NFL players from Purdue
129 NFL players came out of Purdue. Here they all are, ranked the way The Chains ranks them, most recognizable first.
129
Players
17
Easy to name
Unicorn
Best link
More Purdue players suited up for the Indianapolis Colts 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 Jon Goldsberry and the Purdue link is rated Unicorn (+600 bonus points). Some daily puzzles even require a Purdue alum in your chain.
Play today's puzzleEasy to name
Common and Uncommon. The easiest answers from this school.
- Common
Drew Brees
QB · 2001–2020 · LAC, NO
- Common
Rod Woodson
DB · 1990–2003 · BAL, PIT, RAI, SF
- Common
Ryan Kerrigan
OLB · 2011–2021 · PHI, WAS
- Common
Mike Alstott
RB · 1996–2006 · TB
- Uncommon
Cliff Avril
DE · 2008–2017 · DET, SEA
- Uncommon
Bernard Pollard
SS · 2006–2014 · BAL, HOU, KC, TEN
- Uncommon
Shaun Phillips
OLB · 2004–2014 · DEN, IND, LAC, TEN
- Uncommon
Dillon Thieneman
DB · 2026 · CHI
- Uncommon
Rob Ninkovich
DE · 2006–2016 · MIA, NE, NO
- Uncommon
George Karlaftis
DL · 2022–2026 · KC
- Uncommon
Dustin Keller
TE · 2008–2012 · NYJ
- Uncommon
Rondale Moore
WR · 2021–2023 · ARI
- Uncommon
Anthony Spencer
OLB · 2007–2014 · DAL
- Uncommon
Rosevelt Colvin
LB · 1999–2008 · CHI, NE
- Uncommon
Akin Ayodele
OLB · 2002–2010 · BUF, DAL, JAX, MIA
- Uncommon
Kyle Orton
QB · 2005–2014 · BUF, CHI, DAL, DEN, KC
- Uncommon
Kawann Short
DT · 2013–2020 · CAR
In the middle
Real answers, but not the first ones people think of.
- Rare
Nic Scourton
LB · 2025 · CAR
- Rare
Chike Okeafor
LB · 1999–2009 · ARI, SEA, SF
- Rare
Raheem Mostert
RB · 2015–2025 · BAL, CHI, CLE, MIA, RAI, SF
- Rare
Ja'Whaun Bentley
LB · 2018–2024 · NE
- Rare
Jeff Zgonina
DL · 1993–2009 · ATL, CAR, HOU, IND, MIA, PIT +1
- Rare
Max Klare
TE · 2026 · RAM
- Rare
Tyrone Tracy Jr.
RB · 2024–2026 · NYG
- Rare
Derrick Barnes
LB · 2021–2026 · DET
- Rare
Jeff George
QB · 1990–2004 · ATL, CHI, IND, MIN, RAI, SEA +1
- Rare
Landon Johnson
OLB · 2004–2010 · CAR, CIN, DET
- Rare
Ray Edwards
DE · 2006–2012 · ATL, MIN
- Rare
Stuart Schweigert
FS · 2004–2008 · DET, RAI
- Rare
Jim Everett
QB · 1990–1997 · LAC, NO, RAM
- Rare
Keena Turner
LB · 1990 · SF
- Rare
Anthony Brown
DB · 2016–2023 · DAL, SF
- Rare
Ryan Russell
DE · 2016–2017 · TB
- Rare
Ricardo Allen
CB · 2014–2021 · ATL, CIN
- Rare
Mike Neal
DE · 2010–2015 · GB
- Rare
Jack Plummer
QB · 2024 · CAR
- Rare
David Bell
WR · 2022–2024 · CLE
- Rare
Aidan O'Connell
QB · 2023–2026 · RAI
- Rare
Matt Mitrione
DT · 2002 · NYG
- Rare
Ryan Grigson
OL · 1995 · DET
- Rare
Matt Light
OL · 2001–2011 · NE
- Rare
Mark Herrmann
QB · 1990–1992 · IND
- Rare
Niko Koutouvides
MLB · 2004–2012 · DEN, NE, SEA, TB
- Rare
Deion Burks
WR · 2026 · IND
- Rare
Marcus Mbow
OL · 2025–2026 · NYG
- Rare
Cris Dishman
DB · 1990–2000 · KC, MIN, TEN, WAS
- Rare
Cory Trice Jr.
