LSU Players in the NFL

Top Link: Top Tiger Teams in Supplying NFL Players

We've surveyed the LSU teams through the decades and determined which ones supplied the most players to the NFL. Now we shift the focus and twist the viewpoint to this question:

During which seasons did LSU have the most alumni playing in the NFL?

We're going to apply the same approach and go back through the decades but more rapidly than we did on the first pass.

So we start with this question:

In which pro season did LSU first have 10 or more alumni participating?

1948 – First Season with Double-Digit LSU Players in pro football
11 players

  1. G Walter "Piggy" Barnes (LSU letterman 1940-46-47) – Philadelphia Eagles
  2. T Ed Champagne (1946) – Los Angeles Rams
  3. RB Ray Coates (1944-45-46-47) – New York Giants
  4. K Joe Glamp (1942) – Pittsburgh Steelers
  5. RB-WR William "Dub" Jones (1942) – Cleveland Browns (AAFC)
  6. E Ken Kavanaugh (1937-38-39) – Chicago Bears
  7. T-G Fred Land (1944-45-46-47) – San Francisco 49ers (AAFC)
  8. RB Dan Sandifer (1944-45-46-47) – Washington Redskins
  9. T Hubert Shurtz (1946-47) – Pittsburgh Steelers
  10. QB Y. A. Tittle (1944-45-46-47) – Baltimore Colts (AAFC)
  11. RB Steve Van Buren (1941-42-43) – Philadelphia Eagles
Dub Jones, Browns
"Dub" Jones		 Ken Kavanaugh
Ken Kavanaugh		 Y. A. Tittle, Colts
Y. A. Tittle		 Steve Van Buren, Eagles
Steve Van Buren

Now we move to the next logical question.

In which pro season did LSU first have 20 or more alumni participating?

1966 – First Season with 20+ LSU Players in pro football

  1. DE Mel Branch (LSU letterman 1958-59) – Miami Dolphins (AFL)
  2. RB-TE Billy Cannon (1957-58-59) – Oakland Raiders (AFL)
  3. K Tommy Davis (1953-58) – San Francisco 49ers
  4. G Don Estes (1960-61-62) – San Diego Chargers (AFL)
  5. LB Dennis Gaubatz (1960-61-62) – Baltimore Colts
  6. S White Graves (1962-63-64) – Boston Patriots (AFL)
  7. RB Earl Gros (1959-60-61) – Philadelphia Eagles
  8. DB Wendell Harris (1959-60-61) – New York Giants
  9. DT Earl Leggett (1955-56) – Los Angeles Rams
  10. T Dave McCormick (1963-64-65) – San Francisco 49ers
  11. DT Fred Miller (1960-61-62) – Baltimore Colts
  12. TE Doug Moreau (1963-64-65) – Miami Dolphins (AFL)
  13. LB Mike Morgan (1961-62-63) – Philadelphia Eagles
  14. OL Remi Prudhomme (1962-63-64) – Buffalo Bills (AFL)
  15. DT George Rice (1963-64-65) – Houston Oilers (AFL)
  16. DE Bobby Richards (1960-61) – Atlanta Falcons
  17. S Johnny Robinson (1957-58-59) – Kansas City Chiefs (AFL)
  18. DB Jerry Stovall (1960-61-62) – St. Louis Cardinals
  19. FB Jim Taylor (1956-57) – Green Bay Packers
  20. TE Billy Truax (1961-62-63) – Los Angeles Rams
  21. LB Roy Winston (1959-60-61) – Minnesota Vikings
Tommy Davis, 49ers
 Earl Leggett
 Johnny Robinson, Chiefs
 Jim Taylor, Packers
Jimmy Taylor

Now we move to the final question.

In which pro season did LSU have the most alumni participating?

The 2009 and 2010 seasons tied with 41 Tigers in the NFL. Since only a few of the 41 were different from '09 to '10, we'll list them together, noting if a player was only one or the other.

