NFL players from Illinois
148 NFL players came out of Illinois. Here they all are, ranked the way The Chains ranks them, most recognizable first.
148
Players
13
Easy to name
Unicorn
Best link
More Illinois players suited up for the Washington Commanders than any other franchise (17).
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 Josh Whitman and the Illinois link is rated Unicorn (+600 bonus points). Some daily puzzles even require a Illinois alum in your chain.
Play today's puzzleEasy to name
Common and Uncommon. The easiest answers from this school.
- Common
Simeon Rice
DL · 1996–2007 · ARI, DEN, IND, TB
- Common
Vontae Davis
CB · 2009–2018 · BUF, IND, MIA
- Common
Whitney Mercilus
OLB · 2012–2021 · GB, HOU
- Uncommon
Kevin Hardy
LB · 1996–2004 · CIN, DAL, JAX
- Uncommon
Rashard Mendenhall
RB · 2008–2013 · ARI, PIT
- Uncommon
Brandon Lloyd
WR · 2003–2014 · CHI, DEN, NE, RAM, SF, WAS
- Uncommon
Kelvin Hayden
CB · 2005–2012 · ATL, CHI, IND
- Uncommon
Devon Witherspoon
DB · 2023–2026 · SEA
- Uncommon
Tony Eason
QB · 1990 · NYJ
- Uncommon
Corey Liuget
DE · 2011–2020 · BUF, HOU, LAC, RAI
- Uncommon
Eugene Wilson
FS · 2003–2010 · HOU, NE
- Uncommon
Jihad Ward
DL · 2016–2026 · BAL, IND, JAX, MIN, NYG, RAI +1
- Uncommon
Ken Dilger
TE · 1995–2004 · IND, TB
In the middle
Real answers, but not the first ones people think of.
- Rare
Kerby Joseph
DB · 2022–2025 · DET
- Rare
Dawuane Smoot
DL · 2017–2025 · BUF, JAX
- Rare
Tavon Wilson
SS · 2012–2021 · DET, IND, NE, SF
- Rare
Gabe Jacas
LB · 2026 · NE
- Rare
Chase Brown
RB · 2023–2026 · CIN
- Rare
Pat Bryant
WR · 2025–2026 · DEN
- Rare
Greg Lewis
WR · 2003–2010 · MIN, PHI
- Rare
Pierre Thomas
RB · 2007–2016 · NO, SF, WAS
- Rare
Quan Martin
DB · 2023–2026 · WAS
- Rare
Jeff George
QB · 1990–2004 · ATL, CHI, IND, MIN, RAI, SEA +1
- Rare
Jer'Zhan Newton
DL · 2024–2025 · WAS
- Rare
Sydney Brown
DB · 2023–2026 · ATL, PHI
- Rare
Nate Hobbs
DB · 2021–2025 · GB, RAI
- Rare
Arrelious Benn
WR · 2010–2017 · JAX, TB
- Rare
Robert Holcombe
RB · 1998–2004 · RAM, TEN
- Rare
Danny Clark
LB · 2000–2010 · HOU, JAX, NO, NYG, RAI
- Rare
Akeem Spence
DT · 2013–2022 · DET, JAX, MIA, NE, PHI, SF +2
- Rare
Henry Jones
DB · 1991–2002 · ATL, BUF, MIN
- Rare
Michael Hoomanawanui
TE · 2010–2017 · NE, NO, RAM
- Rare
Alan Ball
DB · 2007–2016 · ARI, CHI, DAL, HOU, JAX
- Rare
Ken Blackman
OL · 1996–1999 · CIN, TB
- Rare
Jack Trudeau
QB · 1990–1995 · CAR, IND, NYJ
- Rare
Bryce Baringer
P · 2023–2025 · NE
- Rare
A.J. Jenkins
WR · 2012–2014 · KC, SF
- Rare
John Holecek
LB · 1995–2002 · ATL, BUF, LAC
- Rare
Mikel Leshoure
