Best NFL players born in Michigan
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 Michigan.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in Michigan. 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 Michigan have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#50. Brandon Carr (DB)
- City: Flint
- Years played: 2008-2020 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 195
- Weighted career value: 53
#45. Darris McCord (DE) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1955-1967 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 54
#45. Jack Conklin (T) (tie)
- City: Plainwell
- Years played: 2016-2024 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 106
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 54
#45. Jake Long (T) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 2008-2016 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 104
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 54
#45. LaMarr Woodley (LB) (tie)
- City: Saginaw
- Years played: 2007-2015 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 110
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 54
#45. Mike Bass (DB) (tie)
- City: Ypsilanti
- Years played: 1967-1975 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 100
- Weighted career value: 54
#44. Jon Jansen (T)
- City: Clawson
- Years played: 1999-2009 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 137
- Weighted career value: 55
#42. Dan Currie (LB) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1958-1966 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 118
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 56
#42. Derrick Alexander (WR) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1994-2002 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 126
- Weighted career value: 56
#40. Brent Alexander (DB) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1994-2005 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 192
- Weighted career value: 57
#40. Dave Whitsell (DB) (tie)
- City: Shelby
- Years played: 1958-1969 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 161
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 57
#38. Archie Matsos (LB) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1960-1966 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 95
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 59
#38. Brandon Graham (DE) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 2010-2024 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 206
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 59
#34. Calvin Pace (DE) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 2003-2015 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 187
- Weighted career value: 61
#34. Jeff Backus (T) (tie)
- City: Midland
- Years played: 2001-2012 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 191
- Weighted career value: 61
#34. Ron Johnson (RB) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1969-1975 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 81
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 61
#34. T.J. Lang (G) (tie)
- City: Royal Oak
- Years played: 2009-2018 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 138
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 61
#31. Eric Fisher (T) (tie)
- City: Rochester
- Years played: 2013-2021 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 132
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 62
#31. Larry Foote (LB) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 2002-2014 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 187
- Weighted career value: 62
#31. Matt Judon (DE) (tie)
- City: Pontiac
- Years played: 2016-2024 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 131
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 62
#30. Randy Logan (DB)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1973-1983 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 159
- Weighted career value: 64
#28. Bart Scott (RILB) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 2002-2012 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 172
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 65
#28. Terance Mathis (WR) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1990-2002 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 206
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 65
#27. Greg Jennings (WR)
- City: Kalamazoo
- Years played: 2006-2015 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 143
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 66
#24. Carl Banks (LB) (tie)
- City: Flint
- Years played: 1984-1995 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 173
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 68
#24. Earl Morrall (QB) (tie)
- City: Muskegon
- Years played: 1956-1976 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 255
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 68
#24. Kris Jenkins (DT) (tie)
- City: Ypsilanti
- Years played: 2001-2010 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 108
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 68
#23. Reggie Williams (LB)
- City: Flint
- Years played: 1976-1989 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 206
- Weighted career value: 69
#22. Terry McDaniel (DB)
- City: Saginaw
- Years played: 1988-1998 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 152
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- Weighted career value: 70
#21. Reggie McKenzie (G)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1972-1984 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 171
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 71
#19. Brad Van Pelt (LB) (tie)
- City: Owosso
- Years played: 1973-1986 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 184
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- Weighted career value: 73
#19. Dick Anderson (DB) (tie)
- City: Midland
- Years played: 1968-1977 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 121
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 73
#17. David Harris (LB) (tie)
- City: Grand Rapids
- Years played: 2007-2017 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 164
- Weighted career value: 75
#17. George Andrie (DE) (tie)
- City: Grand Rapids
- Years played: 1962-1972 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 141
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- Weighted career value: 75
#16. Andre Rison (WR)
- City: Flint
- Years played: 1989-2000 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 186
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 77
#13. Grady Alderman (T) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1960-1974 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 204
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- Weighted career value: 79
#13. Jon Runyan (T) (tie)
- City: Flint
- Years played: 1996-2009 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 207
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 79
#13. Pepper Johnson (LB) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1986-1998 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 193
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 79
#11. Jerome Bettis (RB) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1993-2005 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 192
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 81
#11. Joe Staley (T) (tie)
- City: Rockford
- Years played: 2007-2019 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 181
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- Weighted career value: 81
#10. James Brooks (RB)
- City: Lansing
- Years played: 1981-1992 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 162
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 82
#9. Muhsin Muhammad (WR)
- City: Lansing
- Years played: 1996-2009 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 202
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 83
#7. Andy Russell (LB) (tie)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1963-1976 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- Weighted career value: 84
#7. Craig Morton (QB) (tie)
- City: Flint
- Years played: 1965-1982 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 207
- Weighted career value: 84
#6. Ed Budde (G)
- City: Highland Park
- Years played: 1963-1976 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 177
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 85
#5. Derrick Mason (WR)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1997-2011 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 230
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 86
#4. Joe DeLamielleure (G)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1973-1985 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 185
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 87
#3. Antonio Gates (TE)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 2003-2018 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 236
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 93
#2. Jimmy Smith (WR)
- City: Detroit
- Years played: 1992-2005 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 178
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- Weighted career value: 94
#1. Paul Krause (DB)
- City: Flint
- Years played: 1964-1979 (15 years as starter)
- Games played: 226
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 119