2009 and 2010 – Seasons with the most LSU Players in pro football – 41 Played Each Season

  1. RB Joseph Addai (LSU letterman 2002-03-04-05) – Indianapolis Colts
  2. LB Eric Alexander (2001-02-03) – New England Patriots
  3. WR Dwayne Bowe (2003-04-05-06) – Kansas City Chiefs
  4. DB Ryan Clark (1998-99-00-01) – Pittsburgh Steelers
  5. WR Michael Clayton (2001-02-03) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers ('09), New York Giants ('10)
  6. DB Travis Daniels (2003-04) – Kansas City Chiefs
  7. WR Craig Davis (2003-04-05-06) – San Diego Chargers
  8. DL Glenn Dorsey (2004-05-06-07) – Kansas City Chiefs
  9. WR Early Doucet (2004-05-06-07) – Arizona Cardinals
  10. OL Alan Faneca (1995-96-97) – New York Jets ('09), Arizona Cardinals ('10)
  11. RB Kevin Faulk (1995-96-97-98) – New England Patriots
  12. QB Matt Flynn (2004-05-06-07) – Green Bay Packers
  13. DB Randall Gay (2001-02-03) – New Orleans Saints
  14. DL Howard Green (2000-01) – New York Jets ('09-10), Green Bay Packers ('10)
  15. WR Devery Henderson (2000-01-02-03) – New Orleans Saints
  16. RB Jacob Hester (2004-05-06-07) – San Diego Chargers
  17. DB Chevis Jackson (2004-05-06-07) – Atlanta Falcons ('09), Jacksonville Jaguars ('10)
  18. DL Tyson Jackson (2005-06-07-08) – Kansas City Chiefs
  19. LB Bradie James (1999-00-01-02) – Dallas Cowboys
  20. DL Ricky Jean-Francois (2006-07-08) – San Francisco 49ers
  21. RB Quinn Johnson (2006-07-08) – Green Bay Packers
  22. P Donnie Jones (2000-01-02-03) – St. Louis Rams
  23. DB LaRon Landry (2003-04-05-06) – Washington Redskins
  24. OL Nate Livings (2003-04-05) – Cincinnati Bengals
  25. OL Todd McClure (1995-96-97-98) – Atlanta Falcons
  26. OL Rudy Niswanger (2002-03-04-05) – Kansas City Chiefs
  27. OL Stephen Peterman (2000-01-02-03) – Detroit Lions
  28. TE Robert Royal (1998-99-00-01) – Cleveland Browns
  29. DL Marcus Spears (2001-02-03-04) – Dallas Cowboys
  30. DB Craig Steltz (2005-06-07) – Chicago Bears
  31. DB Curtis Taylor (2005-06-07-08) – San Francisco 49ers
  32. DB Corey Webster (2001-02-03-04) – New York Giants
  33. OL Andrew Whitworth (2002-03-04-05) – Cincinnati Bengals
  34. DL Kyle Williams (2003-04-05) – Buffalo Bills

2009 Only

  1. DL Jarvis Green (1998-99-00-01) – New England Patriots
  2. LB Ali Highsmith (2004-05-06-07) – Arizona Cardinals
  3. OL Kevin Mawae (1990-91-92-93) – New York Jets
  4. WR Josh Reed (1999-00-01) – Buffalo Bills
  5. DB Mark Roman (1996-97-98-99) – San Francisco 49ers
  6. QB JaMarcus Russell (2004-05-06) – Oakland Raiders
  7. TE Keith Zinger (2003-04-05-07) – Atlanta Falcons

2010 Only

  1. LB Darry Beckwith (2005-06-07-08) – San Diego Chargers
  2. LB Jacob Cutrera (2006-07-08-09) – Jacksonville Jaguars
  3. WR Brandon LaFell (2006-07-08-09) – Carolina Panthers
  4. DB Danny McCray (2006-07-08-09) – Dallas Cowboys
  5. LB Perry Riley (2006-07-08-09) – Washington Redskins
  6. RB Keiland Williams (2006-07-08-09) – Washington Redskins
  7. DL Al Woods (2006-07-08-09) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Joseph Addai, Colts
Joseph Addai
 Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
Dwayne Bowe
 Bradie James, Cowboys
Bradie James

Summary by Position
Offense 24: OL 7, TE 2, WR 7, QB 2, RB 5, P 1
Defense 24: DL 8, LB 6, DB 10
LSU alumni played on 24 of the 32 NFL teams during the 2009-10 season. The Chiefs had the most former Tigers with 5, followed by nine teams with 3 (Patriots, Chargers, Cardinals, Jets, Packers, Falcons, Cowboys, 49ers, and Redskins).

