Best NFL players born in Colorado
Football has long been woven into the cultural fabric of America, and every state has produced its share of gridiron legends. From Hall of Fame quarterbacks to record-setting receivers and defensive stalwarts, some of the NFL's greatest talents trace their roots back to Colorado.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in Colorado. Players were ranked by weighted career approximate value (AV), a metric developed by Pro Football Reference that measures overall career impact. Data is as of the start of the 2025 NFL season.
This list highlights players who made their mark on the league—some remembered for their longevity, others for their peak dominance. Read on to see which football stars born in Colorado have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#50. Sean Moran (OLB)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1996-2003
- Games played: 120
- Weighted career value: 12
#48. Andrew Wingard (S) (tie)
- City: Arvada
- Years played: 2019-2024
- Games played: 86
- Weighted career value: 13
#48. Jacob Martin (OLB) (tie)
- City: Aurora
- Years played: 2018-2024
- Games played: 102
- Weighted career value: 13
#47. LenDale White (RB)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 2006-2009
- Games played: 58
- Weighted career value: 14
#46. Greg Jones (LLB)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1997-2002
- Games played: 82
- Weighted career value: 16
#44. Heath Irwin (G) (tie)
- City: Boulder
- Years played: 1997-2002
- Games played: 87
- Weighted career value: 17
#44. Orville Trask (DT) (tie)
- City: Pueblo
- Years played: 1960-1962 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 35
- Weighted career value: 17
#43. Mike Johnson (DB)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1966-1969 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 54
- Weighted career value: 18
#41. Josh Williams (DT) (tie)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 2000-2005 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 73
- Weighted career value: 19
#41. Phillip Lindsay (RB) (tie)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 2018-2022 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 59
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 19
#36. Bo Scaife (TE) (tie)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 2005-2010 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 90
- Weighted career value: 20
#36. Mitch Unrein (DT) (tie)
- City: Eaton
- Years played: 2011-2017 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 95
- Weighted career value: 20
#36. Reed Doughty (DB) (tie)
- City: Greeley
- Years played: 2006-2013 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 107
- Weighted career value: 20
#36. Tom Ashworth (T) (tie)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 2002-2007 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 66
- Weighted career value: 20
#36. Trey McBride (TE) (tie)
- City: Greeley
- Years played: 2022-2024 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 49
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 20
#34. Daniel Carlson (K) (tie)
- City: Colorado Springs
- Years played: 2018-2024 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 112
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 21
#34. Sam Brunelli (T) (tie)
- City: Fort Morgan
- Years played: 1966-1971 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 60
- Weighted career value: 21
#33. Morgan Fox (DL)
- City: Fountain
- Years played: 2016-2024
- Games played: 120
- Weighted career value: 22
#32. Ryan Denney (DE)
- City: Thornton
- Years played: 2002-2010 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 113
- Weighted career value: 23
#28. Brian Walker (DB) (tie)
- City: Colorado Springs
- Years played: 1996-2003 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 97
- Weighted career value: 24
#28. Eddie Dove (DB) (tie)
- City: Hygiene
- Years played: 1959-1963 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 66
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 24
#28. Herman Heard (RB) (tie)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1984-1989 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 87
- Weighted career value: 24
#28. Mike Purcell (DT) (tie)
- City: Highlands Ranch
- Years played: 2014-2023 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 90
- Weighted career value: 24
#26. David Tate (DB) (tie)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1988-1997 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 142
- Weighted career value: 25
#26. Jason Craft (DB) (tie)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1999-2008
- Games played: 148
- Weighted career value: 25
#25. John Denney (DE)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 2005-2018
- Games played: 224
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 26
#24. Tyler Polumbus (G)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 2008-2015 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 112
- Weighted career value: 27
#22. Jeff Donaldson (DB) (tie)
- City: Fort Collins
- Years played: 1984-1993 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 151
- Weighted career value: 28
#22. Steve Korte (C) (tie)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1983-1989 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 83
- Weighted career value: 28
#20. Chris Sanders (WR) (tie)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1995-2001 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 97
- Weighted career value: 29
#20. James Darling (LLB) (tie)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1997-2006 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 139
- Weighted career value: 29
#19. Kevin Call (T)
- City: Boulder
- Years played: 1984-1993 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 130
- Weighted career value: 30
#18. David Bowens (DE)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1999-2010 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 167
- Weighted career value: 31
#17. James Thrash (WR)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1997-2008 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 165
- Weighted career value: 32
#16. Monte Johnson (LB)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1973-1979 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 99
- Weighted career value: 39
#15. Fred Glick (DB)
- City: Aurora
- Years played: 1959-1966 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 83
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 40
#12. Bill Brundige (DT) (tie)
- City: Holyoke
- Years played: 1970-1977 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 107
- Weighted career value: 43
#12. Bobby Hamilton (DE) (tie)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1996-2007 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 165
- Weighted career value: 43
#12. Ryan Jensen (T) (tie)
- City: Rangely
- Years played: 2014-2022 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 100
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 43
#11. Marvin Washington (DE)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1989-1999 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 155
- Weighted career value: 44
#10. Mark Mullaney (DE)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1975-1986 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 151
- Weighted career value: 48
#9. Dick Harris (DB)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 1960-1965 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 76
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 50
#8. Luther Elliss (DT)
- City: Mancos
- Years played: 1995-2004 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 134
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 51
#7. Jordan Hicks (OLB)
- City: Colorado Springs
- Years played: 2015-2024 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 134
- Weighted career value: 53
#6. Andre Carter (DE)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 2001-2013 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 184
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 59
#5. Nate Solder (OL)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 2011-2021 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 146
- Weighted career value: 64
#4. Aaron Smith (DE)
- City: Colorado Springs
- Years played: 1999-2011 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 160
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 71
#3. Christian McCaffrey (RB)
- City: Castle Rock
- Years played: 2017-2024 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 95
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 74
#2. Vincent Jackson (WR)
- City: Colorado Springs
- Years played: 2005-2016 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 155
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 77
#1. Calais Campbell (DE)
- City: Denver
- Years played: 2008-2024 (16 years as starter)
- Games played: 261
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 112
