Utah
Who are the best Utah college products to play for every NFL franchise?
It’s no secret that Utah has been a hotbed for NFL talent in recent years, but it’s not as widely known that the state has seemingly always held football factory status.
Players from BYU, Utah and Utah State have been making an impact on the league for nearly a century.
Here are the best products from Beehive State schools to suit up for each NFL franchise.
Washington Commanders: Chris Cooley (Utah State)
Years with team: 2004-12.
Statistics with team: 117 games, 429 receptions, 4,711 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 2x Pro Bowler, franchise leader in career tight end receiving yards and named to the team’s “90 Greatest” list.
A fan favorite, do-it-all tight end who emerged as one of the best players at his position in the mid-2000s.
Dallas Cowboys: Cornell Green (Utah State)
Years with team: 1962-74.
Statistics with team: 182 games, 34 interceptions, seven forced fumbles and four defensive touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 5x Pro Bowler, 2x First Team All-Pro, 2x Second Team All-Pro and Super Bowl VI champion.
A former Aggies basketball talent who never played college football, Green became a gridiron star in Dallas as one of the franchise’s first true impact players.
New York Giants: Bart Oates (BYU)
Years with team: 1985-93.
Statistics with team: 140 games, 136 starts and three fumble recoveries.
Accolades with team: 2x Pro Bowler and 2x Super Bowl champion.
A strong leader on the offensive line who seemingly won wherever he went.
Philadelphia Eagles: Chad Lewis (BYU)
Years with team: 1997-98, 1999-2005.
Statistics with team: 110 games, 228 receptions, 2,349 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 3x Pro Bowler and 2000 Second Team All-Pro.
One of Andy Reid’s favorite offensive weapons during Philadelphia’s early 2000s run of NFC East dominance.
Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith Sr. (Utah)
Years with team: 2001-13.
Statistics with team: 182 games, 836 receptions, 12,197 yards and 75 total touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 5x Pro Bowler, 2x First Team All-Pro, 2008 Second Team All-Pro, 2005 Comeback Player of the Year, all-time franchise receiving leader and member of the Panthers Hall of Honor.
Arguably the greatest player in Carolina Panthers history and one of the most feared receivers and return specialists of his generation.
Atlanta Falcons: Jamal Anderson (Utah)
Years with team: 1994-2001.
Statistics with team: 88 games, 6,981 scrimmage yards and 41 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 1998 Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro, franchise single season rushing leader.
The dynamic Anderson’s 1998 campaign is still considered one of the best ever for a running back.
New Orleans Saints: Taysom Hill (BYU)
Years with team: 2017-present.
Statistics with team: 97 games, 7-2 starting record, 2,348 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, 2,915 scrimmage yards and 38 scrimmage touchdowns.
Nicknamed the “Swiss Army Knife,” Hill has proven a valuable contributor as a quarterback, running back, tight end and special teamer during his unique career in the Big Easy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Donald Penn (Utah State)
Years with team: 2007-13.
Statistics with team: 112 games, 108 starts, four fumble recoveries and two touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 2010 Pro Bowler.
The definition of dependable, Penn started all but four games in his seven seasons with Tampa.
Detroit Lions: Ziggy Ansah (BYU)
Years with team: 2013-18.
Statistics with team: 80 games, 48 sacks and 10 forced fumbles.
Accolades with team: 2015 Pro Bowler and Second Team All-Pro.
A freakish athletic specimen hindered by injuries but still able to notch the record for most Thanksgiving Day sacks in NFL history.
Green Bay Packers: Lionel Aldridge (Utah State)
Years with team: 1963-71.
Statistics with team: 123 games, 62 sacks and 16 fumble recoveries.
Accolades with team: 2x Super Bowl champion, 1965 NFL champion and member of the Packers Hall of Fame.
A standout defensive force for one of the league’s most decorated dynasties.
Chicago Bears: Jim McMahon (BYU)
Years with team: 1982-88.
Statistics with team: 46-15 starting record, 11,203 passing yards, 67 touchdowns, 1,284 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 1985 Pro Bowler, Super Bowl XX champion and member of the 100 Greatest Bears.
The “punky QB” for what many consider to be the greatest team in NFL history, McMahon’s off-the-field antics are what truly cemented him as an icon in his era.
