NFL players from Northern Illinois
28 NFL players on file played college football at Northern Illinois. 2 are on NFL rosters now: Brock Lampe and James Ester. Hollis Thomas has played the most NFL seasons of them, 13. 2 were first-round picks, most recently Jimmie Ward in 2014. Rosters are on file in full from 1993; before that only some of the stars are.
On NFL rosters now (2)
| Player | Pos | Years | Seasons | Draft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brock LampeBUF | FB | No games yet | — | — |
| James EsterMIA | G | No games yet | — | — |
Former NFL players (26)
| Player | Pos | Years | Seasons | Draft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollis Thomas | DT | 1996–2009 | 13 | — |
| Jimmie Ward | S | 2014–2024 | 11 | 2014, Rd 1, Pk 30 |
| Michael Turner | RB | 2004–2012 | 9 | 2004, Rd 5, Pk 154 |
| Justin McCareins | WR | 2001–2008 | 8 | 2001, Rd 4, Pk 124 |
| Rashaan Melvin | CB | 2014–2021 | 7 | — |
| Ryan Diem | OG | 2001–2010 | 7 | 2001, Rd 4, Pk 118 |
| Kenny Golladay | WR | 2017–2022 | 6 | 2017, Rd 3, Pk 96 |
| Larry English | DE | 2009–2014 | 6 | 2009, Rd 1, Pk 16 |
| Sam Hurd | WR | 2006–2011 | 6 | — |
| Leshon Johnson | RB | 1994–1999 | 5 | — |
| Duane Hawthorne | CB | 1999–2002 | 4 | — |
| Garrett Wolfe | RB | 2007–2010 | 4 | 2007, Rd 3, Pk 93 |
| Darrell Hill | WR | 2002–2004 | 3 | 2002, Rd 7, Pk 14 |
| Doug Free | OT | 2009–2013 | 3 | 2007, Rd 4, Pk 122 |
| Brad Cieslak | TE | 2006–2008 | 2 | — |
| Mitch Jacoby | TE | 1997–1999 | 2 | — |
| Tracy Wilson | DB | 2011–2012 | 2 | — |
| Britt Davis | WR | 2010 | 1 | — |
| Chad Spann | RB | 2013 | 1 | — |
| Chris Smith | CB | 2011 | 1 | — |
| Jake Nordin | FB | 2009 | 1 | — |
| Jermaine Hampton | DB | 2001 | 1 | — |
| Ken Bishop | NT | 2014 | 1 | 2014, Rd 7, Pk 251 |
| Nathan Palmer | WR | 2012 | 1 | — |
| P.J. Fleck | WR | 2004 | 1 | — |
| Todd Peat | OG | 1993 | 1 | — |
College as ESPN lists it for each player; the draft line is ESPN’s too. Most seasons first.