Being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a magical moment in any former player’s life. It accumulates decades of hard work and recognizes significant achievements in the sport.
However, their development is also credited to their respective college programs. Let’s examine which college football programs have produced the most Pro Football Hall of Fame Players.
25) Louisiana Tech Bulldogs – 3
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have produced three Hall of Fame inductees to the NFL. The group is led by four-time Super Bowl champion Terry Bradshaw, the former first overall selection in the 1970 NFL Draft to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Joining the all-time great quarterback is OT Willie Roaf, who was inducted in 2012, and DL Fred Dean, who won two Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and was a part of the 2008 class.
24) Stanford Cardinal – 4
The Stanford Cardinal has four former players in the NFL Hall of Fame, including two quarterbacks. John Elway was inducted in 2004, and John Lynch was inducted in 2021. Alongside the two elite quarterbacks are WR James Lofton and FB Ernie Nevers.
23) SMU Mustangs – 4
Our SMU Mustangs alumni are currently in the NFL Hall of Fame. Raymond Berry was in the 1973 class, Forrest Gregg was inducted in 1977, Doak Walker in 1986, and Eric Dickerson in 1999.
22) Tulsa Golden Hurricane- 4
Jim Finks (1995), Steve Largent (1995), Drew Pearson (2021), and Bob St. Clair (1990) are the four former Tulsa Golden Hurricanes to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Largent played 14 years with the Seattle Seahawks, holding six receiving records when he retired in 1989.
21) Georgia Bulldogs- 5
Five players headline the Georgia Bulldogs Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Elite defensive back Champ Bailey was inducted in 2019, Terrell Davis in 2017, Richard Seymour in 2022, Frank Tarkenton in 1986, and Charley Trippi in 1968.
20) Nebraska Cornhuskers – 5
Also with five Pro Football Hall of Famers are the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Bob Brown (2004), Guy Chamberlin (1965), William Roy Lyman (1964), Will Shields (2015), and Mick Tingelhoff (2015) are the elite former Big Red alumni to be inducted.
19) Texas Longhorns – 5
Earl Campbell (1991), Bobby Dillon (2020), Tom Landry (1990), Bobby Layne (1967), and Tex Schramm (1991) are the five Texas Longhorns alumni in the Pro Football Fall of Fame. Dillon, the most recent inductee, still holds the Green Bay Packers record for the most career interceptions.
18) Florida State Seminoles – 5
The Florida State Seminoles have a stacked NFL Hall of Fame Class. Fred Biletnikoff, Derrick Brooks, LeRoy Butler, and Walter Jones have all been inducted alongside current Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders.
17) Wisconsin Badgers – 5
Gil Brandt, Arnie Herbe, Elroy Hirsch, Joe Thomas, and Mike Webster are the five former Wisconsin Badgers to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thomas, who was inducted in 2023, played 10,363 consecutive snaps for the Cleveland Browns during his decade in the league.
16) Iowa Hawkeyes – 5
Five Iowa Hawkeyes alumni have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The class consists of Alex Karras, Paul Krause, Duke Slater, Andre Tippett, and Emlen Tunnell, who earned the nickname The Gremlin while playing for the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers.
15) Illinois Fighting Illini – 5
The Legendary Dick Butkus is among the five Illinois Fighting Illini to have been inducted in to the NFL Hall of Fame. The class includes Harold Grange, Bobby Mitchell, Ray Nitschke, and Hugh Ray. Still, the most prominent name associated with the Fighting Illini class is George Hallas, an NFL owner, player, manager, and promoter, and closely linked with the Chicago Bears.
14) Penn State Nittany Lions – 6
Six former Penn State Nittany Lions players are in the NFL Hall of Fame. Jack Ham was inducted in 1988, Franco Harris was in the class of 1990, Mike Michalske was inducted in 1964, Lenny Moore was inducted in 1975, Mike Munchak was inducted in 2001, and Dave Robinson became the latest in 2013.
13) LSU Tigers – 6
Alan Faneca, Kevin Mawae, Johnny Robinson, Jim Taylor, Y.A. Tittle, and Steve Van Buren are the six LSU Tigers alumni to be in the Hall of Fame. Van Buren was inducted in 1965 and won four rushing titles.
