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| • ILLINOIS FOOTBALL HISTORY • |
| Illini in the NFL |
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Current players in orange. * Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| (Includes former Fighting Illini who played during the regular season of the National Football League, The American Football League, 1960-69, or the All-American Conference, 1946-51, all of which evolved into the current NFL.) |
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| Ron Acks, LB-Atlanta Falcons (1968-71); New England Patriots (1972-73); Green Bay Packers (1974-76) |
| Alex Agase, G-Los Angeles Dons (AAC) (1947); Chicago Rockets (AAC) (1947); Cleveland Browns (AAC) (1948-51) |
| Mel Agee, DT-Indianapolis Colts (1991-1992); Atlanta Falcons (1992-95) |
| Derek Allen, OL-New York Giants (1995) |
| Kelvin Atkins, LB-Chicago Bears (1983) |
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| Alan Ball, CB-Dallas Cowboys (2007-) |
| John Bauer, G-New York Giants (1954) |
| Mike Bellamy, WR-Indianapolis Colts (1992) |
| Sean Bennett, RB-New York Giants (1999-2002) |
| George Bernhardt, G-Brooklyn Dodgers (AAC) (1946-48); Chicago Rockets (AAC) (1948) |
| Gilbert Berry, B-Chicago Cardinals (1935) |
| Marv Berschet, G-Washington Redskins (1954-55) |
| Les Bingaman, G-Detroit Lions (1948-54) |
| Ken Blackman, OL-Cincinnati Bengals (1996-98) |
| Wayne Bock, T-Chicago Cardinals (1957) |
| Chuck Boerio, LB-Green Bay Packers (1952) |
| Cap Boso, TE-St. Louis Cardinals (1986); Chicago Bears (1987-91) |
| Ed Brady, LB-Los Angeles Rams (1984-86); Cincinnati Bengals (1986-91); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992- 95) |
| Earl Britton, B-Frankford (PA) Yellowjackets (1927); Dayton Triangles (1927-28); Chicago Cardinals (1929) |
| Mitchell Brookins, WR-Buffalo Bills (1984-86); San Diego Chargers (1988) |
| Al Brosky, DB-Chicago Cardinals (1954) |
| Bill Brown, FB-Chicago Bears (1961); Minnesota Vikings (1962-74) |
| Chris Brown, OL-Seattle Seahawks (1998) |
| Darrick Brownlow, LB-Dallas Cowboys (1991); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992-93); Dallas Cowboys (1994); Washington Redskins (1995-96 ); Chicago Bears (1997) |
| Sean Bubin, OL-Detroit Lions (2004); Minnesota Vikings (2005); New England Patriots (2006) |
| Lloyd Burdick, T-Chicago Bears (1931-32); Cincinnati Reds (1933) |
| *Dick Butkus, LB-Chicago Bears (1965-73) |
| Luke Butkus, C-San Diego Chargers (2002); Houston Texans (2004) |
| Darryl Byrd, LB-Los Angeles Raiders (1983-84) |
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| J.C. Caroline, DB-Chicago Bears (1956-65) |
| Danny Clark, LB-Jacksonville Jaguars (2000-03); Oakland Raiders (2004-05); New Orleans Saints (2006); Houston Texans (2007); New York Giants (2008-) |
| David Cook, B-Chicago Cardinals (1934-36); Brooklyn Dodgers (1936) |
| Jameel Cook, FB-Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2001-05); Houston Texans (2006-07); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2008-) |
| John Counts, RB-New York Giants (1962-63) |
| Matt Cushing, TE-Pittsburgh Steelers (1998-2004) |
| John Crangle, B-Chicago Cardinals (1923) |
| James Crawford, G-Chicago Bears (1925) |
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| Russell Daugherty, B-Frankford (PA) Yellowjackets (1927) |
| Carey Davis, FB-Indianapolis Colts (2004); Atlanta Falcons (2004); Miami Dolphins (2006); Pittsburgh Steelers (2006-) |
| Jason Davis, FB-Philadelphia Eagles (2006); Oakland Raiders (2008); Chicago Bears (2008-) |
