Do you ever think about who the best NFL Players From Jacksonville, Florida, are? This is a question of much debate which makes it very intriguing and challenging. And naturally, the answer is more complicated than you think.
NFL, or National Football League, is one of the most popular and beloved sports in the United States. In fact, it is THE MOST popular sport in all of America. So obviously, the US houses some of the greatest NFL players in the world.
In this article, we will mainly look at the top names from Jacksonville, Florida. However, there are indeed a lot of other great players too from various other states of the country.
From Tim Tebow to Sam Davis, they are hailed as some of the greatest players from Jacksonville, Florida.
Let’s not wait any longer and get right into knowing the best NFL Players from Jacksonville, Florida!
10 Best Jacksonville, Florida NFL Players
Surely, you want to know about the best NFL players. Well in that case, worry not
Here is a list of the 10 best NFL players from Jacksonville, Florida, along with their achievements and contribution and impact on the sport itself.
So, without further ado, let’s start
1. Tim Tebow QB (2010-2021)
| Full Name | Timothy Richard Tebow |
| Nickname | The Miles Messiah |
| Date of Birth | August 14, 1987 |
| Age | 35 Years |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth Place | Makati, Philippines |
| Residence | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Education | University of Florida |
| Profession | Retired Professional Football Player Currently Professional Baseball Player |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Height | 1.91m / 191cm / 6ft 3in |
| Weight | 245 lbs / 111 kg |
| Net Worth | $5-10 Million |
Arguably the most popular figure in the game of college football, Tebow is deemed to be the most successful quarterback from Jacksonville, Florida. The left-handed quarterback amassed 9,940 throwing yards and 95 touchdown passes while starting three years at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, aside from passing 3170 rushing yards and 63 touchdown runs.
Tebow helped the Gators win two national championships, one in 2006 (Player), and another in 2008 (Starter). He was also the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in 2007.
He was selected by Denver with the No. 25 overall pick in 2010, and the following year, he helped the Broncos win a game by hitting on an 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas that helped them defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime. Tebow later played for the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and New England Patriots before deciding to play professional baseball in 2016. However, he will always be remembered as a football legend.
Top Career Achievements of Tim Tebow:
● National Championship in 2006 (Player)
● Heisman Trophy in 2007
● National Championship in 2008 (Starter)
You May Also Like: Best Middle Line Breakers of All Time Best 10 Outside Linebackers of All Time in the NFL Best 10 Running Backs of All Time in The NFL Best 10 Defensive Backs of All Time in The NFL Best 10 Defensive Ends of All Time in the NFL 10 Most Famous NFL Players from Florida 10 Best Current NFL Players Without A Ring 15 Ugliest NFL Players of All Time 10 Best Cornerbacks of All Time in the NFL 10 Best Nose Tackles of All Time in the NFL 10 Best Defensive Tackles of All Time in NFL History 5 NFL Players Suspended for Domestic Violence 10 Best NFL Coaches to Never Win a Super Bowl
2. Derrick Henry RB (2013-present)
| Full Name | Derrick Lamar Henry Jr. |
|---|---|
| Nickname | King Henry |
| Date of Birth | January 4. 1994 |
| Age | 28 Years |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth Place | Yulee, Florida |
| Residence | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Education | University of Alabama |
| Profession | Professional American Football Player |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Relationship Status | Unmarried |
| Height | 1.91 m / 191 cm / 6ft 3in |
| Weight | 112kg / 247lbs |
| Net Worth | $3 Million |
After setting a national record of 12,144 running yards at at Yulee High School, Henry established himself as one of the top candidates. The 5-Star running back chose to play University of Alabama where he consistently progressed on his route to a brilliant junior season.
That year, he rushed for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns, winning the Heisman Trophy as the Crimson Tide claimed the national championship.
Henry was selected by the Titans in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft and went on to become one of the league’s greatest running backs ever since. Clashing with DeMarco Murray in 2016 and 2017, Henry broke out with 1059 running yards in his third season of professional football. Henry topped the NFL in 2019, with 303 carries, 16 running touchdowns and 1,540 running yards.
Henry topped the league again last season with 378 carries, 17 touchdown runs and 2,027 running yards, while being on a four-year contract of $50 million, and $25 million guaranteed in July 2020, with the Tennessee Titans.
