NFL players from Illinois
106 NFL players on file played college football at Illinois. 32 are on NFL rosters now, among them Chase McLaughlin, Del'Shawn Phillips, and Jake Hansen. Jeff George has played the most NFL seasons of them, 12. 7 were first-round picks, most recently Devon Witherspoon in 2023. Rosters are on file in full from 1993; before that only some of the stars are.
NFL players born in Illinois →
On NFL rosters now (32)
| Player | Pos | Years | Seasons | Draft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase McLaughlinTB | PK | 2019–2026 | 8 | — |
| Del'Shawn PhillipsLAC | LB | 2021–2026 | 6 | — |
| Jake HansenHOU | LB | 2022–2026 | 5 | — |
| Nate HobbsSF | CB | 2021–2025 | 5 | 2021, Rd 5, Pk 167 |
| Tony AdamsTEN | S | 2022–2026 | 5 | — |
| Chase BrownCIN | RB | 2023–2026 | 4 | 2023, Rd 5, Pk 163 |
| Devon WitherspoonSEA | CB | 2023–2026 | 4 | 2023, Rd 1, Pk 5 |
| Kerby JosephDET | S | 2022–2025 | 4 | 2022, Rd 3, Pk 97 |
| Quan MartinWSH | S | 2023–2026 | 4 | 2023, Rd 2, Pk 47 |
| Sydney BrownATL | S | 2023–2026 | 4 | 2023, Rd 3, Pk 66 |
| Isaiah WilliamsNYJ | WR | 2024–2026 | 3 | — |
| Casey WashingtonCAR | WR | 2024–2025 | 2 | 2024, Rd 6, Pk 187 |
| Jer'Zhan NewtonWSH | DT | 2024–2025 | 2 | 2024, Rd 2, Pk 36 |
| Pat BryantDEN | WR | 2025–2026 | 2 | 2025, Rd 3, Pk 74 |
| Ted KarrasCIN | C | 2020–2022 | 2 | 2016, Rd 6, Pk 221 |
| Tip ReimanARI | TE | 2024–2025 | 2 | 2024, Rd 3, Pk 82 |
| Tommy DeVitoNE | QB | 2023–2024 | 2 | — |
| Vederian LoweSF | OT | 2023–2024 | 2 | 2022, Rd 6, Pk 184 |
| Gabe JacasNE | LB | 2026 | 1 | 2026, Rd 2, Pk 55 |
| Isaiah AdamsARI | G | 2025 | 1 | 2024, Rd 3, Pk 71 |
| James Thompson Jr.SF | DT | 2026 | 1 | — |
| Kendrick GreenCLE | G | 2021 | 1 | 2021, Rd 3, Pk 87 |
| Milo EiflerTEN | LB | 2022 | 1 | — |
| Nick AllegrettiWSH | G | 2024 | 1 | 2019, Rd 7, Pk 216 |
| TeRah EdwardsCAR | DT | 2026 | 1 | — |
| Alex PalczewskiDEN | OT | No games yet | — | — |
| J.C. DavisNYG | OT | No games yet | — | 2026, Rd 6, Pk 192 |
| Jihad WardMIN | LB | No games yet | — | 2016, Rd 2, Pk 44 |
| Josh GeskyGB | G | No games yet | — | — |
| Luke AltmyerDET | QB | No games yet | — | — |
| Miles ScottDEN | S | No games yet | — | 2026, Rd 7, Pk 246 |
| Tanner ArkinNE | TE | No games yet | — | — |
Former NFL players (74)
| Player | Pos | Years | Seasons | Draft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff George | QB | 1990–2001 | 12 | 1990, Rd 1, Pk 1 |
| Neil Rackers | PK | 2000–2011 | 12 | 2000, Rd 6, Pk 169 |
| Simeon Rice | DE | 1996–2007 | 12 | — |
| Brandon Lloyd | WR | 2003–2014 | 11 | 2003, Rd 4, Pk 124 |
| Danny Clark | LB | 2000–2010 | 11 | 2000, Rd 7, Pk 245 |
| Henry Jones | DB | 1992–2002 | 11 | — |
| Akeem Spence | DT | 2013–2022 | 10 | 2013, Rd 4, Pk 100 |
| Corey Liuget | DT | 2011–2020 | 10 | 2011, Rd 1, Pk 18 |
| Jack Trudeau | QB | 1986–1995 | 10 | — |
| Ken Dilger | TE | 1995–2004 | 10 | — |
| Steve Weatherford | P | 2006–2015 | 10 | — |
| Tavon Wilson | S | 2012–2021 | 10 | 2012, Rd 2, Pk 48 |
| Vontae Davis | CB | 2009–2018 | 10 | 2009, Rd 1, Pk 25 |