| Scott Davis, DE-Los Angeles Raiders (1988-1991, 1994) |
| Mark Dennis, OT-Miami Dolphins (1987-94); Cincinnati Begnals (1994); Carolina Panthers (1995-96) |
| John Depler, C-Hammond (IN) Pros (1921); Dayton (OH) Triangles (1929); Orange (NJ) Tornados (1929) |
| Dave Diehl, OL-New York Giants (2003-) |
| Doug Dieken, OT-Cleveland Browns (1971-84) |
| Ken Dilger, TE-Indianapolis Colts (1995-2001); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002-04) |
| George Donnelly, DB-San Francisco 49ers (1966-67) |
| Paul Douglass, DB-New York Giants (1953) |
| Ty Douthard, RB-Cincinnati Bengals (1997) |
| Clarence Drayer, T-Dayton (OH) Triangles (1925) |
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| Tony Eason, QB-New England Patriots (1983-89); New York Jets (1989-90) |
| David Edwards, DB-Pittsburgh Steelers (1985-88) |
| Greg Engel, C-San Diego Chargers (1994-98); Detroit Lions (1999-2000) |
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| Ron Ferrari, LB-San Francisco 49ers (1982-86) |
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| Moe Gardner, NT-Atlanta Falcons (1991-96) |
| Jeff George, QB-Indianapolis Colts (1990-93); Atlanta Falcons (1994-96); Oakland Raiders (1997-98); Minnesota Vikings (1999); Washington Redskins (2000-01) |
| John Gillen, LB-St. Louis Cardinals (1981-83) |
| Mike Gomez, TE-Seattle Seahawks (2006) |
| Louis Gordon, T-Chicago Cardinals (1930-31, 32-35); Brooklyn Dodgers (1931); Green Bay Packers (1936-37); Chicago Bears (1938) |
| Jim Grabowski, FB-Green Bay Packers (1966-70); Chicago Bears (1971) |
| Garland Grange, E-Chicago Bears (1925, 28-34) |
| *Harold "Red" Grange, B-Chicago Bears (1925, 1928-34); New York Yankees (1926-27) |
| African Grant, DB-Washington Redskins (1988); Miami Dolphins (1989-90) |
| Chris Green, DB-Miami Dolphins (1991-1994); Buffalo Bills (1995) |
| Don Greenwood, RB-Cleveland Redskins (1946-47) |
| Donald Griffin, B-Chicago Rockets (AAC) (1946) |
| Howard Griffith, RB-L.A. Rams (1994); Carolina Panthers (1995-96); Denver Broncos (1997-2001) |
| Rich Grimmett, OT-Dallas Cowboys (1980-81) |
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| *George Halas, E-Decatur/Chicago Staleys (player/coach) (1920-21); Chicago Bears (player/coach) (1922-29); Coach only (1933-42, 46-55, 58-67) |
| Michael Hall, DB- Washington Redskins (2004) |
| Raymond Hall, T-New York Yankees (1927) |
| Don Hansen, LB-Minnesota Vikings (1966-67); Atlanta Falcons (1969-76); New Orleans Saints (1976); Seattle Seahawks (1976); Green Bay Packers (1977) |
| Dave Harbour, C-Washington Redskins (1988-89) |
| Kevin Hardy, LB-Jacksonville Jaguars (1996-2001); Dallas Cowboys (2002); Cincinnati Bengals (2003-04) |
| Antoineo Harris, RB-San Diego Chargers (2003) |
| Frank Hartley, TE-Cleveland Browns (1994-95); Baltimore Ravens (1996) |
| Kelvin Hayden, DB-Indianapolis Colts (2005-) |
| Tom Hicks, LB-Chicago Bears (1976-81) |
| Nathan Hodel, LS-Arizona Cardinals (2001-) |
| Robert Holcombe, RB-St. Louis Rams (1998-2001); Tennessee Titans (2002-04) |
| John Holecek, LB-Buffalo Bills (1995-2000); San Diego Chargers (2001); Atlanta Falcons (2002) |
| Brad Hopkins, OT-Tennessee Titans (1993-2005) |
| Dana Howard, LB-St. Louis Rams (1995); Chicago Bears (1996-97) |
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| Burt Ingwersen, T-Chicago Staleys/Bears (1920-21) |
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| Bobby Jackson, DB-Green Bay Packers (2003) |
| Trenton Jackson, FL-Philadelphia Eagles (1966); Washington Redskins (1967) |
