The Top 10 NFL Athletes Born in Florida (2024)

By Keith Mado July 11, 2024 03:53

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Florida became king of sending talent to NFL training camps, which included some all-time greats. This, in turn, is where we get down to the nitty-gritty detailing ten total players from right here on good ol' homegrown Floridian soil who are now or will soon go down as some of the Greatest of All Time.

1. Emmitt Smith

• Full Name: Emmitt Smith
• Position Played: Running Back
• Teams played for: Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals

Emmitt Smith was born in Pensacola, Florida, the birthplace of most outstanding athletes. He quickly became an exceptional football player in a very brief amount of time. He went on to star at the University of Florida and was then taken by the Dallas Cowboys in 1990.

Smith retired with 18,355 rushing yards, the most in NFL history. He also owns the career mark for touchdowns scored rushing with 164. Smith won the NFL rushing title four times, was named to the Pro Bowl eight straight years, and earned league MVP honors in 1993. He appeared in both of the Cowboys' back-to-back Super Bowl victories, 1993 and 1994.

2. Jack Youngblood

• Full Name: Jack Youngblood
• Position: Defensive End
• Teams played for: Los Angeles Rams

Jack Youngblood, fromJacksonville, Florida, is a defensive end who wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks for the Los Angeles Rams. The Hall of Famer played 14 seasons with the Rams, making seven Pro Bowls and getting inducted into Canton in 2001.

The Defensive End never missed a game with an injury. Due to his implacable stamina, he was dubbed Hercules. He played a vital role in the Rams' making it to Super Bowl XIV, which showed how good he was.

As a player, Youngblood earned respect from teammates and opponents with his toughness and unwavering approach to the game. His hall-of-fame career in the NFL proves his never-give-up attitude and table-to-table skills.

3. Wilber Marshall

• Full Name: Wilber Marshall
• Position Played: Linebacker
• Teams played for: Chicago Bears

Joe Washington, RB who played for the Chicago Bears during three separate stints during a 14-year NFL career that spanned from 1976 to '89.

Born in Titusville, Florida, Wilber Marshall's real story is as a ferocious NFL linebacker. He bounced around the league throughout his career as a defender, planting an imprint on multiple rosters through excellent defensive play.

Marshall was an integral part of both the Bears Super Bowl XX win & Redskins' Super Bowl SFII victory. The ability to have three Pro Bowl selections at an LB position also shows me that he helped the teams build upon their success.

Marshall had the versatility and penchant for big plays to become a complete defensive player in an era filled with them. He played so well that he helped create big wins and, in doing so, posted gigantic performances.

4. Lomas Brown

• Full Name: Lomas Brown
• Position: Offensive Tackle
• Teams Played For: Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Lomas Brown excelled as an offensive tackle for 18 seasons during his career, the majority of which were spent playing in Miami. His ability to stick around the league and play for so many teams attests more than anything else to his versatility.

His career as an offensive lineman earned Brown seven Pro Bowl selections, emphasizing the excellence and stability that came with his play. He was also on the Giants team that went to Super Bowl XXXV and part of the Buccaneers squad that won Super Bowl XXXVII.

The simple fact that Brown has been this good across multiple teams and for so long alone illustrates how deserving he is of being in the Hall based on his talent at one position: left tackle. This kind of adaptability and success with varying team contexts really speaks to his incredible flexibility as a player.

5. Jevon Kearse

• Full Name: Jevon Kearse
• Role: Defensive End
• Teams: Titans, Eagles

Kearse was born in Fort Myers, Florida, and became one of the best defensive ends to play professional football. He continued his playmaking ability on the field by seemingly being everywhere and disrupting opposing offenses.

Kearse made the Pro Bowl three times and was part of a Titans team that advanced to Super Bowl XXXIV. His stint with the Eagles only further summed up his overall durability and longevity as a defensive stalwart.

Kearse's physical appearance and potential to pull off big-play defense solidified him as a defensive juggernaut. His legacy can only be measured in the success he brought to the Titans and Eagles.

6. Fred Taylor

• Full Name: Fred Taylor
• Position Played: Running Back
• Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots;

Fred Taylor, a Pahokee, Florida native of Blythewood High School (Columbia), burst onto the scene as one of the nation's premier running backs with incredible speed and quickness. His 21-year NFL career included 13 seasons with the Jaguars and two campaigns in New England.

Taylor's production at the running back position helped earn him a Pro Bowl bid, highlighting his presence on the field. He was a game-changing talent who helped win championships, and that's how his name became synonymous with those of top-tier running backs.

7. Kevin Carter

• Full Name: Kevin Carter
• Position Played: DE/DT
• Teams played for:St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

His penchant for disrupting opposing offenses and creating game-changing turnovers made him vital to the team's defense.Carter's two career Pro Bowl selections and his role in the Rams' Super Bowl XXXIV victory demonstrate how vital he was as a defensive centerpiece. His contributions to both teams underscored his versatility and lasting impact as a defensive lineman.

Carter was a defensive wizard and the definition of a game-changer on the field. He brought unmatched firepower to his team. The success of the Rams, Titans, Dolphins, and Buccaneers was a reminder that his influence as one of pro football's dominant defensive forces remained profound.

8. Wes Chandler

• Full Name: Wes Chandler
• Position: Wide Receiver
• Teams played for: New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers

Wes Chandler was known as a wide receiver who displayed exceptional abilities throughout the years he played for the NFL.Chandler's value is properly summarized by his four Pro Bowl appearances in a seven-year career (1985-91) largely defined by ultra-reliable hands. The fact that they came on five different teams underscores his value as a premier offensive threat who could excel anywhere.

9. Nat Moore

• Full Name: Nat Moore
• Position: Wide Receiver
• Program Played For: Miami Dolphins

Miami native Nat Moore is a former wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins who gave his all to raise this franchise. He was known as the secret offensive weapon due to his carrying abilities and clutch plays.

Moore has been named to the Pro Bowl once in his career, which slightly speaks to how prolific a wide receiver he is.His impressive work during the glory years of the Dolphins and his athleticism that helped guide them to excellence still holds, making him arguably their foremost wide receiver. He is still part of the Dolphins' history as one of their signature offensive players.

10. Cris Collinsworth

• Full Name: Cris Collinsworth
• Position: Wide Receiver
• Teams Played For: Cincinnati Bengals

Cris Collinsworth was born in Dayton Beach, Florida, and played as a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was a game-changer for the team with his penchant for big plays and was advertised as one of their key offensive players.

Collinsworth's three Pro Bowl nods speak to his capabilities in one of the most competitive positions. The most enrolling factor of him is being a key contributor to the Bengals offense throughout its years, which showed he was still an impact player.

Thecrème of the crop.These top 10 NFL athletes born in Florida establish a standard for future football players to follow, still crafting exceptional talent year in and year out with an organized, spirited display that leaves interchangeable resilience within its indelible mark on both their state's pro-sports culture and last man standing characteristics. Their contributions to their teams and the league have put them in unique strata of important athletes for all time.

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