Best NFL players born in Missouri
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 Missouri.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in Missouri. 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 Missouri have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#50. Paul Coffman (TE)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1978-1988 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 154
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 35
#48. Foyesade Oluokun (LB) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 2018-2024 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 111
- Weighted career value: 37
#48. Josh Freeman (QB) (tie)
- City: Kansas City
- Years played: 2009-2015 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 62
- Weighted career value: 37
#46. Bernard Whittington (DE) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1994-2002 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 137
- Weighted career value: 38
#46. Jim Bailey (DT) (tie)
- City: Kansas City
- Years played: 1970-1978 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 116
- Weighted career value: 38
#43. Bert Emanuel (WR) (tie)
- City: Kansas City
- Years played: 1994-2001 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 103
- Weighted career value: 39
#43. Napoleon Kaufman (RB) (tie)
- City: Kansas City
- Years played: 1995-2000 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 91
- Weighted career value: 39
#43. Pat Leahy (K) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1974-1991
- Games played: 250
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 39
#39. Christian Kirksey (OLB) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 2014-2022 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 114
- Weighted career value: 40
#39. Dan Connolly (G) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 2005-2014 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 89
- Weighted career value: 40
#39. Don Webb (DB) (tie)
- City: Jefferson City
- Years played: 1961-1971 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 134
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 40
#39. Johnnie Poe (DB) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1981-1987 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 100
- Weighted career value: 40
#37. Brandon Lloyd (WR) (tie)
- City: Kansas City
- Years played: 2003-2014 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 142
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 41
#37. Shelby Jordan (T) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1975-1986 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 151
- Weighted career value: 41
#35. Gary Anderson (RB) (tie)
- City: Columbia
- Years played: 1985-1993 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 111
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 42
#35. Kevin House (WR) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1980-1987 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 114
- Weighted career value: 42
#34. George Seals (G)
- City: Higginsville
- Years played: 1964-1973 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 134
- Weighted career value: 43
#33. Gerry Ellis (RB)
- City: Columbia
- Years played: 1980-1986 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 103
- Weighted career value: 44
#29. Gus Otto (LB) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1965-1972 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 102
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 46
#29. Jay Leeuwenburg (G) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1992-2000 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 137
- Weighted career value: 46
#29. Mike Jones (LLB) (tie)
- City: Kansas City
- Years played: 1991-2002 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 183
- Weighted career value: 46
#29. Ryan Lilja (G) (tie)
- City: Kansas City
- Years played: 2004-2012 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 111
- Weighted career value: 46
#27. Darnay Scott (WR) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1994-2002 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 124
- Weighted career value: 47
#27. Jason Belser (DB) (tie)
- City: Kansas City
- Years played: 1992-2002 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 173
- Weighted career value: 47
#26. Ken Jones (T)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1976-1987 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 163
- Weighted career value: 48
#25. Jeremy Maclin (WR)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 2009-2017 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 114
- Weighted career value: 50
#23. Derland Moore (DT) (tie)
- City: Malden
- Years played: 1973-1986 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 171
- Weighted career value: 51
#23. Mike Douglass (LB) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1978-1986 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 126
- Weighted career value: 51
#21. Brandon Williams (DT) (tie)
- City: Kirkwood
- Years played: 2013-2022 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 128
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 52
#21. Kevin Donnalley (G) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1991-2003 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 193
- Weighted career value: 52
#18. Doug Van Horn (G) (tie)
- City: Sedalia
- Years played: 1966-1979 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 172
- Weighted career value: 54
#18. Grant Wistrom (DE) (tie)
- City: Webb City
- Years played: 1998-2006 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 132
- Weighted career value: 54
#18. Mike Rucker (DE) (tie)
- City: St. Joseph
- Years played: 1999-2007 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 139
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 54
#17. Henry Jones (DB)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1991-2002 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 158
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 55
#16. Mark Collins (DB)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1986-1998 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Weighted career value: 56
#15. Lionel Taylor (E)
- City: Kansas City
- Years played: 1959-1968 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 121
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 4
- Weighted career value: 57
#13. Billy Sims (RB) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1980-1984 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 60
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 58
#13. Tony Galbreath (RB) (tie)
- City: Fulton
- Years played: 1976-1987 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 170
- Weighted career value: 58
#12. Don Shinnick (LB)
- City: Kansas City
- Years played: 1957-1969 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 159
- Weighted career value: 60
#10. Ken Iman (C) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1960-1974 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 194
- Weighted career value: 61
#10. Sheldon Richardson (DT) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 2013-2021 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 138
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 61
#9. Eric Wright (DB)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1981-1990 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 110
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 62
#7. James Wilder (RB) (tie)
- City: Sikeston
- Years played: 1981-1990 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 129
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 63
#7. Kellen Winslow (TE) (tie)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1979-1987 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 109
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 63
#6. Bryan Cox (LB)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1991-2002 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 165
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 67
#5. Ezekiel Elliott (RB)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 2016-2024 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 135
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 68
#4. Lawyer Milloy (DB)
- City: St. Louis
- Years played: 1996-2010 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 234
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 78
#3. Russ Washington (T)
- City: Kansas City
- Years played: 1968-1982 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 200
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- Weighted career value: 86
#2. Roger Wehrli (DB)
- City: New Point
- Years played: 1969-1982 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 193
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 91
#1. Justin Smith (DE)
- City: Jefferson City
- Years played: 2001-2014 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 221
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 101
