Best NFL players born in New Jersey
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 New Jersey.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in New Jersey. 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 New Jersey have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#50. Milt Plum (QB)
- City: Westville
- Years played: 1957-1969 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 129
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 53
#44. Jim Jeffcoat (DE) (tie)
- City: Cliffwood
- Years played: 1983-1997 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 227
- Weighted career value: 57
#44. Jim McMahon (QB) (tie)
- City: Jersey City
- Years played: 1982-1996 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 119
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 57
#44. John Taylor (WR) (tie)
- City: Pennsauken
- Years played: 1987-1995 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 121
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 57
#44. Mike Adams (DB) (tie)
- City: Paterson
- Years played: 2004-2019 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 228
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 57
#44. Tony Siragusa (DT) (tie)
- City: Kenilworth
- Years played: 1990-2001 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 169
- Weighted career value: 57
#44. Wayne Chrebet (WR) (tie)
- City: Garfield
- Years played: 1995-2005 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 152
- Weighted career value: 57
#41. Herm Edwards (DB) (tie)
- City: Fort Monmouth
- Years played: 1977-1986 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 142
- Weighted career value: 58
#41. Minkah Fitzpatrick (FS) (tie)
- City: Old Bridge
- Years played: 2018-2024 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 106
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 58
#41. Muhammad Wilkerson (DT) (tie)
- City: Linden
- Years played: 2011-2018 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 108
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 58
#39. Greg Olsen (TE) (tie)
- City: Paterson
- Years played: 2007-2020 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 199
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 60
#39. Neil O'Donnell (QB) (tie)
- City: Madison
- Years played: 1991-2003 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 125
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 60
#38. Dwight Hicks (DB)
- City: Mount Holly
- Years played: 1979-1986 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 105
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 61
#34. David Garrard (QB) (tie)
- City: East Orange
- Years played: 2002-2010 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 86
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 62
#34. Jim Kiick (RB) (tie)
- City: Lincoln Park
- Years played: 1968-1977 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 115
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 62
#34. Kareem McKenzie (T) (tie)
- City: Willingboro
- Years played: 2001-2011 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 161
- Weighted career value: 62
#34. Richie Incognito (G) (tie)
- City: Englewood
- Years played: 2006-2020 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 164
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 62
#33. Stan Walters (T)
- City: Rutherford
- Years played: 1972-1983 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 153
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 63
#31. Bryant McKinnie (T) (tie)
- City: Woodbury
- Years played: 2002-2013 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 179
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 64
#31. Larry Hand (DE) (tie)
- City: Paterson
- Years played: 1965-1977 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 164
- Weighted career value: 64
#27. Dion Dawkins (LT) (tie)
- City: Avenel
- Years played: 2017-2024 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 128
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 66
#27. Frank Winters (C) (tie)
- City: Hoboken
- Years played: 1987-2002 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 231
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 66
#27. Mark Ingram (RB) (tie)
- City: Hackensack
- Years played: 2011-2022 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 156
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 66
#27. Phil Villapiano (LB) (tie)
- City: Long Branch
- Years played: 1971-1983 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 163
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 66
#25. Kevin Ross (DB) (tie)
- City: Camden
- Years played: 1984-1997 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 204
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 67
#25. Patrick Kerney (DE) (tie)
- City: Trenton
- Years played: 1999-2009 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 159
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 67
#24. Malcolm Jenkins (DB)
- City: East Orange
- Years played: 2009-2021 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 199
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 68
#23. Quenton Nelson (G)
- City: Holmdel
- Years played: 2018-2024 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 112
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 69
#22. Dave Szott (G)
- City: Passaic
- Years played: 1990-2003 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 177
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 70
#21. Keith Hamilton (DT)
- City: Paterson
- Years played: 1992-2003 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 173
- Weighted career value: 71
#19. Art Still (DE) (tie)
- City: Camden
- Years played: 1978-1989 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 167
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 74
#19. Elvin Bethea (DE) (tie)
- City: Trenton
- Years played: 1968-1983 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 210
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- Weighted career value: 74
#17. Bob DeMarco (C) (tie)
- City: Jersey City
- Years played: 1961-1975 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 185
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 75
#17. Chris Snee (G) (tie)
- City: Edison
- Years played: 2004-2013 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 141
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 75
#16. LeRoy Irvin (DB)
- City: Fort Dix
- Years played: 1980-1990 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 159
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 76
#13. Deron Cherry (DB) (tie)
- City: Riverside
- Years played: 1981-1991 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 148
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 78
#13. Drew Pearson (WR) (tie)
- City: South River
- Years played: 1973-1983 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 156
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 78
#13. Ruben Brown (G) (tie)
- City: Englewood
- Years played: 1995-2007 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 181
- Pro Bowl selections: 9
- Weighted career value: 78
#10. Irving Fryar (WR) (tie)
- City: Mount Holly
- Years played: 1984-2000 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 255
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- Weighted career value: 80
#10. Jeff Van Note (C) (tie)
- City: South Orange
- Years played: 1969-1986 (16 years as starter)
- Games played: 246
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- Weighted career value: 80
#10. Jim Ringo (C) (tie)
- City: Orange
- Years played: 1953-1967 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 187
- Pro Bowl selections: 10
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 6
- Weighted career value: 80
#9. Joe Fields (C)
- City: Woodbury
- Years played: 1975-1988 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 186
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 81
#8. Rob Burnett (DE)
- City: East Orange
- Years played: 1990-2003 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 202
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 82
#7. Dave Robinson (LB)
- City: Mount Holly
- Years played: 1963-1974 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 155
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 83
#5. Joe Theismann (QB) (tie)
- City: New Brunswick
- Years played: 1974-1985 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 167
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 89
#5. Lydell Mitchell (RB) (tie)
- City: Salem
- Years played: 1972-1980 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 111
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 89
#4. Troy Vincent (DB)
- City: Trenton
- Years played: 1992-2006 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 207
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 90
#3. Joe Flacco (QB)
- City: Voorhees
- Years played: 2008-2024 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 196
- Weighted career value: 96
#2. Sam Mills (LB)
- City: Neptune
- Years played: 1986-1997 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 181
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 102
#1. Franco Harris (RB)
- City: Fort Dix
- Years played: 1972-1984 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 173
- Pro Bowl selections: 9
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 103