Now our question is this:

Which Tigers have played the most pro seasons?

We'll approach this one the way we did the other questions. That is, we'll leave the longest careers for last. We'll start with the even dozen former Tigers who played exactly 10 pro seasons.

Former LSU Players Who Played 10 Pro Seasons

  1. LB Michael Brooks (LSU letterman 1983-84-85-86) – Denver Broncos ('87-92), New York Giants ('93-95), Detroit Lions ('96)
  2. WR Carlos Carson (1977-78-79) – Kansas City Chiefs ('80-89), Philadelphia Eagles ('89)
  3. OL John Demarie (1965-65-66) – Cleveland Browns ('67-75), Seattle Seahawks ('76)
  4. LB John Garlington (1965-66-67) – Cleveland Browns ('68-77)
  5. QB Bert Jones (1970-71-72) – Baltimore Colts ('73-81), Los Angeles Rams ('82)
  6. B-WR William "Dub" Jones (1942) – Miami Seahawks (AAFC '46), Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC '46-47), Cleveland Browns (AAFC '48-49, NFC '50-55)
  7. WR Eric Martin (1982-82-83-84) – New Orleans Saints ('85-93), Kansas City Chiefs ('94)
  8. TE Billy Masters (1964-65-66) – Buffalo Bills ('67-69), Denver Broncos ('70-74), Kansas City Chiefs ('75-76)
  9. DT Fred Miller (1960-61-62) – Baltimore Colts ('63-72)
  10. DB Mark Roman (1996-97-98-99) – Cincinnati Bengals ('00-03), Green Bay Packers ('04-05), San Francisco 49ers ('06-09)
  11. FB Jimmy Taylor (1956-57) – Green Bay Packers ('58-66), New Orleans Saints ('67)
  12. TE Billy Truax (1961-62-63) – Los Angeles Rams ('64-70), Dallas Cowboys ('71-73)

Comments

  • AAFC means the All-America Football Conference.
  • The most interesting names on the list are those of the father-son combination of Dub and Bert Jones.
  • Here's the list of the players above who participated in one or more Super Bowls. (The years are those of the regular seasons.)
    • 1966: Jimmy Taylor, Green Bay
    • 1968, 1970: Fred Miller, Baltimore
    • 1971: Billy Truax, Dallas
    • 1987, 1989: Michael Brooks, Denver
John Demarie, Browns
John Demarie		 Bert Jones, Colts
Bert Jones
 Mark Roman, 49ers
Mark Roman

Former LSU Players Who Played 11-13 Pro Seasons

11 seasons

  1. RB-TE Billy Cannon (LSU letterman 1957-58-59) – Houston Oilers (AFL '60-63), Oakland Raiders (AFL '64-69), Kansas City Chiefs ('70)
  2. K Tommy Davis (1953-58) – San Francisco 49ers ('59-69)
  3. LB Eric Hill (1985-86-87-88) – Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals ('89-97), St. Louis Rams ('98), San Diego Chargers ('99)
  4. CB Tory James (1992-93-94-95) – Denver Broncos ('96-98-99), Oakland Raiders ('00-02), Cincinnati Bengals ('03-06)
  5. DT Earl Leggett (1955-56) – Chicago Bears ('57-60, '62-65), Los Angeles Rams ('66), New Orleans Saints ('67-68)
  6. C Todd McClure (1995-96-97-98) – Atlanta Falcons ( '00-10)

