Best NFL players born in West 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 West Virginia.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in West 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 West Virginia have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#50. William Anderson (DB)
- City: Colliers
- Years played: 1975-1976
- Games played: 15
- Weighted career value: 3
#49. Michael Barber (WR)
- City: Winfield
- Years played: 1989-1992
- Games played: 41
- Weighted career value: 4
#46. Fulton Walker (DB) (tie)
- City: Martinsburg
- Years played: 1981-1986
- Games played: 81
- Weighted career value: 5
#46. Jason Starkey (C) (tie)
- City: Barboursville
- Years played: 2000-2003
- Games played: 34
- Weighted career value: 5
#46. Monte Crockett (HB) (tie)
- City: Talcott
- Years played: 1960-1962
- Games played: 40
- Weighted career value: 5
#39. Aaron Dobson (WR) (tie)
- City: Dunbar
- Years played: 2013-2015
- Games played: 24
- Weighted career value: 6
#39. Bobbie Howard (LB) (tie)
- City: Rand
- Years played: 2001-2003
- Games played: 35
- Weighted career value: 6
#39. C.J. Goodwin (DB) (tie)
- City: Wheeling
- Years played: 2016-2024
- Games played: 119
- Weighted career value: 6
#39. Gene Johnson (DB) (tie)
- City: Clay
- Years played: 1959-1961 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 30
- Weighted career value: 6
#39. Kelvin Kinney (DE) (tie)
- City: Montgomery
- Years played: 1997-1998
- Games played: 18
- Weighted career value: 6
#39. Rick Nuzum (C) (tie)
- City: Charleston
- Years played: 1977-1978
- Games played: 30
- Weighted career value: 6
#39. Zach Frazier (C) (tie)
- City: Fairmont
- Years played: 2024-2024
- Games played: 15
- Weighted career value: 6
#38. John Holland (WR)
- City: Beckley
- Years played: 1974-1977
- Games played: 38
- Weighted career value: 7
#35. Dante Stills (DT) (tie)
- City: Fairmont
- Years played: 2023-2024
- Games played: 31
- Weighted career value: 8
#35. Ed Holler (LB) (tie)
- City: Bluefield
- Years played: 1963-1964
- Games played: 15
- Weighted career value: 8
#35. Mike Ciccolella (MLB) (tie)
- City: Follansbee
- Years played: 1966-1968
- Games played: 35
- Weighted career value: 8
#34. Bob Simms (LB)
- City: Clendenin
- Years played: 1960-1962
- Games played: 31
- Weighted career value: 9
#33. Ikechuku Ndukwe (G)
- City: Morgantown
- Years played: 2006-2011
- Games played: 35
- Weighted career value: 10
#32. Joe Gilliam (QB)
- City: Charleston
- Years played: 1972-1975
- Games played: 20
- Weighted career value: 11
#31. Ron McCartney (LB)
- City: Charleston
- Years played: 1977-1979
- Games played: 45
- Weighted career value: 12
#30. Chris Massey (RB)
- City: Charleston
- Years played: 2002-2011
- Games played: 141
- Weighted career value: 13
#29. Darnell Wright (OL)
- City: Huntington
- Years played: 2023-2024 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 33
- Weighted career value: 14
#28. Darrion Scott (DE)
- City: Charleston
- Years played: 2004-2011 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 57
- Weighted career value: 15
#27. Nick Mumley (DE)
- City: Wheeling
- Years played: 1960-1962 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 42
- Weighted career value: 17
#26. Garry Lyle (DB)
- City: New Martinsville
- Years played: 1968-1974 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 84
- Weighted career value: 21
#25. Jim Schrader (C)
- City: Weston
- Years played: 1954-1964 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 116
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 22
#24. Alex Hawkins (HB)
- City: Welch
- Years played: 1959-1968 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 125
- Weighted career value: 24
#22. Don Nottingham (RB) (tie)
- City: Widen
- Years played: 1971-1977 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 98
- Weighted career value: 27
#22. Tom Beasley (DE) (tie)
- City: Bluefield
- Years played: 1978-1986 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 105
- Weighted career value: 27
#21. Shane Burton (DE)
- City: Logan
- Years played: 1996-2003 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 125
- Weighted career value: 30
#20. Mack Yoho (DE)
- City: Reader
- Years played: 1960-1963 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 56
- Weighted career value: 32
#19. Jimmy Carr (DB)
- City: Kayford
- Years played: 1955-1965 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 108
- Weighted career value: 33
#17. James Jett (WR) (tie)
- City: Charles Town
- Years played: 1993-2002 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 140
- Weighted career value: 34
#17. Larry Bowie (G) (tie)
- City: Pike
- Years played: 1962-1968 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 92
- Weighted career value: 34
#15. Buzz Nutter (C) (tie)
- City: Summersville
- Years played: 1954-1965 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 153
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 35
#15. Gary Jeter (DE) (tie)
- City: Weirton
- Years played: 1977-1989 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Weighted career value: 35
#14. John Reger (LB)
- City: Wheeling
- Years played: 1955-1966 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 144
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 42
#13. Tom Pridemore (DB)
- City: Oak Hill
- Years played: 1978-1985 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 121
- Weighted career value: 43
#12. Bernie Casey (FL)
- City: Wyco
- Years played: 1961-1968 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 105
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 53
#11. Rich Braham (C)
- City: Morgantown
- Years played: 1994-2006 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 146
- Weighted career value: 55
#10. Lonnie Warwick (LB)
- City: Raleigh
- Years played: 1965-1974 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 120
- Weighted career value: 58
#9. Gino Marchetti (DE)
- City: Smithers
- Years played: 1952-1966 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 161
- Pro Bowl selections: 11
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 7
- Weighted career value: 59
#8. Curt Warner (RB)
- City: Wyoming
- Years played: 1983-1990 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 100
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 60
#7. Dennis Harrah (G)
- City: Charleston
- Years played: 1975-1987 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 63
#6. Sam Huff (LB)
- City: Edna Gas
- Years played: 1956-1969 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 64
#5. Carl Lee (DB)
- City: South Charleston
- Years played: 1983-1994 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 181
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 69
#4. Charlie Cowan (T)
- City: Braeholm
- Years played: 1961-1975 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 206
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 72
#3. Rod Martin (LB)
- City: Welch
- Years played: 1977-1988 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 165
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 76
#2. Chuck Howley (LB)
- City: Wheeling
- Years played: 1958-1973 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 180
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 5
- Weighted career value: 94
#1. Randy Moss (WR)
- City: Rand
- Years played: 1998-2012 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 218
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 4
- Weighted career value: 124
