Being named to the NFL first-team All-Pro is a prestigious moment in any player’s career. But it is also a proud moment for the respective colleges. They are credited with the development of these legendary players and come with significant bragging rights.
Let’s take a look at which college programs have produced the most NFL first-team All-Pro selections and see which players stand out.
Which College Football Program Has Produced the Most First-Team NFL All-Pros?
25) Ole Miss Rebels – 27
Twenty-seven former Ole Miss Rebels have been voted in the NFL All-Pro first team, with linebackers Patrick Willis and Larry Grantham, along with defensive back Jimmy Patton, all being nominated five times each. Willis is also the most recent player to be voted an NFL All-Pro in 2012 during his eight-year career with the San Francisco 49ers.
24) UCLA Bruins – 29
Linebacker Eric Kendricks was the last of the 29 UCLA Bruins alumni to be voted first team All-Pro back in 2019 with the Minnesota Vikings. The former second-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft sits alongside Jonathan Ogden, Jimmy Johnson, Enny Easley, and others as a former first-team nominee.
23) SMU Mustangs – 29
The SMU Mustangs were a hotbed for NFL talent in the 20th century, producing 29 first-team NFL All-Pros. Among them are NFL Hall of Famers Forrest Gregg (7), Eric Dickerson (5), Doak Walker (4), and Raymond Berry (3).
22) Oklahoma State Cowboys – 29
The list of former NFL All-Pro selections from the Oklahoma State Cowboys is led by the all-time great Barry Sanders. The Hall of Fame running back is considered one of the best at his position of all time and racked up six NFL All-Pro selections during his career. Other former All-Pros include Tyreek Hill (5) and Kevin Williams (5).
21) Oklahoma Sooners – 30
The enigmatic Adrian Peterson heads up the list of NFL All-Pro selections from former Oklahoma Sooners alumni who were named to the first team four times in their 15-year NFL careers. Denver Broncos return specialist Maevin Mims was voted first-team All-Pro in 2024, becoming the newest addition to the list of former Sooners selected.
20) Nebraska Cornhuskers – 30
The Nebraska Cornhuskers have produced 30 former NFL first-team All-Pro selections, including Hall of Fame offensive linemen Bob Brown and Mick Tingelhoff, who were both nominated five times.
19) Florida State Seminoles – 30
Deion Sanders was nominated ot the NFL All-Pro first-team six times in his 14-year career. The former first-round selection by the Atlanta Falcons in 1989 has transcended the sporting world and is the former Florida State Seminole with the most All-Pro selections. Other nominees include Derrick Brooks, Walter Jones, Jalen Ramsey, and Fred Biletnikoff.
18) Purdue Boilermakers – 31
Former Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Rod Woodson was selected as a member of the NFL first-team All-Pro six times during his Hall of Fame career. The Legendary player was also selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times and is joined by Dick Barwegen, Mike Alstott, and Drew Brees, who surprisingly was only an All-Pro once in his illustrious career.
17) Georgia Bulldogs – 32
Former Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers was nominated to the NFL All-Pro first team in his rookie season after recording 1,100+ yards in 2024 with the Las Vegas Raiders. He is among 32 former Bulldogs to be named to the All-Pro team, including Champ Bailey, Terrell Davis, Richard Seymour, and Roquan Smith, who have all been selected three times.
16) Iowa Hawkeyes – 34
In just his five-year career, Tristan Wirfs has already been selected to the first Team All-Pro twice. The former Iowa Hawkeyes offensive tackle is among the current elite players in the NFL and is likely to significantly add to his tally and potentially surpass the four All-Pros from DB Emlen Tunnell before the end of his time in the league.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has also been selected for two All-Pro first teams
15) Wisconsin Badgers – 36
The list of former Wisconsin Badgers players voted to the NFL first team All-Pro is extensive. Joe Thomas was nominated six times during his playing career with the Cleveland Browns, closely followed by J.J. Watt, who was named to the team five times.
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His brother T.J. Watt, who is still currently playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has sat on four selections at age 30.
14) Minnesota Golden Gophers – 38
Bobby Bell and Leo Nomellini hold the record for the most NFL first-team All-Pro selections by former Minnesota Golden Gophers players with six selections apiece. They headline the list of former Gophers who have 38 nominations between them, the most recent being Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
13) Tennessee Volunteers – 40
The 40 selections of former Tennessee Volunteers players won’t be a surprise to college football fans. Defensive linemen Reggie While was nominated eight times over his career, while maybe the most famous Volunteer of all, Peyton Manning, has seven first-team All-Pros to his name.
