Best NFL players born in Kentucky
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 Kentucky.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#49. Bob Dougherty (LB) (tie)
- City: Bellevue
- Years played: 1957-1963 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 69
- Weighted career value: 20
#49. Keelan Cole (WR) (tie)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 2017-2022 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 93
- Weighted career value: 20
#45. C.J. Mosley (DT) (tie)
- City: Fort Knox
- Years played: 2005-2015
- Games played: 140
- Weighted career value: 21
#45. Jacob Tamme (TE) (tie)
- City: Danvillr
- Years played: 2008-2016 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 130
- Weighted career value: 21
#45. Jamon Brown (T) (tie)
- City: Fern Creek
- Years played: 2015-2020 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 62
- Weighted career value: 21
#45. Rex Burkhead (RB) (tie)
- City: Winchester
- Years played: 2013-2022
- Games played: 115
- Weighted career value: 21
#43. Larry Schreiber (RB) (tie)
- City: Covington
- Years played: 1971-1976 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 74
- Weighted career value: 22
#43. Marc Logan (RB) (tie)
- City: Lexington
- Years played: 1987-1997 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 139
- Weighted career value: 22
#42. Jedrick Wills Jr. (OL)
- City: Lexington
- Years played: 2020-2024 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 58
- Weighted career value: 24
#40. Michael Bush (RB) (tie)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 2008-2013 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 89
- Weighted career value: 25
#40. Sam Ball (T) (tie)
- City: Henderson
- Years played: 1966-1970 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 61
- Weighted career value: 25
#39. George Wilson (SS)
- City: Paducah
- Years played: 2005-2014 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 124
- Weighted career value: 26
#37. Vince Buck (DB) (tie)
- City: Owensboro
- Years played: 1990-1995 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 84
- Weighted career value: 27
#37. Virgil Livers (DB) (tie)
- City: Fairfield
- Years played: 1975-1979 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 68
- Weighted career value: 27
#36. Rob Bironas (K)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 2005-2013
- Games played: 144
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 29
#35. Tim Couch (QB)
- City: Hyden
- Years played: 1999-2003 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 62
- Weighted career value: 30
#33. George Fant (T) (tie)
- City: Bowling Green
- Years played: 2016-2024 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 101
- Weighted career value: 31
#33. Mo Moorman (G) (tie)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 1968-1973 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 72
- Weighted career value: 31
#31. D.J. Johnson (DB) (tie)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 1989-1996 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 117
- Weighted career value: 32
#31. Lee Calland (DB) (tie)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 1963-1972 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 101
- Weighted career value: 32
#26. David Akers (K) (tie)
- City: Lexington
- Years played: 1998-2013
- Games played: 237
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 33
#26. Dean Wells (LB) (tie)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 1993-2001 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 129
- Weighted career value: 33
#26. Mike Dukes (LB) (tie)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 1960-1965 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 81
- Weighted career value: 33
#26. Mike Mitchell (DB) (tie)
- City: Fort Thomas
- Years played: 2009-2018 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 145
- Weighted career value: 33
#26. Weston Richburg (C) (tie)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 2014-2019 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 79
- Weighted career value: 33
#25. DeVante Parker (WR)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 2015-2023 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 119
- Weighted career value: 36
#24. Dan Neal (C)
- City: Corbin
- Years played: 1973-1983 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 134
- Weighted career value: 37
#22. Elois Grooms (DE) (tie)
- City: Tompkinsville
- Years played: 1975-1987 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 138
- Weighted career value: 40
#22. Yeremiah Bell (DB) (tie)
- City: Winchester
- Years played: 2004-2013 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 142
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 40
#19. Joe Federspiel (LB) (tie)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 1972-1981 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 141
- Weighted career value: 42
#19. Montez Sweat (EDGE) (tie)
- City: Richmond
- Years played: 2019-2024 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 92
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 42
#19. Sam Gruneisen (C) (tie)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 1962-1973 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 130
- Weighted career value: 42
#18. Paul Hornung (HB)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 1957-1966 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 104
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 45
#16. Corey Peters (DT) (tie)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 2010-2022 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 164
- Weighted career value: 49
#16. Dwayne Woodruff (DB) (tie)
- City: Bowling Green
- Years played: 1979-1990 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 157
- Weighted career value: 49
#15. Bubba Paris (T)
- City: Hardin County
- Years played: 1983-1991 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 130
- Weighted career value: 51
#14. Todd Perry (G)
- City: Calloway County
- Years played: 1993-2003 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 165
- Weighted career value: 54
#12. Frank LeMaster (LB) (tie)
- City: Lexington
- Years played: 1974-1982 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 129
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 58
#12. Irv Goode (G) (tie)
- City: Newport
- Years played: 1962-1974 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 162
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 58
#11. Bob Talamini (G)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 1960-1968 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 126
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 62
#10. Frank Minnifield (DB)
- City: Lexington
- Years played: 1984-1992 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 122
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 64
#9. Shaun Alexander (RB)
- City: Florence
- Years played: 2000-2008 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 123
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 68
#8. Coy Bacon (DE)
- City: Cadiz
- Years played: 1968-1981 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 180
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 71
#7. Will Wolford (T)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 1986-1998 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 191
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 75
#6. Cris Dishman (DB)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 1988-2000 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 199
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 78
#5. Joe Jacoby (T)
- City: Louisville
- Years played: 1981-1993 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 170
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 84
#4. Phil Simms (QB)
- City: Springfield
- Years played: 1979-1993 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 164
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 91
#3. Dermontti Dawson (C)
- City: Lexington
- Years played: 1988-2000 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 184
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 6
- Weighted career value: 96
#2. Jim Marshall (DE)
- City: Danville
- Years played: 1960-1979 (20 years as starter)
- Games played: 282
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 102
#1. Champ Bailey (DB)
- City: Fort Campbell
- Years played: 1999-2013 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 215
- Pro Bowl selections: 12
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 117