Minnesota Vikings: Jim Hough (Utah State)
Years with team: 1978-86.
Statistics with team: 111 games, 76 starts and two fumble recoveries.
A steady contributor at both the left guard and center positions for nearly a decade in Minnesota.
San Francisco 49ers: Steve Young (BYU)
Years with team: 1987-99.
Statistics with team: 91-33 starting record, 29,907 passing yards, 221 touchdowns, 3,581 rushing yards and 37 rushing touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 2x MVP, 7x Pro Bowler, 3x First Team All-Pro, 3x Second Team All-Pro, 3x Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl XXIX MVP, and member of both the 49ers and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
Young was given the daunting task of succeeding Joe Montana in San Francisco and responded with a Hall of Fame career as one of the most exciting and beloved superstars of his era.
Arizona Cardinals: Larry Wilson (Utah)
Years with team: 1960-72.
Statistics with team: 169 games, 52 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries and eight total touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 1966 Defensive Player of the Year, 8x Pro Bowler, 5x First Team All-Pro, franchise interceptions leader, Cardinals Ring of Honor inductee and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Wilson spent over a decade wreaking havoc as a legendary defensive back in his decorated Hall of Fame career.
Los Angeles Rams: Merlin Olsen (Utah State)
Years with team: 1962-76.
Statistics with team: 208 games, 91 sacks and a touchdown.
Accolades with team: 14x Pro Bowler, 5x First Team All-Pro, 3x Second Team All-Pro, member of both the Rams Ring of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Arguably the greatest NFL talent to ever come out of the state of Utah. If not for Tom Brady, the ultra popular Olsen would have the most Pro Bowl appearances in history.
Seattle Seahawks: Bobby Wagner (Utah State)
Years with team: 2012-21, 2023.
Statistics with team: 168 games, 1,566 tackles, 27 sacks, six forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and four touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 9x Pro Bowler, 6x First Team All-Pro, 3x Second Team All-Pro and Super Bowl XLVIII champion.
One of the greatest linebackers of all time and the heart of Seattle’s dominant “Legion of Boom” defense.
New England Patriots: Kyle Van Noy (BYU)
Years with team: 2016-19, 2021.
Statistics with team: 67 games, 287 tackles, 21.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and four touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 2x Super Bowl champion and member of the Patriots All-2010s team.
A pivotal role player who always rose to the occasion in the twilight of the Patriots dynasty.
Miami Dolphins: Manny Fernandez (Utah)
Years with team: 1968-75.
Statistics with team: 103 games, 35 sacks and six fumble recoveries.
Accolades with team: 2x Second Team All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl champion and Dolphins Walk of Fame member.
A monster on the defensive line for Miami’s undefeated, Super Bowl winning 1972 squad.
Buffalo Bills: Ryan Denney (BYU)
Years with team: 2002-09.
Statistics with team: 111 games, 298 tackles, 23.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two touchdowns.
A solid, consistent backup defender who did everything asked of him during his time in Buffalo.
New York Jets: Jim Turner (Utah State)
Years with team: 1964-70.
Statistics with team: 98 games, 153/256 in field goals (59.8%) and 238/242 in extra points (98.3%).
Accolades with team: 2x Pro Bowler and Super Bowl III champion.
One of the finest kickers of his era who once held the NFL’s single season scoring record and helped the Jets to their lone Super Bowl win.
Cleveland Browns: Mac Speedie (Utah)
Years with team: 1946-52.
Statistics with team: 86 games, 349 receptions, 5,602 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 2x Pro Bowler, 3x First Team All-Pro, 2x Second Team All-Pro, 4x AAFC champion, 1950 NFL champion, Browns Ring of Honor inductee and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
One of football’s first great pass-catchers and a star for Cleveland during the franchise’s golden era.
Baltimore Ravens: Dennis Pitta (BYU)
Years with team: 2010-16.
Statistics with team: 66 games, 224 receptions, 2,098 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: Super Bowl XLVII champion.
A key offensive piece and one of Joe Flacco’s favorite targets during Baltimore’s improbable run to Super Bowl XLVII.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Roy Jefferson (Utah)
Years with team: 1965-69.
Statistics with team: 65 games, 199 receptions, 3,671 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 2x Pro Bowler, 1969 First Team All-Pro, 1968 Second Team All-Pro and member of the Steelers Legends Team.
