Best NFL players born in Connecticut
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 Connecticut.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in Connecticut. 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 Connecticut have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#49. Vince Clements (RB) (tie)
- City: Southington
- Years played: 1972-1973
- Games played: 16
- Weighted career value: 7
#49. Will Tye (TE) (tie)
- City: Middletown
- Years played: 2015-2017 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 32
- Weighted career value: 7
#45. George Radachowsky (DB) (tie)
- City: Danbury
- Years played: 1984-1989
- Games played: 52
- Weighted career value: 8
#45. Niko Koutouvides (MLB) (tie)
- City: New Britain
- Years played: 2004-2012
- Games played: 125
- Weighted career value: 8
#45. Ron Gardin (DB) (tie)
- City: New Haven
- Years played: 1970-1971
- Games played: 22
- Weighted career value: 8
#45. Willie Clark (DB) (tie)
- City: New Haven
- Years played: 1994-1998
- Games played: 59
- Weighted career value: 8
#42. Rob Jackson (DE) (tie)
- City: New Haven
- Years played: 2008-2013
- Games played: 54
- Weighted career value: 9
#42. Travis Jones (DT) (tie)
- City: New Haven
- Years played: 2022-2024
- Games played: 49
- Weighted career value: 9
#42. Tyler Matakevich (ILB) (tie)
- City: Stratford
- Years played: 2016-2024
- Games played: 140
- Weighted career value: 9
#38. Jerry Bell (TE) (tie)
- City: Derby
- Years played: 1982-1986 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 60
- Weighted career value: 10
#38. Nick Giaquinto (RB) (tie)
- City: Bridgeport
- Years played: 1980-1983
- Games played: 53
- Weighted career value: 10
#38. Tom Rychlec (E) (tie)
- City: Meriden
- Years played: 1958-1963
- Games played: 49
- Weighted career value: 10
#38. Tommy Wilson (HB) (tie)
- City: Stamford
- Years played: 1956-1963 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 91
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 10
#36. Amari Spievey (DB) (tie)
- City: Middleton
- Years played: 2010-2012 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 35
- Weighted career value: 11
#36. Jamey Richard (C) (tie)
- City: Weston
- Years played: 2008-2011
- Games played: 48
- Weighted career value: 11
#32. Ethan Brooks (T) (tie)
- City: Hartford
- Years played: 1996-2005
- Games played: 76
- Weighted career value: 12
#32. Fran Lynch (RB) (tie)
- City: Bridgeport
- Years played: 1967-1975
- Games played: 99
- Weighted career value: 12
#32. Jack Driscoll (OL) (tie)
- City: Madison
- Years played: 2020-2024
- Games played: 67
- Weighted career value: 12
#32. Julian Stanford (OLB) (tie)
- City: Bloomfield
- Years played: 2012-2022
- Games played: 122
- Weighted career value: 12
#31. Jason Pinnock (CB)
- City: Windsor
- Years played: 2021-2024 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 58
- Weighted career value: 13
#29. Gary Kowalski (T) (tie)
- City: New Haven
- Years played: 1983-1988 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 58
- Weighted career value: 14
#29. Marcus Cooper (CB) (tie)
- City: Bloomfield
- Years played: 2013-2018
- Games played: 75
- Weighted career value: 14
#28. Donald Thomas (G)
- City: West Haven
- Years played: 2008-2013
- Games played: 45
- Weighted career value: 16
#27. Fred Dugan (E)
- City: Stamford
- Years played: 1958-1963 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 75
- Weighted career value: 18
#25. Aaron Hernandez (TE) (tie)
- City: Bristol
- Years played: 2010-2012 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 38
- Weighted career value: 21
#25. Dave Graham (T) (tie)
- City: Bridgeport
- Years played: 1963-1969 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 83
- Weighted career value: 21
#24. Matt Shaughnessy (DE)
- City: Norwich
- Years played: 2009-2014 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 75
- Weighted career value: 22
#22. Carl Barzilauskas (DT) (tie)
- City: Waterbury
- Years played: 1974-1979 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 70
- Weighted career value: 24
#22. Chris Baker (DT) (tie)
- City: Windsor
- Years played: 2009-2017 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 93
- Weighted career value: 24
#19. Bob Kuziel (C) (tie)
- City: New Haven
- Years played: 1972-1980 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 90
- Weighted career value: 25
#19. Ed Bradley (RLB) (tie)
- City: Bridgeport
- Years played: 1972-1978 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 93
- Weighted career value: 25
#19. Jordan Reed (TE) (tie)
- City: New London
- Years played: 2013-2020 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 75
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 25
#18. Tebucky Jones (DB)
- City: New Britain
- Years played: 1998-2005 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 109
- Weighted career value: 27
#17. John Jenkins (DT)
- City: Meriden
- Years played: 2013-2024 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 150
- Weighted career value: 28
#16. Zach Allen (DL)
- City: New Canaan
- Years played: 2019-2024 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 78
- Weighted career value: 35
#15. Terrance Knighton (DT)
- City: Hartford
- Years played: 2009-2015 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 108
- Weighted career value: 37
#13. Byron Jones (CB) (tie)
- City: New Britain
- Years played: 2015-2021 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 109
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 38
#13. Nick Pietrosante (FB) (tie)
- City: Ansonia
- Years played: 1959-1967 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 115
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 38
#12. John Carney (K)
- City: Hartford
- Years played: 1988-2010
- Games played: 302
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 40
#11. Dave Widell (C)
- City: Hartford
- Years played: 1988-1998 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 156
- Weighted career value: 42
#10. Bob Skoronski (T)
- City: Ansonia
- Years played: 1956-1968 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 146
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 48
#7. Andy Robustelli (DE) (tie)
- City: Stamford
- Years played: 1951-1964 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 175
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 6
- Weighted career value: 50
#7. Terry Wooden (LB) (tie)
- City: Hartford
- Years played: 1990-1998 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 120
- Weighted career value: 50
#7. Tom Condon (G) (tie)
- City: Derby
- Years played: 1974-1985 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 148
- Weighted career value: 50
#6. Doug Widell (G)
- City: Hartford
- Years played: 1989-1997 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 139
- Weighted career value: 51
#4. Floyd Little (RB) (tie)
- City: New Haven
- Years played: 1967-1975 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 117
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 70
#4. Joe Horn (WR) (tie)
- City: New Haven
- Years played: 1996-2007 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 163
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 70
#3. Dwight Freeney (DE)
- City: Hartford
- Years played: 2002-2017 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 218
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 81
#2. Bill Romanowski (LB)
- City: Vernon
- Years played: 1988-2003 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 243
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 83
#1. Eugene Robinson (DB)
- City: Hartford
- Years played: 1985-2000 (15 years as starter)
- Games played: 250
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 88