12 seasons

  1. RB Kevin Faulk (1995-96-97-98) – New England Patriots ('99-10)
  2. DB Greg Jackson (1985-86-87-88) – New York Giants ('89-93), Philadelphia Eagles ('94-95), New Orleans Saints ('96), San Diego Chargers ('97-00)
  3. DE Leonard Marshall (1979-80-81-82) – New York Giants ('83-92), New York Jets ('93), Washington Redskins ('94)
  4. DB Johnny Robinson (1957-58-59) – Kansas City Chiefs (AFL/NFL '60-71)
  5. OL Lance Smith (1981-82-83-84) – St.Louis/Phoenix Cardinals ('85-93), New York Giants ('94-96)

13 seasons

  1. OL Dan Alexander (1974-75-76) – New York Jets ('77-89)
  2. OL Alan Faneca (1995-96-97) – Pittsburgh Steelers ('98-07), New York Jets ('08-09), Arizona Cardinals ('10)
  3. WR Eddie Kennison (1993-94-95) – St. Louis Rams ('96-98), New Orleans Saints ('99), Chicago Bears ('00), Denver Broncos ('01), Kansas City Chiefs ('01-07), St. Louis Rams ('08)
  4. DE George Tarasovic (1951) – Pittsburgh Steelers ('52-63), Philadelphia Eagles ('63-65), Denver Broncos (AFL '66)

Comments

  • Kevin Fault and Alan Faneca are still playing.
  • Here's the list of the players above who participated in one or more Super Bowls. (The years are those of the regular seasons.)
    • 1966, 1969: Johnny Robinson, Kansas City Chiefs
    • 1967: Billy Cannon, Oakland Raiders
    • 1980, 1983, 1989: Earl Leggett, Oakland Raiders ('80,'83), Denver Broncos ('89), D-line coach
    • 1986, 1990: Leonard Marshall, New York Giants
    • 1990: Greg Jackson, New York Giants
    • 1998, 2002: Tory James, Denver Broncos ('98), Oakland Raiders ('02)
    • 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007: Kevin Faulk– New England Patriots
    • 2005: Alan Faneca – Pittsburgh Steelers

Next: The 10 LSU players who played more than 12 pro seasons
Dan Alexander, Jets
 Alan Faneca, Steelers
Alan Faneca
 Eddie Kennison, Chiefs
Eddie Kennison
 George Tarasovic
George Tarasovic

Former LSU Players Who Played More Than 13 Pro Seasons

14 seasons

  1. DB Eugene Daniel (LSU letterman 1981-82-83) – Indianapolis Colts ('84-96), Baltimore Ravens ('97)
  2. TE Brian Kinchen (1984-85-86-87) – Miami Dolphins ('88-90), Cleveland Browns ('91-95), Baltimore Ravens ('96-98), Carolina Panthers ('99-00), New England Patriots ('03)
  3. DT Henry Thomas (1983-84-85-86) – Minnesota Vikings ('87-94), Detroit Lions ('95-96), New England Patriots ('97-00)

15 seasons

  1. LB Roy Winston (1959-60-61) – Minnesota Vikings ('62-76)

16 seasons

  1. OL Kevin Mawae (1990-91-92-93) – Seattle Seahawks (94-97), New York Jets ('98-05), Tennessee Titans ('06-09)

And the Grand Champion ...

17 seasons

  1. QB Y. A. Tittle (1944-45-46-47) – Baltimore Colts (AAFC '48-49), Baltimore Colts (NFL '50), San Francisco 49ers ('51-60), New York Giants ('61-64)

Comments

  • Here's the two players above who participated in one or more Super Bowls. (The years are those of the regular seasons.)
    • 1969, 1973, 1974, 1976: Roy Winston, Minnesota Vikings
    • 2003: Brian Kinchen, New England Patriots
Henry Thomas, Vikings
 Roy "Moonie" Winston
Roy Winston
 Kevin Mawae, Titans
Kevin Mawae
 Y. A. Tittle
Y. A Tittle

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ON THIS PAGE

First Season with Double-Digit LSU Players in Pro Football

First Season with 20+ LSU Players in Pro Football

Seasons with Most LSU Players in Pro Football

Former LSU Players Who Played 10 Pro Seasons

Former LSU Players Who Played 11-13 Pro Seasons

Former LSU Players Who Played More Than 13 Pro Seasons

 

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