Though he enjoyed further success later in his career with both Baltimore and Washington, Jefferson was an explosive offensive force in his time in Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati Bengals: Bob Trumpy (Utah)
Years with team: 1968-77.
Statistics with team: 128 games, 298 receptions, 4,600 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 4x Pro Bowler and 1969 First Team All-Pro.
Though he was the best tight end in Bengals history, Trumpy’s true legacy is that of a broadcasting pioneer as one of the first athletes to get behind a microphone.
Indianapolis Colts: Austin Collie (BYU)
Years with team: 2009-12.
Statistics with team: 42 games, 173 receptions, 1,845 yards and 16 touchdowns.
While his career was cut short by injuries, the connection between Collie and Peyton Manning still ranks statistically as one of the most effective between a receiver and quarterback in league history.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Devin Lloyd (Utah)
Years with team: 2022-present.
Statistics with team: 33 games, 242 tackles, three interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
The sky is the limit for the young linebacking force now entering his third season with the Jags.
Houston Texans: Brice McCain (Utah)
Years with team: 2009-13.
Statistics with team: 72 games, 124 tackles and five interceptions.
A speedy, ball-hawking cornerback able to lock up both inside and outside receivers.
Tennessee Titans: Kevin Dyson (Utah)
Years with team: 1998-2002.
Statistics with team: 58 games, 176 receptions, 2,310 yards and 18 touchdowns.
One of Steve McNair’s favorite targets during Tennessee’s heyday and the recipient of the famous “Music City Miracle” touchdown in the 1999 AFC title game.
Kansas City Chiefs: Alex Smith (Utah)
Years with team: 2013-17.
Statistics with team: 50-26 starting record, 17,608 passing yards, 102 touchdowns, 1,672 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 3x Pro Bowler.
A remarkably efficient passer who made four trips to the playoffs with the Chiefs and played a major role in mentoring Patrick Mahomes.
Las Vegas Raiders: Todd Christensen (BYU)
Years with team: 1979-88.
Statistics with team: 136 games, 461 receptions, 5,872 yards and 41 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 4x Pro Bowler, 2x First Team All-Pro, 2x Second Team All-Pro and 2x Super Bowl champion.
One of the most egregious Pro Football Hall of Fame snubs, Christensen was an elite tight end who helped to revolutionize the position and lead the Raiders to a pair of Super Bowl titles.
Los Angeles Chargers: Eric Weddle (Utah)
Years with team: 2007-15.
Statistics with team: 137 games, 851 tackles, 19 interceptions, five forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and three total touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 3x Pro Bowler, 2x First Team All-Pro and 3x Second Team All-Pro.
A dominant, game-wrecking safety who captained the Chargers defense for nearly a decade as one of the franchise’s all-time greats.
Denver Broncos: Rulon Jones (Utah State)
Years with team: 1980-88.
Statistics with team: 129 games, 73.5 sacks and 10 fumble recoveries.
Accolades with team: 2x Pro Bowler, 1986 First Team All-Pro and 1985 Second Team All-Pro.
A ferocious, hard-hitting pass rusher who terrorized quarterbacks for the fifth-most career sacks in Broncos history.
Schmaltz’s 24 goals this season are a new career-high. He’s been a consistently strong presence and has taken on more responsibility with the switch from wing to center. His goal on the power play came just eight seconds into the man-advantage and opened the scoring early in the second period. In addition to his goal, he had an assist on Utah’s second goal of the game. Tourigny discussed Schmaltz’s maturity following the win.
“He’s a mature person, mature man,” Tourigny explained. “He really wants to make a difference. I always say about Schmaltz, (he’s) a gamer. He wants to play in those moments, and I think he’s excited about where our team is at, and he wants to be a big part of it, and he is. He’s a huge leader for us.”
Utah held Philadelphia to 16 total shots: four in the first period, seven in the second, and five in the third. The Mammoth showed their strong defensive game in the win.
“I think that’s when we’re at our best, when we’re defending hard,” Schmaltz said. “We’re playing with a lot of pace, not giving them time and space, frustrating them, and making them force plays, and then we turn it over and go the other way.”
On the flip side, against a stingy Philadelphia defense, Utah generated 23 shots including 14 in the second period. Schmaltz spoke to what led to the increased opportunities in the middle frame.