| John Janata, OT-Chicago Bears (1983-84) |
| Filmel Johnson, DB-Buffalo Bills (1994-95) |
| Garrett Johnson, DL-New England (1999-2001); Denver Broncos (2002-) |
| Johnny Johnson, QB-Detroit Lions (1996) |
| Mike Johnson, DT-Houston Oilers (1984-85) |
| Nathan Johnson, T-New York Yankees (AAC) (1946-47, 50); Chicago Rockets (AAC) (1948); Chicago Hornets (AAC) (1949) |
| Rich Johnson, FB-Houston Oilers (AFL) (1969) |
| Henry Jones, DB-Buffalo Bills (1991-2001); Atlanta Falcons (2002) |
| Keith Jones, RB-Atlanta Falcons (1989-1992) |
| Jim Juriga, OG-Denver Broncos (1986-91) |
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| John Karras, B-Chicago Cardinals (1952) |
| Michael Kasap, T-Baltimore Colts (AAC) (1947); Buffalo Bills (AAC) (1947) |
| Charles Kassel, E-Chicago Bears (1927); Frankford (PA) Yellowjackets (1927-28); Chicago Cardinals (1929-33) |
| Edward Kawal, C-Chicago Bears (1931-36); Washington Redskins (1937) |
| Kurt Kittner, QB-Atlanta Falcons (2002-03); Chicago Bears (2005) |
| Anthony Klimek, E-Chicago Cardinals (1951-52) |
| Oscar Knop, B-Hammond Pros (1922-23); Chicago Bears (1923-27) |
| Frank Knox, G-Detroit Lions (1935) |
| William Kovacsy, T-Hammond Pros (1923) |
| Reynold Kraft, E-Minneapolis Marines (1922) |
| Joe Krakoski, DB-Washington Redskins (1961); Oakland Raiders (AFL) (1963-66) |
| Rich Kreitling, WR-Cleveland Browns (1959-63); Chicago Bears (1964) |
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| Ralph Lanum, B-Decatur/Chicago Staleys/Bears (1920-24) |
| Lou Levanti, G-Pittsburgh Steelers (1951-52) |
| Greg Lewis, WR-Philadelphia Eagles (2003-) |
| Adam Lingner, C-Kansas City Chiefs (1983-86); New England Patriots (1986); Buffalo Bills (1986-95) |
| Brandon Lloyd, WR-San Francisco 49ers (2003-05); Washington Redskins (2006-07); Chicago Bears (2008-) |
| Lynn Lynch, G-Chicago Cardinals (1951) |
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| J.P. Machado, OL-New York Jets (1999-2003) |
| Achille Maggioli, B-Buffalo Bills (AAC) (1948); Detroit Lions (1949); Baltimore Colts (1950) |
| Mike Malczyk, LS-New York Giants (2002) |
| Jeff Markland, FB-Pittsburgh Steelers (1988) |
| Mike Martin, WR-Cincinnati Bengals (1983-89) |
| Larry McCarren, C-Green Bay Packers (1973-85) |
| James McCarthy, E-Chicago Cardinals (1944); Pittsburgh Steelers (1944); Brooklyn Dodgers (AAC) (1946-47); Chicago Rockets (AAC) (1948); Chicago Hornets (AAC) (1949) |
| Walter McIlwain, B-Racine Legion (1926) |
| Ernie McMillan, OT-St. Louis Cardinals (1961-74); Green Bay Packers (1975) |
| James McMillen, G-Milwaukee Badgers (1923); Cleveland Indians (1923, 31); Chicago Bears (1924-28, 30-31, 35) |
| Rashard Mendenhall, RB-Pittsburgh Steelers (2008-) |
| Terry Miller, LB-Detroit Lions (1970); St. Louis Cardinals (1971-76) |
| *Bobby Mitchell, RB-WR-Cleveland Browns (1958-61); Washington Redskins (1962-68) |
| Brandon Moore, OL-New York Jets (2003-) |
| Aaron Moorehead, WR-Indianapolis Colts (2003-07) |
| G. Max Morris, E-Chicago Rockets (AAC) (1948); Brooklyn Dodgers (AAC) (1948) |
| Christian Morton, CB-Atlanta Falcons (2004-05); Washington Redskins (2005); Carolina Panthers (2006) |
| Perry Moss, QB-Green Bay Packers (1948) |
| Vern Mullen, B-Canton Bulldogs (1923); Chicago Bears (1924-27); Chicago Cardinals (1927); Pottsville Maroons (1927) |
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| Bob Naponic, QB-Houston Oilers (1970) |
| Everett Nelson, T-Chicago Bears (1929) |
| *Ray Nitschke, LB-Green Bay Packers (1958-72) |
| Tim Norman, G-Chicago Bears (1983) |
