Best NFL players born in Mississippi
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 Mississippi.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in Mississippi. 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 Mississippi have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#49. Jason Ferguson (DT) (tie)
- City: Nettleton
- Years played: 1997-2009 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 159
- Weighted career value: 50
#49. Roland Lakes (DT) (tie)
- City: Vicksburg
- Years played: 1961-1971 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 154
- Weighted career value: 50
#46. D.K. Metcalf (WR) (tie)
- City: Oxford
- Years played: 2019-2024 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 97
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 51
#46. Glover Quin (DB) (tie)
- City: McComb
- Years played: 2009-2018 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 159
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 51
#46. Walt Suggs (T) (tie)
- City: Hattiesburg
- Years played: 1962-1971 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 137
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 51
#44. Dick Bass (FB) (tie)
- City: Georgetown
- Years played: 1960-1969 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 112
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 52
#44. Roy Hilton (DE) (tie)
- City: Georgetown
- Years played: 1965-1975 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 151
- Weighted career value: 52
#42. Billy Cannon (TE) (tie)
- City: Philadelphia
- Years played: 1960-1970 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 133
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 53
#42. Charlie Weaver (LB) (tie)
- City: Greenwood
- Years played: 1971-1981 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 147
- Weighted career value: 53
#40. Carlos Emmons (LB) (tie)
- City: Greenwood
- Years played: 1996-2006 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 147
- Weighted career value: 54
#40. Cooper Carlisle (G) (tie)
- City: Greenville
- Years played: 2000-2012 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 190
- Weighted career value: 54
#38. Deuce McAllister (RB) (tie)
- City: Lena
- Years played: 2001-2008 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 97
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 55
#38. Jimmy Patton (DB) (tie)
- City: Greenville
- Years played: 1955-1966 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 153
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 5
- Weighted career value: 55
#36. Ben Williams (DE) (tie)
- City: Yazoo City
- Years played: 1976-1985 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 147
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 57
#36. Terrell Buckley (DB) (tie)
- City: Pascagoula
- Years played: 1992-2005 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 209
- Weighted career value: 57
#34. Billy Shields (T) (tie)
- City: Vicksburg
- Years played: 1975-1985 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 142
- Weighted career value: 58
#34. Jamie Collins (OLB) (tie)
- City: McCall Creek
- Years played: 2013-2022 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 125
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 58
#33. John Williams (T)
- City: Jackson
- Years played: 1968-1979 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 166
- Weighted career value: 59
#32. Billy Shaw (G)
- City: Natchez
- Years played: 1961-1969 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 119
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 5
- Weighted career value: 60
#31. Hugh Green (LB)
- City: Natchez
- Years played: 1981-1991 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 136
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 61
#30. Jim Dunaway (DT)
- City: Columbia
- Years played: 1963-1972 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 132
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 62
#29. Tim Bowens (DT)
- City: Okolona
- Years played: 1994-2004 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 157
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 63
#27. Jack Gregory (DE) (tie)
- City: Okolona
- Years played: 1967-1979 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 182
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 64
#27. K.J. Wright (MLB) (tie)
- City: Olive Branch
- Years played: 2011-2021 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 161
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 64
#26. A.J. Brown (WR)
- City: Starkville
- Years played: 2019-2024 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 90
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 66
#25. Leon Gray (T)
- City: Olive Branch
- Years played: 1973-1983 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 142
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 69
#24. Houston Antwine (DT)
- City: Louise
- Years played: 1961-1972 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 156
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 70
#22. Verlon Biggs (DE) (tie)
- City: Moss Point
- Years played: 1965-1974 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 135
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 71
#22. Wilbert Montgomery (RB) (tie)
- City: Greenville
- Years played: 1977-1985 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 107
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 71
#21. Clinton Portis (RB)
- City: Laurel
- Years played: 2002-2010 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 113
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 72
#20. Diron Talbert (DT)
- City: Pascagoula
- Years played: 1967-1980 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 186
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 73
#19. Jackie Smith (TE)
- City: Columbia
- Years played: 1963-1978 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 210
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- Weighted career value: 74
#18. Freeman McNeil (RB)
- City: Jackson
- Years played: 1981-1992 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 144
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 75
#17. Archie Manning (QB)
- City: Cleveland
- Years played: 1971-1984 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 151
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 76
#16. Eric Moulds (WR)
- City: Lucedale
- Years played: 1996-2007 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 186
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 78
#15. L.C. Greenwood (DE)
- City: Canton
- Years played: 1969-1981 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 170
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 87
#12. Chris Jones (DT) (tie)
- City: Houston
- Years played: 2016-2024 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 138
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 88
#12. Jackie Slater (T) (tie)
- City: Jackson
- Years played: 1976-1995 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 259
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- Weighted career value: 88
#12. Kent Hull (C) (tie)
- City: Pontotoc
- Years played: 1986-1996 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 170
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 88
#11. Larry Grantham (LB)
- City: Crystal Springs
- Years played: 1960-1972 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 175
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 5
- Weighted career value: 92
#10. Harold Jackson (WR)
- City: Hattiesburg
- Years played: 1968-1983 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 208
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 93
#8. Fletcher Cox (DT) (tie)
- City: Yazoo City
- Years played: 2012-2023 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 188
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 95
#8. Roger Craig (RB) (tie)
- City: Preston
- Years played: 1983-1993 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 165
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 95
#7. Steve McNair (QB)
- City: Mount Olive
- Years played: 1995-2007 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 161
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 99
#6. Lem Barney (DB)
- City: Gulfport
- Years played: 1967-1977 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 140
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 100
#5. Demario Davis (MLB)
- City: Collins
- Years played: 2012-2024 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 210
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 101
#4. Willie Brown (DB)
- City: Yazoo City
- Years played: 1963-1978 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 204
- Pro Bowl selections: 9
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 5
- Weighted career value: 109
#3. Walter Payton (RB)
- City: Columbia
- Years played: 1975-1987 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 190
- Pro Bowl selections: 9
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 5
- Weighted career value: 127
#2. Brett Favre (QB)
- City: Gulfport
- Years played: 1991-2010 (19 years as starter)
- Games played: 302
- Pro Bowl selections: 11
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 158
#1. Jerry Rice (WR)
- City: Crawford
- Years played: 1985-2004 (18 years as starter)
- Games played: 303
- Pro Bowl selections: 13
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 10
- Weighted career value: 160