| Whitney Mercilus | LB | 2012–2021 | 10 | 2012, Rd 1, Pk 26 |
| Alan Ball | CB | 2007–2015 | 9 | 2007, Rd 7, Pk 237 |
| David Diehl | OG | 2003–2011 | 9 | 2003, Rd 5, Pk 160 |
| Kevin Hardy | LB | 1996–2004 | 9 | — |
| Pierre Thomas | RB | 2007–2015 | 9 | — |
| Eugene Wilson | S | 2003–2010 | 8 | 2003, Rd 2, Pk 36 |
| Greg Lewis | WR | 2003–2010 | 8 | — |
| Howard Griffith | RB | 1993–2000 | 8 | — |
| Jameel Cook | FB | 2001–2008 | 8 | 2001, Rd 6, Pk 174 |
| Keith Taylor | DB | 1989–1996 | 8 | — |
| Kelvin Hayden | DB | 2005–2012 | 8 | 2005, Rd 2, Pk 60 |
| Jeff Cumberland | TE | 2010–2017 | 7 | — |
| John Holecek | LB | 1995–2002 | 7 | — |
| Michael Hoomanawanui | TE | 2010–2017 | 7 | 2010, Rd 5, Pk 132 |
| Robert Holcombe | FB | 1998–2004 | 7 | — |
| Scott Turner | DB | 1995–2003 | 7 | — |
| Fred Wakefield | OL | 2001–2008 | 6 | — |
| Moe Gardner | DT | 1991–1996 | 6 | — |
| Nathan Hodel | C | 2002–2008 | 6 | — |
| Rashard Mendenhall | RB | 2008–2013 | 6 | 2008, Rd 1, Pk 23 |
| Aaron Moorehead | WR | 2003–2007 | 5 | — |
| Arrelious Benn | WR | 2010–2017 | 5 | 2010, Rd 2, Pk 39 |
| Brandon Moore | OG | 2004–2011 | 5 | — |
| Darrick Brownlow | LB | 1991–1996 | 5 | — |
| Matt Cushing | TE | 1999–2004 | 5 | — |
| Scott Davis | DE | 1988–1994 | 5 | — |
| Brad Hopkins | OT | 2001–2005 | 4 | — |
| Brit Miller | FB | 2009–2012 | 4 | — |
| Frank Hartley | TE | 1994–1998 | 4 | — |
| Jon Asamoah | G | 2011–2014 | 4 | 2010, Rd 3, Pk 68 |
| Josh Brent | DT | 2010–2014 | 4 | — |
| A.J. Jenkins | WR | 2012–2014 | 3 | 2012, Rd 1, Pk 30 |
| Carey Davis | FB | 2007–2009 | 3 | — |
| Chris Green | S | 1993–1995 | 3 | — |
| Christian Morton | CB | 2004–2006 | 3 | 2004, Rd 7, Pk 233 |
| Hugh Thornton | G | 2013–2015 | 3 | 2013, Rd 3, Pk 86 |
| J.P. Machado | OG | 2001–2003 | 3 | — |
| Justin Staples | LB | 2014–2016 | 3 | — |
| Martez Wilson | DE | 2011–2013 | 3 | 2011, Rd 3, Pk 72 |
| Mel Agee | DT | 1993–1995 | 3 | — |
| Tony Pashos | OT | 2005–2013 | 3 | 2003, Rd 5, Pk 173 |
| Dennis Stallings | LB | 1997–1998 | 2 | — |
| Duke Preston | C | 2006–2007 | 2 | 2005, Rd 4, Pk 122 |
| Ed Brady | LB | 1994–1995 | 2 | — |
| Glenn Foster | DE | 2013–2014 | 2 | — |
| Jeff Allen | G | 2012–2013 | 2 | 2012, Rd 2, Pk 44 |
| Marques Sullivan | OT | 2002–2003 | 2 | 2001, Rd 5, Pk 13 |
| Michael Buchanan | DE | 2013–2014 | 2 | 2013, Rd 7, Pk 226 |
| Michael Young | LB | 2002–2003 | 2 | — |
| Mikel Leshoure | RB | 2012–2013 | 2 | 2011, Rd 2, Pk 57 |
| Walter Young | WR | 2003–2006 | 2 | 2003, Rd 7, Pk 12 |
| Will Davis | LB | 2009–2010 | 2 | 2009, Rd 6, Pk 204 |
| Dana Cortez Howard | LB | 1995 | 1 | — |
| Filmel Johnson | DB | 1995 | 1 | — |
| Garrett Johnson | DT | 2000 | 1 | — |
| Greg Engel | C | 1995 | 1 | — |
| Jason Davis | FB | 2008 | 1 | — |
| Josh Whitman | TE | 2001 | 1 | — |
| Kurt Kittner | QB | 2003 | 1 | 2002, Rd 5, Pk 23 |
| Mark Dennis | OT | 1995 | 1 | — |
| Matt Sinclair | LB | 2007 | 1 | — |
College as ESPN lists it for each player; the draft line is ESPN’s too. Most seasons first.