DB · 2024 · PIT
- Rare
Danny Etling
QB · 2019–2021 · ATL, JAX
- Rare
Nick Hardwick
C · 2004–2013 · LAC
- Rare
Zander Horvath
RB · 2022 · LAC
- Rare
Calvin Williams
WR · 1990–1996 · BAL, PHI
- Rare
Jerrol Williams
LB · 1990–1996 · BAL, KC, LAC, PIT
- Rare
Mark Jackson
WR · 1990–1994 · DEN, IND, NYG
- Epic
Payne Durham
TE · 2023–2026 · TB
- Epic
Jacques Reeves
CB · 2004–2012 · DAL, HOU, KC
- Epic
Craig Terrill
DT · 2004–2010 · SEA
- Epic
David Blough
QB · 2019–2022 · ARI, DET
- Epic
Gilbert Gardner
OLB · 2004–2008 · CHI, DET, IND, TEN
- Epic
Curtis Painter
QB · 2009–2013 · IND, NYG
- Epic
Michael Hawthorne
DB · 2000–2005 · GB, NO, RAM
- Epic
Jim Schwantz
LB · 1992–1998 · CHI, DAL, SF
- Epic
Brycen Hopkins
TE · 2020–2023 · RAM
- Epic
Mel Gray
RB · 1990–1997 · DET, PHI, TEN
- Epic
Scott Conover
OL · 1991–1996 · DET
- Epic
Uche Nwaneri
G · 2007–2013 · JAX
- Epic
Dennis Kelly
T · 2012–2023 · GB, IND, NYJ, PHI, TEN
- Epic
Sanoussi Kane
DB · 2024–2025 · BAL, TEN
- Epic
Markus Bailey
LB · 2020–2024 · ARI, CIN
- Epic
Jordan Roos
OL · 2017–2022 · SEA, TEN
- Epic
Kory Sheets
RB · 2009 · MIA
- Epic
Chukie Nwokorie
DL · 1999–2003 · GB, IND
- Epic
Travis Dorsch
K · 2002 · CIN
- Epic
Joe Odom
OLB · 2003–2005 · CHI
- Epic
Akeem Hunt
RB · 2015–2017 · HOU, KC
- Epic
Jermaine Ross
WR · 1994–1998 · JAX, RAM
- Epic
Scott Campbell
QB · 1990 · ATL
- Epic
Kelly Butler
T · 2004–2006 · CLE, DET
- Epic
Vinny Sutherland
WR · 2001–2002 · CHI, SF
- Epic
John Standeford
WR · 2006–2009 · DET, IND
- Epic
Chukky Okobi
OL · 2001–2006 · PIT
- Epic
Fred Strickland
LB · 1990–1999 · DAL, GB, MIN, RAM, WAS
- Epic
Brandon Gorin
OL · 2001–2009 · ARI, DEN, LAC, NE, RAM
- Epic
Kevin Pamphile
T · 2014–2019 · TB, TEN
- Epic
Bill Hitchcock
OL · 1991–1994 · SEA
- Epic
Brent Hawkins
DE · 2006–2007 · JAX
- Epic
Alex Magee
DE · 2009–2010 · KC, TB
- Epic
Reese Taylor
DB · 2024–2026 · DEN, MIA
- Epic
Josh Johnson
DB · 2016 · JAX
- Epic
Jalen Graham
LB · 2023–2026 · SF
- Epic
Brandon King
FS · 2010–2011 · IND
- Epic
Lonnie Palelei
OL · 1993–1999 · CLE, NYG, NYJ, PHI, PIT
- Epic
Shawn McCarthy
SPEC · 1991–1992 · NE
- Epic
Kyle Adams
FB · 2011–2013 · CHI, TB
- Epic
Mark Fischer
OL · 1998–2001 · WAS
- Epic
Stanford Keglar
OLB · 2008–2010 · HOU, TEN
- Epic
DaMarcus Mitchell
DL · 2022 · NE
- Epic
Steve Jackson
DB · 1991–1999 · TEN
- Epic
Charlie Jones
WR · 2023–2026 · CIN, NYG
- Epic
Michael Otto
T · 2008–2013 · TEN
- Epic
Jeff Hill
WR · 1994–1996 · CIN
- Epic
Brian Alford
WR · 1998–1999 · NYG
- Epic
Gene Mruczkowski
C · 2004–2007 · MIA, NE
- Epic
Ian Allen
T · 2002–2004 · NYG, PHI
- Epic
Ryan Baker
DE · 2009–2011 · MIA
- Epic
Tyler Coyle
DB · 2021–2022 · DAL
- Legendary
Branson Deen
DL · 2024 · BUF
- Legendary
Austin Larkin
DL · 2019–2020 · ATL, CAR
- Legendary
Grant Hermanns
OL · 2022 · NYJ
- Legendary
David Steinmetz
OL · 2020–2021 · WAS
- Legendary
Bruce Gaston
DT · 2014–2016 · ARI, CHI, GB, LAC, MIA
- Legendary
Tony Vinson
RB · 1997–1999 · BAL
- Legendary
Isaac Jones
WR · 1999–2000 · IND
- Legendary
John Reeves
LB · 1999–2000 · LAC
- Legendary
Jon Blackman
TE · 1998 · IND
- Ball-knower
Pat Johnson
DB · 1995 · MIA
- Ball-knower
Joey Harris
RB · 2004 · CAR
- Ball-knower
Edwin Watson
RB · 1998–1999 · GB, PHI
- Ball-knower
Mark Brown
LB · 1990–1991 · DET
- Ball-knower
Chris Sedoris
OL · 1996 · WAS
- Ball-knower
David Nugent
DL · 2000–2002 · BAL, NE
The rarest links
The players almost nobody names first, and the biggest bonus in a puzzle.
- Ball-knower
Gabe Holmes
TE · 2015–2018 · ARI, RAI
- Ball-knower
David Pender
DB · 2010 · IND
- Ball-knower
Randall Lane
WR · 2000 · ARI
- Unicorn
Frankie Williams
DB · 2016 · IND
- Unicorn
Pat Snyder
OL · 1991 · IND
- Unicorn
Pete Lougheed
T · 2004 · CIN
- Unicorn
Derrick Kelson
DB · 1991 · LAC
- Unicorn
Chris Daniels
WR · 2000 · TB
- Unicorn
Jon Goldsberry
FB · 2005 · BUF
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.