Best NFL players born in Louisiana

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 Louisiana.

Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in Louisiana. 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 Louisiana have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.

#49. Santana Dotson (DT) (tie)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1992-2001 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 152
- Weighted career value: 59

#49. Steve Foley (DB) (tie)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1976-1986 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 150
- Weighted career value: 59

#45. Eugene Daniel (DB) (tie)
- City: Baton Rouge
- Years played: 1984-1997 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 207
- Weighted career value: 60

#45. Frank Lewis (WR) (tie)
- City: Houma
- Years played: 1971-1983 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 155
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 60

#45. Kermit Alexander Jr. (DB) (tie)
- City: New Iberia
- Years played: 1963-1973 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 143
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 60

#45. Kordell Stewart (QB) (tie)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1995-2005 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 125
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 60

#43. Joe Lavender (DB) (tie)
- City: Rayville
- Years played: 1973-1982 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 139
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 61

#43. Mark Carrier (WR) (tie)
- City: Lafayette
- Years played: 1987-1998 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 177
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 61

#42. John David Crow (HB)
- City: Marion
- Years played: 1958-1968 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 125
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 62

#41. Mel Branch (DE)
- City: Leesville
- Years played: 1960-1968 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 126
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 63

#37. Charley Hennigan (WR) (tie)
- City: Bienville
- Years played: 1960-1966 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 95
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 64

#37. Eddie Robinson (LB) (tie)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1992-2002 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 175
- Weighted career value: 64

#37. Lionel Aldridge (DE) (tie)
- City: Evergreen
- Years played: 1963-1973 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 147
- Weighted career value: 64

#37. Nnamdi Asomugha (DB) (tie)
- City: Lafayette
- Years played: 2003-2013 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 157
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 64

#35. Bobby Hebert (QB) (tie)
- City: Baton Rouge
- Years played: 1985-1996 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 118
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 66

#35. Mark Carrier (DB) (tie)
- City: Lake Charles
- Years played: 1990-2000 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 66

#34. Tyrann Mathieu (CB)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 2013-2024 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 180
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 67

#32. Jerry Fontenot (C) (tie)
- City: Lafayette
- Years played: 1989-2004 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 239
- Weighted career value: 68

#32. Patrick Surtain (DB) (tie)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1998-2008 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 163
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 68

#31. Eddie Kennison (WR)
- City: Lake Charles
- Years played: 1996-2008 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 179
- Weighted career value: 69

#30. Leonard Marshall (DE)
- City: Franklin
- Years played: 1983-1994 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 177
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 70

#29. Gary Johnson (DT)
- City: Shreveport
- Years played: 1975-1985 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 157
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 71

#26. Fred Miller (DT) (tie)
- City: Homer
- Years played: 1963-1972 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 133
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 72

#26. Pat Williams (DT) (tie)
- City: Monroe
- Years played: 1997-2010 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 200
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 72

#26. Todd McClure (C) (tie)
- City: Baton Rouge
- Years played: 2000-2012 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 198
- Weighted career value: 72

#25. Rosey Taylor (DB)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1961-1972 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 166
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 73

#24. Mark Duper (WR)
- City: Pineville
- Years played: 1982-1992 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 146
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 78

#23. Kyle Williams (DT)
- City: Ruston
- Years played: 2006-2018 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 183
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- Weighted career value: 79

#22. Bert Jones (QB)
- City: Ruston
- Years played: 1973-1982 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 102
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 80

#21. Roy Winston (LB)
- City: Baton Rouge
- Years played: 1962-1976 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 191
- Weighted career value: 81

#20. Albert Lewis (DB)
- City: Mansfield
- Years played: 1983-1998 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 225
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 82

#18. Jim Taylor (FB) (tie)
- City: Baton Rouge
- Years played: 1958-1967 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 133
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 84

#18. Matt Forte (RB) (tie)
- City: Lake Charles
- Years played: 2008-2017 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 146
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 84

#17. Richie Petitbon (DB)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1959-1972 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 179
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 85

#16. Charlie Joiner (WR)
- City: Many
- Years played: 1969-1986 (15 years as starter)
- Games played: 239
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 92

#14. Dak Prescott (QB) (tie)
- City: Sulphur
- Years played: 2016-2024 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 122
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 94

#14. Johnny Robinson (DB) (tie)
- City: Delhi
- Years played: 1960-1971 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 164
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 6
- Weighted career value: 94

#12. Neil Smith (DE) (tie)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1988-2000 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 191
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 96

#12. Warrick Dunn (RB) (tie)
- City: Baton Rouge
- Years played: 1997-2008 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 181
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 96

#11. Andrew Whitworth (T)
- City: Monroe
- Years played: 2006-2021 (16 years as starter)
- Games played: 239
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 100

#10. Ed Reed (DB)
- City: St. Rose
- Years played: 2002-2013 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 174
- Pro Bowl selections: 9
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 5
- Weighted career value: 102

#8. Isiah Robertson (LB) (tie)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1971-1982 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 103

#8. Willie Davis (DE) (tie)
- City: Lisbon
- Years played: 1958-1969 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 162
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 5
- Weighted career value: 103

#7. Terry Bradshaw (QB)
- City: Shreveport
- Years played: 1970-1983 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 107

#6. Alan Faneca (G)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1998-2010 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 206
- Pro Bowl selections: 9
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 6
- Weighted career value: 108

#5. Aeneas Williams (DB)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1991-2004 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 211
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 110

#4. Reggie Wayne (WR)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 2001-2014 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 211
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 116

#3. Eli Manning (QB)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 2004-2019 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 236
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 121

#2. Marshall Faulk (RB)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1994-2005 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 176
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 132

#1. Peyton Manning (QB)
- City: New Orleans
- Years played: 1998-2015 (17 years as starter)
- Games played: 266
- Pro Bowl selections: 14
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 7
- Weighted career value: 176