Top Career Achievements of Derrick Henry
● NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2020
● NFL Rushing Yards Leader in 2019 and 2020
● NFL Rushing Touchdowns Leader in 2019 and 2020
● Heisman Trophy in 2015
● Maxwell Award in 2015
3. John L. Williams FB (1986-1995)
| Full Name | John L Williams |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Gator Great |
| Date of Birth | November 23, 1964 |
| Age | 58 Years |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth Place | Palatka, Florida |
| Residence | Palakta, Florida |
| Education | University of Florida |
| Profession | Former Professional American Football Player |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Height | 1.8m / 180cm / 5ft 11 in |
| Weight | 105kg/ 231lbs |
| Net Worth | $1-9 Million |
At Palatka High School, Williams achieved running yards for 3,449 yards and 59 touchdowns, with 1,738 running yards as a senior when he helped the Palatka Panthers win the state championship with a score of 14-0. He then transferred to the University of Florida, where in four seasons he carried for 2,409 yards, hauled in 92 passes for 863 yards, and scored a total of 21 touchdowns.
The 5-foot-11, 231-pound player, was selected by Seattle as the No. 15 overall pick. He began his NFL career in 1986 and played for the Seahawks and Steelers for 10 seasons. During his eight years with Seattle, Williams got two Pro Bowl selections and played for Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX. He has 5,006 running yards, 546 receptions for 4,656 yards, and 37 total touchdowns during his major league career in addition to being a good blocker.
Top Career Achievements of John L. Williams
● University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997
● Pro Bowl Selections in 1990 and 1991
4. Bob Hayes WR (1965-1975)
| Full Name | Robert Lee Hayes |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Bullet Bob |
| Date of Birth | December 20, 1942 |
| Death | September 18, 2002 |
| Age | 59 Years |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth Place | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Residence | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Education | Florida A&M University |
| Profession | Former Professional Olympic Athlete and Former Professional American Football Player |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Height | 1.83m / 183cm / 6ft 0 in |
| Weight | 85kg / 187lbs |
| Net Worth | $5 Million |
You’ll have a hard time finding a better all-around player from the Jacksonville region than Bullet Bob. Hayes graduated from Gilbert High in Jacksonville and played halfback, wingback, receiver, kick and punt returner while attending Florida A&M.
With 11 touchdowns as a junior, he led the Rattlers, but the next year, he burst onto the international track scene. He gained the moniker “the World’s Fastest Human” during his final year at FAMU after winning gold medals in the 100-meter and 4×100-meter relay events at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He played in the Senior Bowl as its first Black player ever a year later.
For the 1965 NFL season, Hayes signed with the Dallas Cowboys, They chose him with a potential pick in the previous round of the draft. He quickly started stretching the secondaries of the opposition. In every one of his initial three seasons, he was selected to the Pro Bowl and topped the NFL in touchdown catches in each of his first two seasons as a professional.
Hayes eventually spent ten seasons with Dalla Cowboys and one final season with the San Francisco 49ers. During his career, he caught 371 passes for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns while also scoring twice on the ground. Hayes was admitted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009 and is the only athlete to have won both a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal.
Top Career Achievements of Bob Hayes
● Super Bowl Champion VI in 1972
● 3 times Pro Bowl in 1965, 1966 and 1967
● 2 Times NFL Touchdown Leader in 1965 and 1966
● Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
● Two Gold Olympic Medals at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games
5. Harold Carmichael WR (1971-1984)
| Full Name | Lee Harold Carmichael |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Towering Inferno |
| Date of Birth | September 22, 1949 |
| Age | 73 Years |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth Place | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Residence | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Education | Southern University and A&M College |
| Profession | Former Professional American Football Player |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Height | 2.03m / 203cm / 6ft 8in |
| Weight | 102kgs / 225lbs |
| Net Worth | $13 Million |
The 6′ 8″ Carmichael participated in football, basketball, and track at Southern University after having a minor part as a third-string player there while playing quarterback and defense at Raines High in Jacksonville.
As a senior, Carmichael earned a spot on the All-SWAC team, and the Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the seventh round of the 1971 NFL Draft. He began his professional career as a TE but later switched to WO, earning four selections to the Pro Bowl. Before concluding his playing career with a brief stint in Dallas, he played for the Eagles for 13 seasons.
