When it comes to the NFL, I know lots of people want to know how many people from Stanford are on it. Well, it turns out that there’s a pretty big representation of players from Stanford playing in the NFL! From stars who have been in the league for years to those who are just getting their NFL career started, Stanford has plenty of players taking the field.
To begin with, there’s a ton of night’s most well-known superstars who came out of Stanford. Fellow Heisman Trophy winner Andrew Luck was selected first overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, and has since gone on to make five Pro Bowls in eight years. Richard Sherman is another Stanford product who’s been on the short list of best defensive players in the league since his rookie year in 2011. Other current stars who are Stanford alumni include Arizona Cardinals running back Christian McCaffrey, who won the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year, and Los Angeles Rams Quarterback Jared Goff, who was the number one overall pick in the 2016 draft.
But it’s not just the Stanford alumni who are playing at a high level. Players who are more towards the beginning in their NFL careers have been making noise, too. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tight End Cameron Brate formerly attended Stanford and has made a name for himself over the past few seasons. Los Angeles Chargers All-Pro Wide Receiver Mike Williams is another former Stanford player who has been putting up big numbers since he was drafted in 2017.
Perhaps the most promising current NFL player from Stanford is New York Giants’ running back Saquon Barkley. He was selected second overall in the 2018 draft and put up two all-pro caliber seasons in just three years in the league. He’s already set multiple records and become one of the most dynamic players in the game at the running back position.
As recent draft picks make their NFL debuts, it’s very likely that the list of current players from Stanford will continue to grow. The 2019 draft saw seven players who attended Stanford land in the NFL, including San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver Dante Pettis and Miami Dolphins Tackle Isaiah Prince.
Even more recently, in 2020, four more Stanford alumni were selected in the draft, with Cleveland Browns Tight End Harrison Bryant, Tennessee Titans Linebacker David Long, and Indianapolis Colts Punter Rigoberto Sanchez all having successful rookie seasons.
So when people ask how many players from Stanford are in the NFL, my answer is always the same. There’s a lot of them! With familiar faces amongst the game’s stars, and other entrants to the league making their mark, it’s clear to see that having the Stanford background gives you a great shot at succeeding in the NFL.