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.
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The widow of Afa Ah Loo, the man killed during a No Kings Rally in Salt Lake City, filed a lawsuit against protest organizers and the man accused of firing the fatal shot.
Laura Ah Loo filed the lawsuit Monday, claiming the armed “peacekeeper” and the protest organizers’ negligence caused the death of her husband.
The protest was part of the No Kings Rally, which was held in every state nationwide on June 14, 2025. The National 50501 organization led the movement, with local groups organizing protests in their respective states.
In Salt Lake City, an estimated 10,000 people showed up to protest.
During the event, Matthew Alder, a member of the security team, allegedly fired into the crowd after spotting a protester carrying a rifle. Prosecutors said he shot three times, striking the armed protester and killing a bystander.
The widow of the man killed is now suing Alder for negligence, with the lawsuit saying it “should have been obvious that any errant shot fired would pose a lethal danger to bystanders.”
MORE | ‘No Kings’ Protest Shooting:
The lawsuit claims that there was no imminent threat, but even if he believed there to be one, Alder could have moved several feet to the west and shot against a wall and not into the crowd.
“Defendant Alder, with little to no known training in crowd control or de-escalation, failed to clear an area behind Gamboa and instead simply started to fire his gun,” the lawsuit reads.
Laura Ah Loo is also suing organizers, claiming they didn’t properly train or vet all the members of the security team, nor did they inform law enforcement and the public of the armed peacekeepers.
“Defendants’ breaches of these duties resulted in a perfect storm of negligence that caused the only known fatality among a march of millions of Americans,” the lawsuit reads.
She is seeking damages for pain and suffering, lost wages and economic support, and funeral costs.
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SALT LAKE CITY — When Kimberly L. pulled up to the gas pump on Sunday, she was unfortunately prepared for the prices that awaited her.
“Between my husband’s truck and my car, we’re well over $300 a month in gas,” she said. “It hits your pocket, and we’ve got a one-working-person household of four, so we’ve had to budget differently.”
This is one of the reasons why she was driving a motorcycle.
“I’m actually probably going to be riding this a lot more often. Gets way better gas mileage than any of our vehicles,” she added.
According to AAA, as of Sunday, average gas prices in Utah were around $3.16 compared to $2.74 the week prior.
“I went to go get gas the other day, and I spent $10 on two and a half gallons of gas. And it was insane,” said Grace Wieland from Park City. “Most of my activities are down in Salt Lake, so it’s hard to come down here every week and do the things I love to do whenever gas is so expensive.”
“At work, I make around $18 an hour, and that’s not even a full tank. It’s like two hours at work is one tank, which is kind of crazy,” said Addison Lowe, who is also from Park City.
According to Gas Buddy, the rising prices come after the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, impacting ships that carry large amounts of oil that pass through the Straight of Hormuz, a key trade route.
“Gas prices likely continue advancing, oil prices will likely keep climbing until that oil can move again,” said petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan.
AAA said the last time the national average made a similar jump was in March of 2022 during the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
In the meantime, Utahns told FOX 13 News that they will continue to budget and hope prices go down sooner rather than later.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Reps. Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy made their reelection bids official this week, announcing they will run for the new 3rd District and 4th District, respectively, under the state’s newly established congressional map.
The plans were first reported by the Deseret News after weeks of discussion among the Utah delegation about how to approach the November elections under the new boundaries. Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, will file in the new 2nd District, where he’s already begun gathering signatures.
“The conversations all along have been: What’s the best thing we can do to stand up for Utah, to stand up for representative government, to make sure that what’s happening is constitutional,” Maloy told the Deseret News in an interview. “But now that we’re out of options — we have to file to run next week — I’m going to run in the district that I’ve spent my adult life living in.”
The decisions come after Rep. Burgess Owens announced on Wednesday that he would not seek reelection, paving the way for Maloy and Kennedy to each choose one of the two remaining districts and avoid a messy incumbent-on-incumbent primary.
The new map reduced Republicans’ stronghold of four House seats down to three with one Democratic seat, sending the delegation into a scramble about who should run where in the new political landscape.
The redrawn boundaries especially complicated Maloy’s and Kennedy’s decisions as their two districts shifted significantly. Under the new lines, the pair both live in the new 3rd District.
But with Owens’ retirement leaving the new 4th District open, it gives room for Kennedy to run there, which leans Republican.
Kennedy to run in Utah’s 4th District
Kennedy highlighted his work in and representation of parts of the 4th District in his official announcement on Thursday.
“I’ve spent more than twenty years practicing medicine in communities throughout the Fourth District and ten years serving many of these communities in the Utah State Legislature,” Kennedy said. “I know these communities, I share their values, and I’m ready to keep fighting for Utah families in Congress.”
Kennedy and Maloy both praised Owens as he gets ready to exit Congress.
“(Owens) just did the ultimate team-player move, and people here don’t do that,” Maloy said. “I hate that this is a choice that he had to make this year, that he was forced to decide that. I have nothing but love and respect for him and how he makes his choices. … He does what’s best for the team every time, and I think he’s proving that with this decision as well.”
Kennedy said it was an “honor” to serve with Owens in Congress, adding he was “grateful for his service and his friendship.”
The reelection decisions bring an end to the monthslong game of musical chairs that garnered national attention as Democrats were given a rare pickup opportunity in the red state of Utah and the four GOP incumbents were squeezed into three seats.
Owens was long rumored to be considering a departure from public office at the end of 2026, but the Utah delegation kept its cards close to its chest until the new Utah district was solidified.
The delegation has engaged in talks with one another for months on how to proceed, with several of the incumbents telling the Deseret News that those conversations centered around what would be the best fit for the constituents in the new districts.
Still, Utah Republicans did not go down without a fight. Owens was one of two Republicans in the delegation, along with Maloy, to ask the federal courts to block the new Utah map from taking effect because it was selected by a Utah judge, not the legislature, but that request was denied.
Even with the cleared field, Maloy and Kennedy could still face primary challengers from elsewhere in the state. Republican candidates have said they will file in both the 3rd District, David Harris and Phil Lyman, and the 4th District, Stone Fonua.
Two Republican candidates have declared bids in the heavily Democratic 1st District in Salt Lake County: Riley Owen and Dave Robinson.
Candidate filings for federal races open next week and will be available from March 9-13. Primary elections will be held on June 23.
Maloy is gathering signatures to qualify for the ballot, she told the Deseret News. Since making her reelection news public, Maloy has gotten several calls from constituents back home to volunteer for signature-gathering efforts.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
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