter. This ability to grab game-stealing interceptions is why he’s been nicknamed “The Closer.”

With 311 career tackles, Harmon’s career as a dependable safety has made him one to watch.

Mississippi

Jerry Rice — Wide Receiver

This was a tough one, as we have both Jerry Rice and Brett Favre coming out of Mississippi — and we’re not even going to get into Walter Payton. While Favre has the tiniest bit of an edge in stats, Rice has way more career accolades.

Rice’s 20-season career is undoubtedly one of the best of any wide receiver in NFL history. With his 13 Pro Bowls, 10 All-Pro team picks and three Super Bowl championships, you’d be hard pressed to find someone as evenly matched.

He led the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns multiple times during his time in the NFL, and he holds the record for most touchdowns and pass receptions.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010, Rice is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade teams of the 1980s and 1990s and the 75th Anniversary team.

South Carolina

Richard Seymour — Defensive End

A ton of great prospects have come out of South Carolina, but Richard Seymour’s career has been cemented as one of the best in the state.

Drafted sixth overall in 2001, Seymour took Super Bowl wins in his first three seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots.

A seven-time Pro Bowler with three All-Pro team selections, he started in 157 of his career 164 games. He ended with the Oakland Raiders in 2012 with 57.5 sacks and 498 tackles.

While he likely won’t receive any Hall of Fame recognition, Seymour was drafted to the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade team.

Nebraska

Mick Tingelhoff — Center

Mick Tingelhoff, who played for Minnesota his entire career, earned this spot on the list as one of the fiercest centers in NFL history.

After signing with the Vikings as a free agent, Tingelhoff was made starting center in his first game and never gave up the spot over his 17-season career.

His streak of 240 starts puts him on the leaderboard for the most in NFL history. He’s also a six-time Pro Bowler with five All-Pro team picks, and he won an NFL championship title in 1969.

In 2015, Tingelhoff was selected for the Hall of Fame’s senior category.

Georgia

Jim Brown — Fullback

As No. 4 on USA Today’s list of all-time greatest NFL players, Jim Brown is the obvious choice for this slot. Drafted sixth overall in 1957 and earning Rookie of the Year, this career Cleveland Brown started every year he played.

While Brown has led the league in varying stats for multiple years, he holds the NFL record for 11th best in rushing yards gained, with 12,312.

He was a Pro Bowler in every season he played and was an eight-time All-Pro team pick. He was named MVP three times and held a record career total of 2,359 rushing attempts until it was broken by Walter Payton in the '80s.

Connecticut

Dwight Freeney — Defensive End

Recognized as one of the top defensive linemen of the ‘00s, Dwight Freeney’s 16-year NFL career as a defensive end has solidified his position as the best from Connecticut.

Selected 11th overall in 2002, Freeney’s 125.5 career sacks made him 18th among the NFL’s all-time sack leaders. In his first year with the Indianapolis Colts, he led the league in forced fumbles and tackles for loss.

He’s a seven-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro pick and a Super Bowl XLI champion.

While he bounced around later in his career, during his time with Indianapolis he had some of the best defensive stats in the league. By 2023, he’ll be eligible for the Hall of Fame, an honor he’s most definitely earned.

Iowa

Kurt Warner — Quarterback

From humble beginnings as a grocery bagger, Kurt Warner is considered to have one of the best comeback stories in NFL history.

A four-time Pro Bowler with two All-Team selections, Warner became the only undrafted quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, in 2000, and he was also named MVP of that game.

With a pass-completion rate of 65.5%, he was one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the league's history. He was named the league's MVP twice.

Ending his career with 2,666 pass completions and 208 passing touchdowns, Warner was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Nevada

Steven Jackson — Running Back

After retiring with a total of 69 touchdowns, Steven Jackson’s impressive 12-season career secured him this spot as the best player from Nevada.

A three-time Pro Bowler, Jackson’s a member of the 10,000-yard rushing club — something only 31 NFL players have ever done — with 11,438 rushing yards. He started 147 out of the 160 games he played throughout his career and finished with a 73.4% catch rate.

While Jackson also played for the Falcons and the New England Patriots, his time with the Rams made him the all-time leading rusher of the franchise’s history.

Colorado

Calais Campbell — Defensive End

With his career still ongoing, Calais Campbell is a standout player in the NFL. Drafted 50th overall in 2008 to the Baltimore Ravens, he was elected to the 2010s All-Decade team.

With 93.5 career sacks, 14 forced fumbles and 762 tackles thus far, Campbell is a six-time Pro Bowler who was picked for the All-Pro team in 2017. Most notably, he was selected for the 2019 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

He might be on the edge of retirement, but Campbell’s 14-season career has given him a lot to be proud of — even despite his lack of Super Bowl wins.

Washington

John Elway — Quarterback

During John Elway’s 16 seasons with the Denver Broncos, he was responsible for 82.2% of their total points scored.

A nine-time Pro Bowler, Elway was drafted first overall in 1983. He finished his career with two back-to-back Super Bowl wins and was named MVP of the final one.

He was also league MVP in 1987 and was picked for the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade team. He retired with 4,123 completed passes, 300 passing touchdowns and 51,475 yards gained by passing.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004, Elway was also honored in 1992 with the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Rhode Island

Bill Osmanski — Fullback

Yes, Al Del Greco could have easily had this spot. But we’re kicking him to the curb in favor of Bill Osmanski for his four NFL championships.

Drafted sixth overall in 1939, Osmanski led the league in rushing with 699 yards in that first year. He became a three-time Pro Bowler, gaining one All-Pro team selection and finished his career with 1,753 yards rushed.

While his seven-season career with the Chicago Bears was short, he was picked for the NFL’s 1940s All-Decade team.

North Dakota

Pete Retzlaff — Offense

While this spot almost went to Gary Larsen, Pete Retzlaff edged him out for the versatility of his offensive capabilities during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Drafted all the way back in the 22nd round of the 1953 draft, Retzlaff shuffled around various positions during his career. With five Pro Bowls divided among three positions and one All-Pro pick, he retired with 452 receptions, leading the league in 1958 with 56.

Rezlaff won one NFL championship and the 1964 Bert Bell Award. He later worked as the team’s general manager and, upon his retirement, the Eagles retired his number, 44.

Kansas

Barry Sanders — Running Back

Ranked among the league’s top five rushers of all time, Barry Sanders was named offensive player of the year twice in his 10-year career. Selected third overall in the 1989 draft, Sanders deserves a spot on this list.

He was a Pro Bowler every season he played and was picked for the All-Pro team six times. With a 69.3% catch rate and 15,269 rushing yards gained, he amassed more than 2,000 rushing yards in his penultimate campaign and was named MVP in 1997.

Winner of the Heisman Trophy, Sanders was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Montana

Jerry Kramer — Guard

After being shortlisted for the Hall of Fame 10 times, Jerry Kramer was finally inducted in 2018 at the age of 82.