Carmichael recorded 590 catches for 8,985 running yards and 79 touchdowns during his career, earning him a spot on the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team. In 2018 the Black College Football Hall of Fame inducted him and in 2020 the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Top Career Achievements of Harold Carmichael
● 4 Times Pro Bowl in 1973 and 1978-1980
● NFL Man of the Year in 1980
● NFL Receiving Yards Leader in 1973
● NFL Receptions Leader in 1973
6. Ken Burrough WR (1970-1981)
| Full Name | Kenneth Othell Burrough |
|---|---|
| Nickname | No Notable Nicknames |
| Date of Birth | July 14, 1948 |
| Death | February 24, 2022 |
| Age | 73 Years |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth Place | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Residence | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Education | Texas Southern University |
| Profession | Former Professional American Football Player |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Height | 1.91m / 191cm / 6ft 3in |
| Weight | 98kg / 215lbs |
| Net Worth | $7 Million |
Burrough was a year older than Carmichael at the same High School, and he, too, played quarterback at Raines before moving to wideout in college at Texas Southern. At TSU, he had 128 catches for 1,928 yards and 19 touchdowns while simultaneously competing in track in high school and college.
Burrough was picked as No. 10 overall by the New Orleans Saints in 1970, but he was transferred to Houston Oilers following his rookie season. He became a dangerous player during his time with the Oilers, topping the NFL with 1,063 receiving yards in 1975, and earning Pro Bowl selections in 1975 and 1977.
Burrough is also the final NFL player to wear No. 00. He had a record of 421 receptions for 7,102 yards and 50 total touchdowns in 12 seasons. In 1996, he was recognized in the Texas Southern Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was recognized in the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Top Career Achievements
● 2 Times Pro Bowl in 1975 and 1977
● NFL Receiving Yards leader in 1975
7. Tra Thomas OT (1998-2010)
| Full Name | William “Tra” Thomas III |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Tra |
| Date of Birth | November 20, 1974 |
| Age | 48 Years |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth Place | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Residence | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Education | Florida State University |
| Profession | Former Professional American Football Player |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Height | 2.01m / 201cm / 6ft 7in |
| Weight | 143kg / 316lb |
| Net Worth | $12 Million |
At 6ft 7in tall, Thomas played at both offense and defense lines at DeLand High before transferring to Florida State as an offensive specialist. As a senior, Thomas established himself as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s leading offensive lineman after backing up future NFL great Walter Jones on the Seminoles’ offensive line.
Thomas’ abilities and strength were remarkable. At FSU, he bench-pressed 550 lb and leg-pressed 1,180 lb which led Philadelphia to choose him 11th overall in 1998. In his 11 years with the Eagles, he was selected to three Pro Bowls and was elected to the team’s 75th-anniversary lineup by fans.
For the Eagles, Thomas appeared in 166 regular matches and 17 postseason games, including Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville. He completed his tenure by playing for the Jaguars in 2009.
Top Career Achievements of
● 3 Times Pro Bowl with Philadelphia Eagles
8. Sam Davis G (1967-1979)
| Full Name | Samuel Davis |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Tight Man |
| Date of Birth | July 5, 1944 |
| Death | September 10, 2019 |
| Age | 75 Years |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth Place | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Residence | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Education | Allen University |
| Profession | Former Professional American Football Player |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Height | 1.85m / 185cm / 6ft 1in |
| Weight | 116kg / 255lb |
| Net Worth | $10 Million |
Davis got his start in high school football at Northwest High in Jacksonville, and it was at Allen College in South Carolina where he drew the attention of the famed Steelers scout Bill Nunn. Davis would go on to play for the Steelers for a total of 13 seasons, contributing admirably to the formidable teams that Pittsburgh fielded in the 1970s. In the January of 1975, he made history by becoming the first player from Jacksonville to win a Super Bowl.
He went on to win three more NFL titles with the Steelers over the course of the following five seasons. Davis appeared for Pittsburgh in 168 games during the regular season and 16 games during the postseason.