“A little bit more direct,” Schmaltz shared. “I think our transition game was really good. We were catching them, kind of hemming them in. Good line changes and just rolling them over and shooting a little bit more.”
In addition to Schmaltz’s goal, Captain Clayton Keller scored his 19th of the season seven and half minutes after his linemate’s tally to increase the score to 2-0. Michael Carcone’s empty net goal with 1:48 left in regulation secured the 3-0 win.
Additional Notes from Tonight (per Mammoth PR)
- The Mammoth’s power play went 1-for-2 against the Flyers. Utah has scored seven power play goals in seven games (7-for-18, 38.9%). On the other side of special teams, the Mammoth’s penalty kill went 3-for-3.
- JJ Peterka played his 300th NHL game. Peterka was selected 34th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft and is the ninth player from his draft class to reach the milestone. He is also just the eighth German-born forward in NHL history to accomplish the feat.
- Keller has recorded 11 points in his last seven games (2/2-3/5: 3g, 8a), finding the scoresheet in six of those contests.
- With two assists tonight, Dylan Guenther has posted his second straight multi-point outing (3/3 at WSH: 1g, 1a) and his third in five games (2/25 vs. COL: 2g).
Utah has won the first two games of a five-game road trip. Up next, the Mammoth travel to Columbus and face the Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
Upcoming Schedule
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Officials have identified a 22-year-old man as the suspect in a Las Vegas homicide case that killed two people in a Southern Highlands neighborhood.
Detectives say 22-year-old Ziaire Ham was the suspect in the case. According to officials, Ham was located on Tuesday, March 3, by the Ogden City Police Department and the Utah Highway Patrol.
Ham was taken into custody and booked into the Weber County Jail. Las Vegas authorities said he will be charged with open murder with the use of a deadly weapon and will be extradited back to the valley.
MORE ON FOX5: LVMPD corrections officer arrested on multiple felony charges
The shooting occurred Monday night at the 11000 block of Victoria Medici Street, near Starr Ave and Dean Martin Drive.
According to police, officers were conducting a vehicle stop in the area when they heard gunfire. After searching nearby neighborhoods they found a car with bullet impacts with a woman and a toddler inside suffering from gunshot wounds.
The pair were transported to hospital where they later died. The Clark County Coroner’s Office identified them as Danaijha Robinson, 20, and 1-year-old Nhalani Hiner.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A simple moment watching a child laugh changed everything for Ivan Gonzalez.
Eight years ago, Gonzalez was working at the Ronald McDonald House when he had an idea to throw a birthday carnival for the kids staying there.
“Let’s do a carnival, birthday carnival for the kids,” he said.
MORE | Pay It Forward
What happened during that event stuck with him.
“There I was watching this kid play whack-a-mole, just having a blast, laughing,” Gonzalez said. “And then I see his mom kind of with happy tears because he’s enjoying himself.”
That moment led to something bigger.
Gonzalez realized the experience shouldn’t stop with just one event or just one group of kids.
“I said, wait, we can do this not just for kids in the hospital,” he said with excitement.
So he started a nonprofit called Best Seat in the House, which creates events and experiences for children who often face difficult circumstances.
“We provide events and experiences for disadvantaged kids,” Gonzalez said.
The organization serves children battling cancer and other medical conditions, refugee children, kids living in poverty, those in foster care and children with special needs.
“These kids grow up too fast,” Gonzalez said.
For Gonzalez, the mission is deeply personal.
“I grew up very poor,” he said.
He remembers the people who stepped in for his family when they needed it most.
“The local church, we weren’t even a part of it,” he described. “My parents couldn’t afford Christmas gifts and I still remember the gifts they gave me. They didn’t even know me.”
Today, he hopes to create that same feeling for other children through his nonprofit.
“Kids live in poverty and they don’t know where the next meal is coming from, let alone going to a play or to a game,” Gonzalez said.
But for Gonzalez, the reward isn’t the events themselves, it’s the joy they create.
“You can give me a billion dollars, all the money in the world,” he says as tears roll down his face. “I won’t trade these opportunitieskids just enjoying life.”
Because of his work giving back, KUTV and Mountain America Credit Union surprised Gonzalez with a Pay it Forward gift to help him continue creating those moments for kids across Utah.
For more information on supporting Best Seat in the House, click here.
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