Patrick Mahomes is possibly the most recognizable face of American sports. He is the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP.
Mahomes began this career arc at Texas Tech University, where he led the NCAA with 5,052 yards and 53 touchdowns in 2016. He finished his three-year illustrious college career with 11,252 yards and 93 touchdowns.
O.J. Simpson was the first running back in NFL history to run for over 2000 yards in one season. “The Juice” was loose running wild for the Buffalo Bills in the 1970s.
Simpson had a remarkable collegiate career, earning All-American honors all four years, culminating in a Heisman Trophy award for his senior year at the University of Southern California when he rushed for 1709 yards and an amazing 22 touchdowns.
Captain America, as many Dallas Cowboys fans called Roger Staubach, gained acclaim as an All-American and a Heisman Trophy winner at the Naval Academy in 1962. He led the Navy to the Cotton Bowl.
Once he reached the NFL, Staubach had almost unmatched success, going to five Super Bowls (winning two) in the 1970s while also leading the league in passing four times. He was a Super Bowl MVP and retired as the NFL’s all-time leading passer.
Alabama has a storied history. Derrick Thomas etched his place near the top of any Crimson Tide list of all-time greats. He led the team to an impressive record of 35-5-1 and four Bowl games while being named All-American.
At the professional level, Thomas became synonymous with quarterback sacks. He was a terror on the Kansas City Chiefs pass rush. D.T. set the NFL record with seven sacks in one game.
How did Steve Young top 31 college games of offense, where he threw for 7,733 yards and 56 touchdowns while running for another 1,084 yards and 18 touchdowns at Brigham Young University?
He went to the NFL and won three Super Bowls (one Super Bowl MVP), won two league MVPs, and was voted into the Hall of Fame as a San Francisco 49er.
Tom Brady’s college career and professional career had many parallels. He was a backup, then a starter. Once a starter, Brady just finds a way to win.
At Michigan, he was 20-5 as a starter and part of the 1997 National Championship. Brady led his teams to ten Super Bowls in the NFL, including seven wins. He owns nearly every NFL passing and wins record.
Although John Stallworth began his career at Alabama A&M College, he made the most of it. He set the school records for receiving and was named to the Senior Bowl.
Stallworth made a name for himself as a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, helping them to eight league championships and four Super Bowl titles while setting all of the Steelers' receiving records. He was eventually voted into the Hall of Fame.
At Arizona State University, Mike Haynes was a three-time All-Conference winner and two-time All-American selection. He led the nation with 11 interceptions as a junior.
He transitioned well to the NFL as he was a nine-time pro bowler. He helped lead the Raiders to the league's pinnacle with a Super Bowl win. He finished his career with 46 interceptions for 688 yards and two touchdowns.
Notre Dame was synonymous with winning, and Joe Montana exemplified it. He was part of their 1977 National Championship and guided them to a thrilling Cotton Bowl come-from-behind victory over Houston in 1979.
He established himself as the best quarterback and leader in the NFL with four Super Bowl victories, two league MVP awards, and three Super Bowl MVPs. He retired as the NFL’s all-time passing leader.
Small colleges produce some great athletes. Andy Robustelli is one of the greatest. He was named Small School All-American while playing for Arnold College in the 1940s.
The Los Angeles Rams took a chance on him, and he helped them win an NFL championship in his rookie season. He earned a second title with the New York Giants. His incredible play at defensive end earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Deion Sanders (Neon Deion) played for Bobby Bowden and the Florida State Seminoles. During that time, they were winning and setting up for an unprecedented run at the college level.
Sanders then helped the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys to a Super Bowl title each. Sanders was generally acknowledged as the toughest cornerback to pass on in league history. Primetime’s 53 interceptions and nine touchdowns helped him into the Hall of Fame.
Don Shula retired as the winningest coach in NFL history with 328 victories for the Dolphins and the Colts. He guided the Dolphins to three consecutive Super Bowls, winning two. He played seven NFL seasons, winning one title.
Unbeknownst to most fans, Shula played the running back position while at John Carroll University. As a Blue Streak star, he set a team record by averaging 6.6 yards per carry, earning him All-Conference accolades.
Mike McCormack is a recognizable name to the older generation. He was a Hall of Fame lineman for the great Browns teams of the 50s and 60s. He made six pro bowls in ten years. He was crucial in their balanced offense.
As a Kansas Jayhawk lineman, he was an All-Conference performer in his junior and senior years. There, he began establishing himself as the best offensive lineman of the pre-Super Bowl era.
Johnny Unitas was the elite quarterback of the NFL during its first 50 years. He set NFL records for completions, yards, and touchdowns. He led the Colts to three NFL championships and won one Super Bowl. Unitas was league MVP three times.
He started his journey at Louisville University, where he passed for 3,139 yards and 27 touchdowns for the Cardinals from 1951 to 1954.
The “Manster” began drawing attention at the University of Maryland. His ferocious defensive play garnered him a position as one of the top 50 college players ever, according to ESPN.
He then led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowls, where he added a Super Bowl MVP award to his Hall of Fame resume’. This nine-time pro bowler looks like he could still suit up!
The Greatest Show on Turf was loaded with star power. Isaac Bruce was one of the biggest stars helping them to a Super Bowl title. This Rams Hall of Fame receiver caught 1,024 passes for 15,208 yards and 91 touchdowns.
He began to establish his abilities as a junior and senior at Memphis State University, where he put up 113 catches for 1586 yards and ten touchdowns.
Claude Humphrey was a bad man. While at Tennessee State University, he terrorized opposing quarterbacks. It earned him All-American honors as he led the Big Blue Tigers to a 35-3-1 record.
Humphrey took his aggressive play to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL. He was a six-time pro bowler and ended his career with 130 sacks. The Humphrey-led Falcons set an NFL record by only allowing 129 points during the 1977 season.
The UCLA Bruins knew they had a star when Troy Aikman moved from the Oklahoma Sooners. He led the Bruins to two bowl victories and won the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top quarterback, passing for 2,771 yards and 24 touchdowns.
He was transcendent as the leader of the Dallas Cowboys, winning three Super Bowls in four years, establishing them as one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history.
How do you win in football? You allow Mike Webster to anchor your offensive line. Webster earned Hall of Fame status, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s.
Webster started at center and was named All-Conference during his junior and senior seasons playing for the Wisconsin Badgers. It is notable that Mike Webster played a huge role in the NFL establishing a concussion protocol for players.