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| Ed O'Bradovich, DE-Chicago Bears (1962-71) |
| Tommy O'Connell, QB-Chicago Bears (1953); Cleveland Browns (1956-57); Buffalo Bills (AFL) (1960-61) |
| Vince Osby, LB-San Diego Chargers (1984-85) |
| Willie Osley, DB-New England Patriots (1974); Kansas City Chiefs (1974-76); New Orleans Saints (1976) |
| Isaiah Owens, E-Chicago Rockets (AAC) (1948) |
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| Tony Pashos, OL-Baltimore Ravens (2003-06); Jacksonville Jaguars (2007-) |
| Paul Patterson, B-Chicago Hornets (AAC) (1949) |
| Walter Pearce, B-Decatur/Chicago Staleys/Bears (1920-22); Kenosha Maroons (1924); Providence (R.I.) Steamrollers (1925) |
| Preston Pearson, RB-Baltimore Colts (1967-69); Pittsburgh Steelers (1970-74); Dallas Cowboys (1975-80) |
| Peter Perez, G-Chicago Bears (1945) |
| Lonnie Perrin, RB-Denver Broncos (1976-78); Washington Redskins (1979); Chicago Bears (1979) |
| Ross Petty, G-Decatur Staleys (1920) |
| Mike Piel, DE-Los Angeles Rams (1988-1993) |
| Bert Piggott, B-Los Angeles Dons (AAC) (1947) |
| Cyril Pinder, RB-Philadelphia Eagles (1968-70); Chicago Bears (1971-72); Dallas Cowboys (1973) |
| Paul Podmajerski, G-Chicago Bears (1944) |
| Eli Popa, DB-Chicago Cardinals (1952) |
| Duke Preston, OL-Buffalo Bills (2005-) |
| Sam Price, RB-Miami Dolphins (AFL) (1966-68) |
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| Neil Rackers, K-Cincinnati Bengals (2000-02); Arizona Cardinals (2003-) |
| Ray Redziniak, OL-Cincinnati Bengals (2001-02) |
| Simeon Rice, DE-Arizona Cardinals (1996-2000); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2001-06); Indianapolis Colts (2007) |
| Harry Richman, G-Chicago Bears (1929) |
| Cliff Roberts, T-Oakland Raiders (AFL) (1961) |
| Bob Robertson, C-Houston Oilers (AFL) (1968) |
| Jeff Ruffin, DT-St. Louis Rams (2004) |
| E. T. Rundquist, T-Chicago Cardinals (1922) |
| Joe Rutgens, DT-Washington Redskins (1961-69) |
| John "Rocky" Ryan, WR-DB-Philadelphia Eagles (1956-58); Chicago Bears (1958) |
| Julius Rykovich, B-Buffalo Bills (AAC) (1947-48); Chicago Rockets (AAC) (1948); Chicago Bears (1949-51) |
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| Greg Schumacher, DE-Los Angeles Rams (1967-68) |
| Hubbard Shoemaker, G-Decatur/Chicago Staleys (1920-21) |
| Mike Scully, OG-Washington Redskins (1988) |
| Ryan Schau, OL-Philadelphia Eagles (1999-2001); Houston Texans (2002); St. Louis Rams (2004) |
| Tom Schau, OL-Green Bay Packers (2000-01); Buffalo Bills (2002) |
| Herbert Siegert, G-Washington Redskins (1949-51) |
| Wayne Siegert, G-New York Yankees (1951) |
| Matt Sinclair, LB-Miami Dolphis (2006); Washington Redskins (2007-) |
| Russell Smith, G-Chicago Cardinals (1920, 23-25); Chicago Staleys (1921) |
| Revie Sorey, OG-Chicago Bears (1975-83) |
| Jack Squirek, LB-Los Angeles Raiders (1982-86); Miami Dolphins (1986); San Diego Chargers (1987) |
| Dennis Stallings, LB-Tennessee Titans (1997-99) |
| Marshall Starks, DB-St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) (1962-63); New York Jets (AFL) (1964-66) |
| Edward Sternaman, B-Decatur/Chicago Staleys/Bears (1920-21, 23-30) |
| Joseph Sternaman, B-Chicago Bears (1922-23, 27-30) |
| Don Stevens, RB-Philadelphia Eagles (1952, 54) |
| Peter Stinchcomb, B-Chicago Staleys/Bears (1921-22); Columbus Tigers (1923); Louisville Colonels (1926) |
| Jerry Strum, C-Denver Broncos (AFL) (1961-66); New Orleans Saints (1967-70); Houston Oilers (1971); Philadelphia Eagles (1972) |
