NFL players from SMU
75 NFL players came out of SMU. Here they all are, ranked the way The Chains ranks them, most recognizable first.
75
Players
4
Easy to name
Ball-knower
Best link
More SMU players suited up for the Dallas Cowboys than any other franchise (9).
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 Shakiel Randolph and the SMU link is rated Ball-knower (+400 bonus points). Some daily puzzles even require a SMU alum in your chain.
Play today's puzzleEasy to name
Common and Uncommon. The easiest answers from this school.
- Common
Eric Dickerson
RB · 1990–1993 · ATL, IND, RAI
- Common
Courtland Sutton
WR · 2018–2026 · DEN
- Common
Emmanuel Sanders
WR · 2010–2021 · BUF, DEN, NO, PIT, SF
- Uncommon
Josh McCown
QB · 2002–2019 · ARI, CAR, CHI, CLE, DET, NYJ +3
In the middle
Real answers, but not the first ones people think of.
- Rare
Rashee Rice
WR · 2023–2026 · KC
- Rare
Cole Beasley
WR · 2012–2022 · BUF, DAL, TB
- Rare
Kylen Granson
TE · 2021–2026 · IND, PHI, TEN
- Rare
Margus Hunt
DE · 2013–2021 · CHI, CIN, IND, NO
- Rare
Shane Buechele
QB · 2025 · KC
- Rare
Danny Gray
WR · 2022 · SF
- Rare
Brashard Smith
RB · 2025–2026 · KC
- Rare
Marcus Bryant
OL · 2025 · NE
- Rare
Matthew Hibner
TE · 2026 · BAL
- Rare
Aldrick Robinson
WR · 2011–2018 · ATL, MIN, SF, WAS
- Rare
Grant Calcaterra
TE · 2022–2025 · PHI
- Rare
Thomas Morstead
P · 2009–2025 · ATL, MIA, NO, NYJ, SF
- Rare
Rod Jones
DB · 1990–1996 · CIN
- Rare
Sterling Moore
DB · 2011–2017 · DAL, NE, NO, TB
- Rare
Wes Hopkins
DB · 1990–1993 · PHI
- Rare
Brandon Stephens
DB · 2021–2026 · BAL, NYJ
- Rare
Elijah Roberts
DL · 2025–2026 · TB
- Rare
Chris Banjo
FS · 2013–2022 · ARI, GB, NO
- Rare
David Richards
OL · 1990–1996 · ATL, DET, LAC, NE
- Rare
Ulysses Bentley IV
RB · 2025 · IND
- Rare
James Proche
WR · 2020–2025 · BAL, CLE, TEN
- Rare
Jack Brewer
FS · 2002–2005 · MIN, NYG, PHI
- Rare
Trey Quinn
WR · 2018–2020 · JAX, WAS
- Rare
Charles Woods
DB · 2024–2026 · NE, RAM
- Rare
Reggie Dupard
RB · 1990 · WAS
- Rare
Karon Riley
DL · 2001–2004 · ATL, CHI
- Rare
Kelvin Beachum
G · 2012–2025 · ARI, JAX, NYJ, PIT
- Rare
Elijah Chatman
DL · 2024–2025 · NYG
- Rare
Zach Line
FB · 2013–2019 · MIN, NO
- Rare
Ron Morris
WR · 1990–1992 · CHI
- Rare
Kenneth Acker
CB · 2015–2017 · KC, SF
- Rare
Jerry Ball
DL · 1990–1999 · CLE, DET, MIN, RAI
- Rare
Donald Mitchell
DB · 1999–2002 · TEN
- Rare
Evan Brown
OL · 2018–2026 · ARI, CLE, DET, HOU, MIA, NYG +1
- Rare
Dale Hellestrae
OL · 1990–2001 · BAL, DAL
- Rare
Coby Rhinehart
DB · 1999–2003 · ARI
- Rare
Gehrig Dieter
WR · 2018–2020 · KC
- Rare
Garrett Gilbert
QB · 2017–2022 · CAR, CLE, DAL, NE, WAS
- Rare
Cary Brabham
DB · 1994 · RAI
- Rare
Josh LeRibeus
G · 2012–2018 · NO, WAS
- Epic
Jaylon Thomas
OL · 2023 · NYG
- Epic
Trevor Denbow
DB · 2022–2024 · IND
- Epic
Bryan McCann
CB · 2010–2013 · ARI, BAL, DAL, MIA, RAI
- Epic
Harvey Armstrong
DL · 1990 · IND
- Epic
Mitchell Price
DB · 1990–1993 · ARI, CIN, RAM
- Epic
Chris Naggar
K · 2021 · CLE
- Epic
Jahfari Harvey
DL · 2025 · RAI
- Epic
Richard Bartel
QB · 2008–2011 · ARI, CLE, WAS
- Epic
Bill Jones
RB · 1990–1992 · KC
- Epic
Xavier Jones
RB · 2020 · RAM
- Epic
Taylor Thompson
TE · 2012–2014 · TEN
- Epic
Richard Crawford
CB · 2012–2016 · LAC, WAS
- Epic
Joe Phillips
DL · 1990–1999 · KC, LAC, MIN, RAM
- Epic
Lynn James
WR · 1990–1991 · CIN, CLE
- Epic
Justin Lawler
DL · 2018–2021 · RAM
- Epic
Marcello Simmons
DB · 1993–1994 · CIN
- Epic
Kevin Garrett
CB · 2003–2006 · HOU, RAM
- Epic
Justin Rogers
OLB · 2007–2009 · DAL, KC
- Epic
Zach Wood
DL · 2016–2026 · DAL, NO
- Epic
Chris Bordano
LB · 1998–2000 · ATL, NO
- Epic
Darius Johnson
WR · 2013 · ATL
- Epic
Delontae Scott
DL · 2021–2022 · PIT
- Epic
Ben Gottschalk
OL · 2016 · TB
- Epic
Ja'Gared Davis
LB · 2013–2014 · NE, WAS
- Epic
Mitch Willis
DL · 1990 · DAL
The rarest links
The players almost nobody names first, and the biggest bonus in a puzzle.
- Legendary
Vernon Edwards
DL · 1996 · LAC
- Legendary
Kevin Aldridge
DE · 2002 · TEN
- Legendary
Keylon Kincade
RB · 2006 · DAL
- Legendary
Horace Richardson
DB · 2018 · DEN
- Ball-knower
Albert Johnson
WR · 2001–2003 · MIA, NYJ
- Ball-knower
Shakiel Randolph
DB · 2016 · KC
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.