RB · 2012–2013 · DET
- Rare
Brad Hopkins
OL · 1993–2005 · TEN
- Rare
Isaiah Adams
OL · 2024–2026 · ARI
- Rare
Hardy Nickerson
LB · 2017–2021 · CIN, HOU, MIN
- Rare
Keith Taylor
DB · 1990–1996 · IND, NO, WAS
- Rare
Tip Reiman
TE · 2024–2025 · ARI
- Rare
Ke'Shawn Vaughn
RB · 2020–2024 · SF, TB
- Rare
Geronimo Allison
WR · 2016–2021 · DET, GB
- Epic
Jeff Cumberland
TE · 2010–2017 · LAC, NYJ
- Epic
Neil Rackers
SPEC · 2000–2011 · ARI, CIN, HOU
- Epic
Casey Washington
WR · 2024–2025 · ATL
- Epic
Chase McLaughlin
K · 2019–2026 · CLE, IND, JAX, LAC, NYJ, SF +1
- Epic
David Diehl
T · 2003–2013 · NYG
- Epic
Kendrick Green
OL · 2021–2025 · BUF, CLE, HOU, PIT
- Epic
Steve Weatherford
P · 2006–2015 · JAX, KC, NO, NYG, NYJ
- Epic
Walt Aikens
SS · 2014–2019 · MIA
- Epic
Tommy DeVito
QB · 2023–2026 · NE, NYG
- Epic
African Grant
DB · 1990 · MIA
- Epic
Kurt Kittner
QB · 2002–2003 · ATL
- Epic
Moe Gardner
DL · 1991–1996 · ATL
- Epic
Scott Studwell
LB · 1990 · MIN
- Epic
Jake Kumerow
WR · 2016–2022 · BUF, CIN, GB
- Epic
Jeff Allen
G · 2012–2019 · HOU, KC
- Epic
Jake Hansen
LB · 2022–2026 · HOU
- Epic
Jameel Cook
RB · 2001–2008 · HOU, TB
- Epic
Del'Shawn Phillips
LB · 2020–2026 · BAL, BUF, HOU, LAC, NYJ
- Epic
Clayton Fejedelem
DB · 2016–2022 · CIN, MIA
- Epic
Justin Hardee
DB · 2017–2024 · NO, NYJ, TEN
- Epic
Johnny Johnson
QB · 1996 · DET
- Epic
Doug Kramer
OL · 2023–2024 · CHI
- Epic
Darrick Brownlow
LB · 1991–1996 · DAL, TB, WAS
- Epic
Mike Bellamy
WR · 1990 · PHI
- Epic
Malik Turner
WR · 2018–2026 · DAL, SEA, SF
- Epic
Martez Wilson
OLB · 2011–2013 · DAL, NO, RAI
- Epic
Josh Brent
NT · 2010–2014 · DAL
- Epic
Ted Karras
OL · 2016–2026 · CIN, MIA, NE
- Epic
Fred Wakefield
DL · 2001–2008 · ARI, RAI
- Epic
Howard Griffith
RB · 1993–2001 · CAR, DEN, RAM
- Epic
Matt LaCosse
TE · 2015–2021 · DEN, NE, NYG
- Epic
Vederian Lowe
OL · 2022–2026 · MIN, NE, SF
- Epic
Tony Pashos
T · 2004–2013 · BAL, CLE, JAX, RAI, SF
- Epic
Dana Howard
LB · 1995–1996 · CHI, RAM
- Epic
Mel Agee
DL · 1991–1995 · ATL, IND
- Epic
Cap Boso
TE · 1990–1991 · CHI
- Epic
Mark Dennis
OL · 1990–1996 · CAR, CIN, MIA
- Epic
Chris Green
DB · 1991–1995 · BUF, MIA
- Epic
Brian Schaefering
NT · 2009–2012 · CLE, DAL
- Epic
Ed Brady
LB · 1990–1995 · CIN, TB
- Epic
Nick Allegretti
OL · 2019–2026 · KC, WAS
- Epic
Tony Adams
DB · 2022–2026 · NYJ, TEN
- Epic
Jon Asamoah
G · 2010–2014 · ATL, KC
- Epic
Tanner Arkin
TE · 2026 · NE
- Epic
Adam Lingner
OL · 1990–1995 · BUF
- Epic
Aaron Moorehead
WR · 2003–2007 · IND
- Epic
Alex Palczewski
OL · 2023–2026 · DEN
- Epic
Duke Preston
