List of Famous American Football Players

Howard Matthew Moses Long is a former American football defensive end, actor, and sports analyst. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons and spent his entire career with the Raiders franchise in Oakland and Los Angeles. During his tenure as a player, Long was named to eight Pro Bowls and helped the Los Angeles Raiders win a championship in Super Bowl XVIII in 1984. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Tyrann Devine Mathieu, nicknamed "the Honey Badger" and "the Landlord", is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Louisiana State University (LSU). In college he developed a reputation for causing turnovers, setting a Southeastern Conference (SEC) record with 11 career forced fumbles and earning the nickname "Honey Badger." In his sophomore season, he was recognized as a consensus All-American, won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best defensive player in college football, and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Mathieu was dismissed from the LSU football program after that season due to a violation of team rules.

Shaquem Alphonso Griffin is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He is the twin brother of Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin, and both brothers played college football for the University of Central Florida Knights. As an amputee with one hand when he was 4 years old, Griffin received extensive media coverage as a prospective 2018 NFL Draft pick. He was selected as a fifth round pick by the Seahawks on April 28, 2018, reuniting him with Shaquill.

Jadeveon Davarus Clowney is an American football outside linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). A native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, he attended South Pointe High School before playing college football for the Gamecocks at the University of South Carolina. As a sophomore there in 2012, he earned conference defensive player of the year honors and was named a unanimous All-American after he set single-season school records in quarterback sacks (13) and tackles for loss (23.5).

William Clay Matthews III is an American football outside linebacker who is currently a free agent. The six-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro played primarily with the Green Bay Packers.

Damien Harris is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama.

Micah Richmond Hyde is an American football safety for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Hyde had a big role in the Packers' nickel defense packages, but has emerged as a starting safety for the Bills since signing with them in 2017.

Jay Christopher Cutler is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons, primarily with the Chicago Bears. He played college football at Vanderbilt and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, for whom he played for three seasons. In 2009, he was traded to the Bears, where he played for eight seasons. After being released by Chicago in 2017, Cutler initially retired to become a sportscaster for NFL on Fox's television broadcasts, but returned for one more season with the Miami Dolphins when quarterback Ryan Tannehill suffered a season-ending injury. He retired a second time following the 2017 season.

Daniel James Amendola is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas Tech. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008, and has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins.

Calvin Johnson Jr., is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons with the Detroit Lions. He played college football at Georgia Tech, where he was a two-time All-American, and was selected by the Lions second overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. Nicknamed "Megatron" after the fictional character of the same name, he is regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers of all time.