With the most players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which SEC program has the most?
Seven players were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2024; one of them was able to play in the NFL after coming from an SEC program.
Patrick Willis, a former linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, was a unanimous choice for All-America honors, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and the Ole Miss team’s 2006 winner of the Butkus Award for best linebacker in the country.
Following the 2024 election, 32 former SEC players were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
With eight of those players being Alabama graduates, the Crimson Tide has more members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame than any other SEC school.
Other players selected for the Class of 2024 and their alma mater included Syracuse’s Dwight Freeney, Miami (Fla.)’s Andre Johnson and Devin Hester, Ohio State’s Randy Gradishar, Texas’ Steve McMichael, and North Carolina’s Julius Peppers.
Out of the fifteen athletes who made it to the finals for the Class of 2024 in the modern era, five were chosen to be elected. Willie Anderson of Auburn and Fred Taylor of Florida were two of the finalists who were not elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Related: Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Anderson is once again mocked
An overview of the former players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who are currently SEC football members:
Members from Alabama: 8
Final/safety/location-kicker Green Bay Packers, 1935–1945: Don Hutson. admitted in 1963.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr, 1956–1971. 1977 saw its induction.
Joe Namath, quarterback: Los Angeles Rams (1977), New York Jets (1965–1976). enrolled in 1985.
John Hannah, guard: 1973–1985 New England Patriots. enrolled in 1991.
Miami Dolphins (1980–1987) center Dwight Stephenson. commenced in 1998.
tense conclusion Cleveland Browns: Ozzie Newsome, 1978–1990. admitted in 1999.
Derrick Thomas was a Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker from 1989 to 1999. admitted in 2009.
Quarterback Ken Stabler played for the Houston Oilers (1980–1981), New Orleans Saints (1982–1984), and Oakland Raiders (1970–1979. honoured in 2016.
Three members from Arkansas
Lance Alworth, flanker: Dallas Cowboys 1971–1972, San Diego Chargers 1962–1970. enrolled in 1978.
Dan Hampton, defensive lineman, Chicago Bears, 1979–1990. admitted in 2002.
Security Steve Atwater: New York Jets (1999), Denver Broncos (1989–1998). admitted in 2020.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame alumni from Arkansas did not play in the SEC. In 1992, the Razorbacks became a part of the conference. Both former Arkansas football players Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Members of Auburn: 2
Center Frank Gatski: Detroit Lions 1957; Cleveland Browns 1946–1956, 1957. enrolled in 1985.
Kevin Greene, outside linebacker: Pittsburgh Steelers (1993–1995), Carolina Panthers (1996–1998), Los Angeles Rams (1985–1992), and San Francisco 49ers (1997). honoured in 2016.
Members from Florida: 2
defensive end Los Angeles Rams (1971–1984), Jack Youngblood. admitted in 2001.
Reversing course Emmitt Smith: Arizona Cardinals 2003–2004; Dallas Cowboys 1990–2002. admitted in 2010.
Georgian participants: 5
Halfback Chicago Cardinals player Charley Trippi, 1947–1955. admitted in 1968.
Fran Tarkenton, quarterback: Minnesota Vikings 1961–1966; New York Giants 1967–1971; 1972–1978. admitted in 1986.
Reversing course Terrell Davis: 1995–2001 Denver Broncos. admitted in the year of 2017.
Champ Bailey, cornerback: Denver Broncos, 2004–2013; Washington Redskins, 1999–2003. admitted in the year 2019.
Richard Seymour, defensive lineman: Oakland Raiders 2009–2012; New England Patriots 2001–2008. admitted in 2022.
Members from Kentucky: 2
George Blanda, a quarterback and place-kicker, played for the Chicago Bears from 1949 to 1958, the Houston Oilers from 1960 to 1966, and the Oakland Raiders from 1967 to 1975. enrolled in 1981.
Dermontti Dawson, center: 1988–2000 Pittsburgh Steelers. admitted in 2012.
LSU participants: 6
Halfback Philadelphia Eagles 1944–1951: Steve Van Buren. admitted in 1965.
Baltimore Colts 1948–1950, San Francisco 49ers 1951–1960, and New York Giants 1961–1964 were the teams that quarterback Y.A. Tittle led. admitted in 1971.
Complete back Jim Taylor: New Orleans Saints 1967; Green Bay Packers 1958–1966. admitted in 1976.
Center Kevin Mawae: Tennessee Titans 2006-2009, New York Jets 1998-2005, Seattle Seahawks 1994-1997. admitted in the year 2019.
Security Johnny Robinson: Kansas City Chiefs 1963–1971, Dallas Texans 1960–1962. admitted in the year 2019.
Alan Faneca, guard: Arizona Cardinals in 2010, New York Jets in 2008–2009, and Pittsburgh Steelers in 1998–2007. admitted in 2021.
Members of Mississippi State: 0
Four former students from MSU have been selected to the Pro Bowl more than three times; three of them, defensive tackle Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox of the Philadelphia Eagles, and cornerback Darius Slay of the Philadelphia Eagles, are currently active players.
