NFL players from Akron
28 NFL players came out of Akron. Here they all are, ranked the way The Chains ranks them, most recognizable first.
28
Players
10
Easy to name
Legendary
Best link
More Akron players suited up for the New York Jets than any other franchise (6).
How this plays in The Chains
A shared college is a link, just like a shared team, and every link is scored by how unlikely it was that a fan would name it. Connect two players through Malcolm DeWalt IV and the Akron link is rated Legendary (+250 bonus points). Some daily puzzles even require a Akron alum in your chain.
Play today's puzzleEasy to name
Common and Uncommon. The easiest answers from this school.
- Common
Jason Taylor
DL · 1997–2011 · MIA, NYJ, WAS
- Uncommon
Dwight Smith
DB · 2001–2008 · DET, MIN, NO, TB
- Uncommon
Chase Blackburn
MLB · 2005–2014 · CAR, NYG
- Uncommon
Domenik Hixon
WR · 2007–2013 · CAR, DEN, NYG
- Uncommon
Charlie Frye
QB · 2005–2009 · CLE, RAI, SEA
- Uncommon
Victor Green
DB · 1993–2003 · NE, NO, NYJ
- Uncommon
Konata Mumpfield
WR · 2025–2026 · RAM
- Uncommon
Jatavis Brown
LB · 2016–2019 · LAC
- Uncommon
Matt Cherry
WR · 2004 · CIN
- Uncommon
Reggie Corner
CB · 2008–2011 · BUF
In the middle
Real answers, but not the first ones people think of.
- Rare
Andy Alleman
G · 2007–2009 · KC, MIA, NO
- Rare
Jake Schifino
WR · 2003 · TEN
- Rare
Justin March
LB · 2016–2021 · DAL, KC, MIA, NO, SEA, SF
- Rare
JoJo Natson
WR · 2017–2021 · CLE, NYJ, RAM
- Rare
Ulysees Gilbert
LB · 2019–2022 · PIT, TB
- Rare
Isaiah Williams
OL · 2017–2021 · IND, NYJ, SF
- Rare
Jamal Davis
LB · 2019 · MIA
- Rare
Jarrod Pughsley
G · 2015–2016 · KC
- Rare
Cap Capi
DL · 2016–2017 · ATL, BUF, NYG
- Rare
Kyron Brown
DB · 2019–2021 · DAL, NYJ
- Epic
Shawn Vincent
DB · 1991–1992 · PIT
- Epic
John Buddenberg
OL · 1992 · ATL
- Epic
Rodney Coe
DL · 2016–2017 · DAL, DET, SEA
- Epic
Louis Mackey
LB · 2001–2002 · DAL
- Epic
Ryan Myers
OLB · 2005–2006 · NYJ
The rarest links
The players almost nobody names first, and the biggest bonus in a puzzle.
- Epic
Jamie Reader
RB · 2001 · PHI
- Epic
Konrad Dean
G · 2002 · SEA
- Legendary
Malcolm DeWalt IV
DB · 2026 · ATL
Players who attended more than one school appear on each school's page. Team lists count franchises, so earlier cities and names are included (Raiders in Oakland, Rams in St. Louis). Rarity tiers come from the same scoring The Chains uses in its daily puzzles.