Best NFL players born in Virginia
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 Virginia.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in Virginia. 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 Virginia have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#50. Mike Compton (G)
- City: Richlands
- Years played: 1993-2004 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 151
- Weighted career value: 51
#49. Robert Jones (LB)
- City: Blackstone
- Years played: 1992-2001 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 151
- Weighted career value: 53
#45. Ahmad Brooks (MLB) (tie)
- City: Fairfax
- Years played: 2006-2017 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 145
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 54
#45. Chris Slade (LB) (tie)
- City: Newport News
- Years played: 1993-2001 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 142
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 54
#45. Dre' Bly (DB) (tie)
- City: Chesapeake
- Years played: 1999-2009 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 167
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 54
#45. Michael McCrary (DE) (tie)
- City: Vienna
- Years played: 1993-2002 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 136
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 54
#43. Rosey Brown (T) (tie)
- City: Charlottesville
- Years played: 1953-1965 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 162
- Pro Bowl selections: 9
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 6
- Weighted career value: 55
#43. Sonny Randle (E) (tie)
- City: Cohasset
- Years played: 1959-1968 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 122
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 55
#42. Al Toon (WR)
- City: Newport News
- Years played: 1985-1992 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 107
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 56
#41. Tremaine Edmunds (ILB)
- City: Danville
- Years played: 2018-2024 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 106
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 57
#39. Morgan Moses (T) (tie)
- City: Richmond
- Years played: 2014-2024 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 166
- Weighted career value: 58
#39. Shawn Springs (DB) (tie)
- City: Williamsburg
- Years played: 1997-2009 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 169
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 58
#37. Damien Woody (C) (tie)
- City: Beaverdam
- Years played: 1999-2010 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 173
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 59
#37. Earl Faison (DE) (tie)
- City: Newport News
- Years played: 1961-1966 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 73
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 4
- Weighted career value: 59
#35. Jamie Sharper (LB) (tie)
- City: Richmond
- Years played: 1997-2005 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 136
- Weighted career value: 60
#35. Justin Simmons (FS) (tie)
- City: Manassas
- Years played: 2016-2024 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 134
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 60
#32. DeAngelo Hall (DB) (tie)
- City: Chesapeake
- Years played: 2004-2017 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 171
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 61
#32. Ken Willard (RB) (tie)
- City: Richmond
- Years played: 1965-1974 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 132
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 61
#32. Randy Starks (DT) (tie)
- City: Petersburg
- Years played: 2004-2015 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 186
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 61
#29. Jermon Bushrod (T) (tie)
- City: Fredericksburg
- Years played: 2007-2018 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 145
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 62
#29. Robert Pratt (G) (tie)
- City: Richmond
- Years played: 1974-1985 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 170
- Weighted career value: 62
#29. Thomas Jones (RB) (tie)
- City: Big Stone Gap
- Years played: 2000-2011 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 180
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 62
#28. Dwight White (DE)
- City: Hampton
- Years played: 1971-1980 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 126
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 63
#27. Kenny Easley (DB)
- City: Chesapeake
- Years played: 1981-1987 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 89
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 65
#26. Aaron Brooks (QB)
- City: Newport News
- Years played: 2000-2006 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 93
- Weighted career value: 66
#25. Herbert Scott (G)
- City: Virginia Beach
- Years played: 1975-1984 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 140
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 68
#23. Carroll Dale (WR) (tie)
- City: Wise
- Years played: 1960-1973 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 189
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 70
#23. Plaxico Burress (WR) (tie)
- City: Norfolk
- Years played: 2000-2012 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 148
- Weighted career value: 70
#21. Charlie Garner (RB) (tie)
- City: Fairfax
- Years played: 1994-2004 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 147
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 71
#21. Larry Brooks (DT) (tie)
- City: Prince George
- Years played: 1972-1982 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 131
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 71
#20. Mike Wilson (T)
- City: Norfolk
- Years played: 1978-1989 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 174
- Weighted career value: 73
#19. William Fuller (DE)
- City: Norfolk
- Years played: 1986-1998 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 194
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 75
#18. Carl Hairston (DE)
- City: Martinsville
- Years played: 1976-1990 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 224
- Weighted career value: 76
#17. Herman Moore (WR)
- City: Danville
- Years played: 1991-2002 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 146
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 78
#16. Charles Haley (DE)
- City: Gladys
- Years played: 1986-1999 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 169
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 81
#15. Roger Brown (DT)
- City: Surrey County
- Years played: 1960-1969 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 138
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 82
#14. Gary Clark (WR)
- City: Radford
- Years played: 1985-1995 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 167
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 83
#13. Bob Baumhower (NT)
- City: Portsmouth
- Years played: 1977-1986 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 130
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 85
#12. Willie Lanier (LB)
- City: Clover
- Years played: 1967-1977 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 149
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 86
#11. Norm Snead (QB)
- City: Halifax County
- Years played: 1961-1976 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 178
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 87
#10. Darren Sharper (DB)
- City: Richmond
- Years played: 1997-2010 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 205
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 89
#9. Duane Brown (LT)
- City: Richmond
- Years played: 2008-2023 (15 years as starter)
- Games played: 220
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 91
#8. Michael Vick (QB)
- City: Newport News
- Years played: 2001-2015 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 143
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 92
#6. Henry Jordan (DT) (tie)
- City: Emporia
- Years played: 1957-1969 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 163
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 5
- Weighted career value: 95
#6. James Farrior (LB) (tie)
- City: Ettrick
- Years played: 1997-2011 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 230
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 95
#5. Tiki Barber (RB)
- City: Roanoke
- Years played: 1997-2006 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 154
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 103
#4. Ronde Barber (DB)
- City: Roanoke
- Years played: 1997-2012 (15 years as starter)
- Games played: 241
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 109
#3. Lawrence Taylor (LB)
- City: Williamsburg
- Years played: 1981-1993 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 184
- Pro Bowl selections: 10
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 8
- Weighted career value: 146
#2. Fran Tarkenton (QB)
- City: Richmond
- Years played: 1961-1978 (18 years as starter)
- Games played: 246
- Pro Bowl selections: 9
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 148
#1. Bruce Smith (DE)
- City: Norfolk
- Years played: 1985-2003 (18 years as starter)
- Games played: 279
- Pro Bowl selections: 11
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 8
- Weighted career value: 152