12) Syracuse Orange – 41
The extensive list of Syracuse Orange alumni ranks 12th on the all-time list. Legendary rusher Jim Brown tops the group of 41 nominations with 8 to his name, and he is followed by Jim Ringo, who claimed six in his 15-year career between 1953-1967.
Other household names to have played for the Orange and been nominated to the NFL All-Pro team include Dwight Freeney, Marvin Harrison, and John Mackey, who were all named to the team three times.
11) Michigan State Spartans – 43
Twenty-four different former Michigan State Spartans players have been selected in the NFL first team All-Pro, a total of 43 times.
The list is headed by DB Herb Adderley, who was picked five times, alongside K Morten Andersen, TE Fred Arbanas, OL Joe DeLamielleure, DB George Saimes, and LB George Webster, who were all selected three times over their respective careers.
10) Penn State Nittany Lions – 46
Elite current NFL player Micah Parsons has been voted a first-team All-Pro twice in his four-year career, collecting 52.5 total sacks over that period. He is behind Jack Ham (6), Mike Michalske (5), Lenny Moore (5), and NaVorro Bowman (4) in the that includes a total of 46 nominations.
9) Michigan Wolverines – 47
Given the talent that the Michigan Wolverines consistently produce, it is maybe a surprise not to see the Ann Arbor program higher up on the list. Even more surprising is that seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady was only voted to the NFL’s first-team All-Pro three times. Steve Hutchinson led the all-time Wolerines’ list with five NFL All-Pro nominations.
8) Pittsburgh Panthers – 48
Aaron Donald is one of the top defensive tackles to have ever graced the NFL, and his stats back that up. The former Pittsburgh Panther was amazingly an NFL first-team All-Pro selection eight times in his 10-year career. He holds the record, alongside LB Joe Schmidt, with the most first-team All-Pro selections among former Pittsburgh players.
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Other notable names include Darrelle Revis, Dan Marino, Mike Ditka, and Larry Fitzgerald, who have also been recognized as former All-Pro selections.
7) LSU Tigers – 50
Eight different former LSU Tigers players have three or more NFL first-team All-Pro selections. Offensive linemen Alan Faneca and defensive back/running back Johnny Robinson both have six selections each, while running back Steve Van Buren has five to his name.
6) Alabama Crimson Tide – 50
The Alabama Crimson Tide has churned out talent during the Nick Saban era, but the two alumni with the most nominations predate his tenure. Don Hutson had eight nominations between 1935 and 1945, while John Hannah had seven between 1973 and 1985.
They are among 28 former players to have been selected to the NFL first Team All-Pro 50 times between them. More recent names include Marlon Humphrey, Julio Jones, Patrick Surtain II, and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
5) Texas Longhorns – 52
Former Texas Longhorns players have collectively earned 52 NFL first-team All-Pro selections. The 26 alumni include kicker Justin Tucker and offensive lineman Ox Emerson, who both have five selections. The list also includes Earl Thomas (3), Jammal Charles (2), Bobby Dillon (4), and Steve McMichael (2).
4) Miami (FL) Hurricanes – 54
Close to 18.5% of the NFL first-team All-Pro selections of former Miami Hurricanes players belong to Jim Otto. Between 1960 and 1974, the offensive lineman was nominated 10 times, a joint record with legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice.
Baltimore Ravens legends Ray Lewis (7) and Ed Reed (5) also make the list, closely followed by Ted Hendricks and Warren Sapp, who were both recognized four times.
3) Ohio State Buckeyes – 61
Unsurprisingly, the former Ohio State Buckeyes with the most NFL All-Pro selections played in the trenches. The top seven all played either offensive line or defensive line, a testament to the traditions upheld in Columbus.
Jim Parker has eight nominations and is followed by Jim Tyrer (6), Lou Groza (4), Cameron Heyward (4), Jim Lachey (3), Orlando Pace (3), and Dick Schafrath (3).
2) Notre Dame Fighting Irish – 69
The roots of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are ingrained in the NFL. 37 former players have been nominated to the NFL first-team All-Pro at least once, with the group being selected 69 times overall. The leader is offensive lineman Zack Martin, who was nominated seven times in his 11-year career with the Dallas Cowboys before retiring after the 2024 season.
Just behind him are linebacker Nick Buoniconti and defensive tackle Alan Page, with five selections each.
1) USC Trojans – 94
The USC Trojans led all of college football by producing the most NFL first-team All-Pros by a significant margin. The West Coast team’s 94 selections are 25 more than Notre Dame in second place, and they have seven alumni with more than five selections. Offensive linemen Ron Mix and Anthony Munoz have nine nominations each, closely followed by Bruce Matthews with seven.
DB Ronnie Lott, LB Junior Seau, and OT Ron Yary all have six, while RB O.J. Simpson had five.
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