| Scott Studwell, LB-Minnesota Vikings (1977-90) |
| Steven Sucic, B-Los Angeles Rams (1946); Boston Yanks (1947); Detroit Lions (1947-48) |
| Gerry Sullivan, OT-Cleveland Browns (1974-81) |
| John Sullivan, LB-New York Jets (1979) |
| Marques Sullivan, OL-Buffalo Bills (2001-03) |
| Archie Sutton, OT-Minnesota Vikings (1965-67) |
| Craig Swoope, DB-Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1986-87); Indianapolis Colts (1987-89) |
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| Mike Taliaferro, QB-New York Jets (AFL) (1964-67); Boston Patriots (AFL-NFL) (1968-70); Buffalo Bills (1972) |
| Keith Taylor, DB-Indianapolis Colts (1988-91); New Orleans Saints (1992-1993); Washington Redskins (1994-96) |
| Guy Teafatiller, DT-Minnesota Vikings (1987) |
| Calvin Thomas, FB-Chicago Bears (1982-88); Denver Broncos (1988) |
| Pierre Thomas, RB-New Orleans Saints (2007-) |
| Bruce Thornton, DT-Dallas Cowboys (1979-80, 82) |
| Don Thorp, DT-New Orleans Saints (1984); Indianapolis Colts (1988); Miami Dolphins (1989) |
| Jack Trudeau, QB-Indianapolis Colts (1986-1993); New York Jets (1994 ); Carolina Panthers (1995) |
| Bob Trumpy, TE-Cincinnati Bengals (1968-77) |
| Scott Turner, DB-Washington Redskins (1995-97), San Diego Chargers (1998-2001); Denver Broncos (2003-04) |
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| Chuck Ulrich, T-Chicago Cardinals (1954-58) |
| Darryl Usher, WR-New England Patriots (1988); Cleveland Browns/Phoenix Cardinals (1989) |
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| Fred Wakefield, DE/OL/TE-Arizona Cardinals (2001-06); TE-Oakland Raiders (2007-08) |
| Stan Wallace, DB-Chicago Bears (1954, 56-58) |
| Trayvon Waller, DB-New Orleans Saints (2001-) |
| Laurie Walquist, B-Chicago Bears (1922-31) |
| Jimmy Warren, DB-San Diego Chargers (AFL) (1964-65); Miami Dolphins (AFL) (1966-69); Oakland Raiders (1970-77) |
| Steve Weatherford, P-New Orleans Saints (2006-08); Kansas City Chiefs (2008); Jacksonville Jaguars (2008-) |
| Russ Weil, FB-Green Bay Packers (2008) |
| Mike Wells, QB-Minnesota Vikings (1973-76); Cincinnati Bengals (1977) |
| Joe Wendryhoski, C-Los Angeles Rams (1964-66); New Orleans Saints (1967-68) |
| Josh Whitman, TE-San Diego Chargers (2001-02); Miami Dolphins (2003) |
| *David Williams, WR-Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1986); Los Angeles Raiders (1987) |
| Oliver Williams, WR-Chicago Bears (1983); Indianapolis Colts (1985-86) |
| Dave Wilson, QB-New Orleans Saints (1981-89) |
| Eugene Wilson, FS-New England Patriots (2003-07; Houston Texans (2008-) |
| Abe Woodson, DB-San Francisco 49ers (1958-64); St. Louis Cardinals (1965-66) |
| John Wright Sr., WR-Atlanta Falcons (1968); Detroit Lions (1969) |
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| Claude "Buddy" Young, RB-N.Y. Yankees (AAC-NFL) (1947-51); Dallas Texans (1952); Baltimore Colts (1953-55) |
| Michael Young, LB-Arizona Cardinals (2001-04) |
| Walter Young, WR-Carolina Panthers (2003); Pittsburgh Steelers (2004-07) |
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| 2009 NFL DRAFT PICKS/FREE AGENT SIGNEES Vontae Davis • DB • Miami Dolphins • 1st round, 25th pick Xavier Fulton • OL • Tampa Bay • 5th round, 155th pick Will Davis • OLB • Arizona Cardinals • 6th round, 204th pick Brit Miller • LB • Carolina Panthers • free agent Derek Walker • DL • Washington Redskins • free agent David Lindquist • DL • Buffalo Bills • free agent Ryan McDonald • OL • San Diego Chargers • free agent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(updated 8/09)
