Best NFL players born in Illinois
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 Illinois.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in Illinois. 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 Illinois have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#50. Rob Ninkovich (DE)
- City: New Lenox
- Years played: 2006-2016 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 131
- Weighted career value: 51
#48. Carl Mauck (C) (tie)
- City: McLeansboro
- Years played: 1969-1981 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 166
- Weighted career value: 52
#48. Harry Jacobs (LB) (tie)
- City: Canton
- Years played: 1960-1970 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 134
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 52
#47. Otis Armstrong (RB)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1973-1980 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 96
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 53
#43. Ephraim Salaam (T) (tie)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1998-2010 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 163
- Weighted career value: 55
#43. Michael Turner (RB) (tie)
- City: Waukegan
- Years played: 2004-2012 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 134
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 55
#43. Renaldo Wynn (DE) (tie)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1997-2009 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 182
- Weighted career value: 55
#43. Tim Foley (DB) (tie)
- City: Evanston
- Years played: 1970-1980 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 134
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 55
#42. Bryan Bulaga (T)
- City: Barrington
- Years played: 2010-2021 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 126
- Weighted career value: 56
#37. Conrad Dobler (G) (tie)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1972-1981 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 129
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 57
#37. Keena Turner (LB) (tie)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1980-1990 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 153
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 57
#37. Larry McCarren (C) (tie)
- City: Park Forest
- Years played: 1973-1984 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 162
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 57
#37. Mike Wagner (DB) (tie)
- City: Waukegan
- Years played: 1971-1980 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 119
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 57
#37. Preston Pearson (RB) (tie)
- City: Freeport
- Years played: 1967-1980 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 176
- Weighted career value: 57
#36. Anthony Castonzo (LT)
- City: Hawthorn Woods
- Years played: 2011-2020 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 144
- Weighted career value: 58
#35. Mike Pruitt (RB)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1976-1986 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 152
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 59
#34. Russell Maryland (DT)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1991-2000 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 154
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 60
#33. Gregg Bingham (LB)
- City: Evanston
- Years played: 1973-1984 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 173
- Weighted career value: 61
#31. Mike Goff (G) (tie)
- City: Peru
- Years played: 1998-2009 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 171
- Weighted career value: 62
#31. Shaun O'Hara (G) (tie)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 2000-2010 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 151
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 62
#30. Ray Buchanan (DB)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1993-2004 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 184
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 63
#29. Tim Grunhard (C)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1990-2000 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 169
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 64
#28. Len Rohde (T)
- City: Palatine
- Years played: 1960-1974 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 208
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 65
#27. Charles Tillman (DB)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 2003-2015 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 66
#25. David Diehl (G) (tie)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 2003-2013 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 164
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 67
#25. Terron Armstead (T) (tie)
- City: Belleville
- Years played: 2013-2024 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 135
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- Weighted career value: 67
#23. Doug Dieken (T) (tie)
- City: Streator
- Years played: 1971-1984 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 203
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 69
#23. Rodney Harrison (DB) (tie)
- City: Markham
- Years played: 1994-2008 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 186
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 69
#22. Sterling Sharpe (WR)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1988-1994 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 112
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 70
#21. Ernie McMillan (T)
- City: Chicago Heights
- Years played: 1961-1975 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 190
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 71
#19. Bill Brown (RB) (tie)
- City: Mendota
- Years played: 1961-1974 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 194
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 72
#19. Ryan Diem (T) (tie)
- City: Carol Stream
- Years played: 2001-2011 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 157
- Weighted career value: 72
#18. Greg Kragen (NT)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1985-1997 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 200
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 75
#17. George Kunz (T)
- City: Fort Sheridan
- Years played: 1969-1980 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 129
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 77
#16. Gary Fencik (DB)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1976-1987 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 164
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 78
#15. Chris Hinton (T)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1983-1995 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 177
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 79
#13. Ken Norton Jr. (LB) (tie)
- City: Lincoln
- Years played: 1988-2000 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 191
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 81
#13. Steve Atwater (DB) (tie)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1989-1999 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 167
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 81
#11. Dick Butkus (LB) (tie)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1965-1973 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 119
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 5
- Weighted career value: 82
#11. Shannon Sharpe (TE) (tie)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1990-2003 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 204
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 4
- Weighted career value: 82
#10. Simeon Rice (DE)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1996-2007 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 174
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 86
#8. Bryant Young (DT) (tie)
- City: Chicago Heights
- Years played: 1994-2007 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 208
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 88
#8. John Lynch (DB) (tie)
- City: Hinsdale
- Years played: 1993-2007 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 224
- Pro Bowl selections: 9
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 88
#6. Jim Hart (QB) (tie)
- City: Evanston
- Years played: 1966-1984 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 201
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 95
#6. Ray Nitschke (LB) (tie)
- City: Elmwood Park
- Years played: 1958-1972 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 190
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 95
#5. Mike Kenn (T)
- City: Evanston
- Years played: 1978-1994 (17 years as starter)
- Games played: 251
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 96
#4. Kirk Cousins (QB)
- City: Barrington
- Years played: 2012-2024 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 164
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 100
#3. Ron Yary (T)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1968-1982 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 207
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 6
- Weighted career value: 104
#2. Donovan McNabb (QB)
- City: Chicago
- Years played: 1999-2011 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 167
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- Weighted career value: 107
#1. Ken Anderson (QB)
- City: Batavia
- Years played: 1971-1986 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 192
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 120