G · 2005–2009 · BUF, DAL
- Epic
Jeremy Leman
LB · 2009 · MIN
- Epic
Carey Davis
RB · 2004–2009 · IND, PIT
- Epic
Marcus Mason
RB · 2009 · WAS
- Epic
Greg Engel
OL · 1994–1999 · DET, LAC
- Epic
Glenn Foster
DE · 2013–2014 · NO
- Epic
Frank Hartley
TE · 1994–1998 · BAL, CLE, LAC
- Epic
Jim Juriga
OL · 1990–1991 · DEN
- Epic
Josh Ferguson
RB · 2016–2019 · IND, WAS
- Epic
Christian DiLauro
OL · 2021–2022 · DEN, TEN
- Epic
Mike Piel
DL · 1990–1992 · RAM
- Epic
Matt Cushing
TE · 1999–2004 · PIT
- Epic
Jay Prosch
FB · 2014–2017 · HOU
- Epic
Joseph Morgan
WR · 2012–2014 · NO
- Epic
Isaiah Williams
WR · 2024–2026 · CIN, DET, NYJ
- Epic
Brandon Moore
G · 2003–2012 · NYJ
- Epic
Nathan Hodel
OL · 2001–2008 · ARI
- Epic
Marques Sullivan
OL · 2001–2003 · BUF
- Epic
James Thompson Jr.
DL · 2026 · SF
- Epic
Justin Green
DB · 2013 · NE
- Epic
Hugh Thornton
G · 2013–2015 · IND
- Epic
J.P. Machado
OL · 1999–2003 · NYJ
- Epic
Scott Turner
DB · 1995–2003 · DEN, LAC, WAS
- Epic
Brit Miller
RB · 2009–2012 · RAM, SF
- Epic
Michael Buchanan
DE · 2013–2014 · NE
- Epic
Will Davis
OLB · 2009–2010 · ARI
- Epic
Milo Eifler
LB · 2021–2024 · ARI, ATL, WAS
- Legendary
Jason Davis
FB · 2008 · CHI, RAI
- Legendary
James Crawford
LB · 2018–2019 · GB, MIA
- Legendary
Christian Morton
DB · 2004–2006 · ATL, CAR, WAS
- Legendary
Matt Sinclair
LB · 2007 · WAS
- Legendary
Walter Young
WR · 2003–2006 · CAR, PIT
- Legendary
Brock Bolen
RB · 2009–2011 · JAX
- Legendary
Ryan Schau
OL · 1999–2002 · HOU, PHI
- Legendary
Sean Bubin
T · 2004 · DET
- Legendary
Sean Bennett
RB · 1999–2002 · NYG
- Legendary
Derek Walker
DE · 2009 · SEA, SF
- Legendary
Roderick Perry II
DL · 2022 · CLE
- Legendary
Tim Simpson
OL · 1994 · PIT
- Legendary
Dennis Stallings
LB · 1997–1999 · TEN
- Legendary
Filmel Johnson
DB · 1994–1995 · BUF
- Legendary
Garrett Johnson
DL · 2000 · NE
- Legendary
Houston Bates
LB · 2015–2016 · WAS
- Ball-knower
Justin Staples
LB · 2014–2016 · TEN
- Ball-knower
Michael Young
LB · 2001–2003 · ARI
The rarest links
The players almost nobody names first, and the biggest bonus in a puzzle.
- Ball-knower
Elbert Turner
WR · 1992–1993 · CIN
- Ball-knower
Carroll Phillips
DL · 2017–2019 · IND, JAX, WAS
- Ball-knower
Derek Allen
OL · 1995 · NYG
- Ball-knower
Cyron Brown
DL · 1998–2000 · DEN
- Ball-knower
Gimel President
LB · 2017 · HOU
- Ball-knower
Chunky Clements
DL · 2017 · HOU
- Unicorn
J.C. Davis
OL · 2026 · NYG
- Unicorn
Ty Douthard
RB · 1997 · CIN
- Unicorn
TeRah Edwards
DL · 2026 · CAR
- Unicorn
Josh Whitman
TE · 2001 · LAC
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.