12) UCLA Bruins – 6
Former UCLA Bruins players Kenny Easley, Tom Fears, Jimmy Johnson, Jonathan Ogden, and Bob Waterfield have all been inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with Troy Aikman, who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.
11) Arizona State Sun Devils – 6
Curley Culp, Mike Haynes, John Henry Johnson, Randall McDaniel, and Charley Taylor are the former Arizona State Sun Devils to be in the NFL Hall of Fame. McDaniel made nine consecutive Pro Bowls and 202 consecutive starts during his 14 years in the league.
10) Oregon Ducks – 6
Six Oregon Ducks alumni are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Dan Fouts, Alphonse Leemans, Mel Renfro, Norm Van Brocklin, Dave Wilcox, and Gary Zimmerman make up the group, with Zimmerman being named to the NFL All-Pro first-team or second team eight times in his 12-year career.
9) Minnesota Golden Gophers – 7
Bobby Bell, Tony Dungy, Carl Eller, Bud Grant, Leo Nomellini, and Charlie Sanders make up the seven Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Hall of Fame, alongside Bronko Nagurski, whose name is now on the trophy awarded to the top defensive player in college football each season.
8) Alabama Crimson Tide – 8
The Alabama Crimson Tide continually sends elite talent to the NFL, and the Tuscaloosa team already has eight Hall of Famers. The current group includes John Hannah, Don Hutson, Joe Namath, Ozzie Newsome, Ken Stabler, Bart Starr, Dwight Stephenson, and Derrick Thomas.
7) Syracuse Orange – 8
The Syracuse Orange also has eight former players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jim Brown headlines the list, which also includes Larry Csonka, Al Davis, Marvin Harrison, Floyd Little, John Mackey, Art Monk, and Jim Ringo.
6) Ohio State Buckeyes – 9
Cris Carter, Sid Gillman, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Dick LeBeau, Orlando Pace, Jim Parker, Paul Warfield, and Bill Willis are the nine former Oho State Buckeyes players to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. LeBeau made 62 interceptions during his 14-year career and later coached for the Pittsburgh Steelers after his playing career ended.
5) Michigan Wolverines – 9
Dan Dierdorf, Len Ford, Benny Friedman, Bill Hewitt, Elroy Hirsch, Steve Hutchinson, Ty Law, Tom Mack, and Charles Woodson are the nine former Michigan Wolverines players currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But the list is expected to grow once seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady is eligible in 2028.
4) Pittsburgh Panthers – 10
Darrell Revis became the 10th Pittsburgh Panthers alumnus to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023, joining Jimbo Covert, Mike Ditka, Chris Doleman, Tony Dorsett, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Dan Marino, Curtis Martin, and Joe Schmidt.
KEEP READING: Most Defensive Backs Selected in the NFL Draft – Led by Ohio State and USC
3) Miami (FL) Hurricanes – 11
The Miami Hurricanes have 11 former players in the NFL Hall of Fame. Ted Hendricks, Michael Irvin, Edgerrin James, Jim Kelly, Cortez Kennedy*, Ray Lewis, Jim Otto, Ed Reed, and Warren Sapp were joined by Devin Hester and Andre Johnson in 2024.
2) Notre Dame – 14
Notre Dame has the joint most former players in the NFL Hall of Fame. The storied program has inducted Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Nick Buoniconti, Dave Casper, George Connor, Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Paul Hornung, Earl Lambeau, John McNally, Wayne Millner, Joe Montana, Alan Page, George Trafton, and Bryant Young.
1) USC – 14
The USC Trojans are joining Notre Dame to lead all college football in the production of NFL Hall of Famers. The 14 alumni inducted are Marcus Allen, Morris Badgro, Frank Gifford, Ronnie Lott, Bruce Matthews, Ron Mix, Anthony Muñoz, Troy Polamalu, Junior Seau, O.J. Simpson, Lynn Swann, Willie Wood, Ron Yary, and Tony Boselli.
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