Top Career Achievements of Sam Davis
● 4 Times Super Bowl Champion ( IX, X, XIII, XIV)
9. Jack Youngblood DE (1971-1984)
| Full Name | Herbert Jackson Youngblood III |
|---|---|
| Nickname | John Wayne of Football |
| Date of Birth | January 26, 1950 |
| Age | 72 Years |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth Place | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Residence | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Education | University of Florida |
| Profession | Former Professional American Football Player |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Height | 1.93m / 193cm / 6ft 4in |
| Weight | 111kg / 245lb |
| Net Worth | $20 Million |
Youngblood is best known for his legendary tenacity, and this reputation is completely deserving of the praise it has received throughout the years. Notably, the former Los Angeles Rams player participated in the NFC Championship Game, Super Bowl XIV, and the Pro Bowl (!) in January 1980 despite having a fractured leg that he had sustained in the divisional round of the playoffs.
He was a part of the team that won all three games. Youngblood was born in Jacksonville, but when he was six years old, his family relocated to Monticello in the state of Florida. At Jefferson County High, he was a linebacker, center, and guard, and he was an integral part of the Tigers’ run to the state championship his senior year.
The University of Florida was the only school that extended a scholarship offer to Youngblood, and he chose to honor them by being named to the first team of All-Southeastern Conference honorees after his senior year. After that, he was recognized as the Senior Bowl’s Most Outstanding Player in 1971, and the Los Angeles Rams selected him with the 20th overall pick in the draft.
Youngblood spent 14 seasons with Los Angeles, during which time he missed only one game out of a total of 220 that might have been played between the regular season and the playoffs. Between the years 1973 and 1979, he was selected for the Pro Bowl each and every year, and he was named to the All-Pro first team five times during that span. Both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame have recognized Youngblood’s accomplishments by inducting him into their respective halls.
Top Career Achievements of
● 7 Times Pro Bowl Selection (1973-1979)
● 2 Times NFL Sacks Leader in 1974 and 1979
● Saint Louis Football Ring of Fame
● Florida Football Ring of Honor in 2006
● 5 Times First Team All Pro
10. Wilber Marshall OLB (1984-1995)
| Full Name | Wilber Buddyhia Marshall |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Gator Great |
| Date of Birth | April 18, 1962 |
| Age | 60 Years |
| Gender | Male |
| Birth Place | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Residence | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Education | University of Florida |
| Profession | Former Professional American Football Player |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Height | 1.85m / 185cm / 6ft 1in |
| Weight | 105kg / 231 lb |
| Net Worth | $4 Million |
Marshall had one of the most successful high school careers in the history of Florida high school athletics, and he only improved from there. He was honored as an All-American by Parade magazine for his performances as a linebacker, tight end, and place-kicker while he was attending Astronaut High School in Titusville.
During his career at the University of Florida, where he played defense, Marshall earned consensus All-America honors on two separate occasions. In 1999, the Gainesville Sun selected Marshall as the defensive player for the Gators, who had the best century-long performance.
In 1984, Chicago selected him as the 11 overall picks, and during his 4 seasons with the Bears, he helped them achieve a Super Bowl victory and earn two selections for the Pro Bowl. After that, Marshall played for Washington for five seasons, where he was a part of the team that won another Super Bowl and was invited to the Pro Bowl once again.
He finished up his career by playing for the Oilers, the Cardinals, and the Jets, all for one season apiece. During his 12-year career in the National Football League (NFL), Marshall recorded the statistics of 23 interceptions, 24 fumbles, 16 fumble recoveries, and 4 touchdowns. In 2008, je was recognized in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Top Career Achievements of
● Florida Football Ring of Honor in 2007
● 2 Times Super Bowl Champion (XX, XXVI)
● 3 Times All-Pro Selection in 1985-1987 and 1992
Conclusion
American Football has seen incredible picks from Jacksonville, Florida, since quite a long ago. If a dream team were to be made, the ones on this list would definitely dominate the game in their primes. These players have not only achieved great titles but also greatly contributed to and encouraged the American Football scene.
However, the ones in this list do not obviously make up the greatest of all time list. There are surely numerous other star players too, but in terms of Jacksonville, Florida, these 10 NFL players stand out.
These guys have laid out the foundation and set examples for new generations of football players to pursue their careers with more effort and dedication. The football scene in America isn’t done yet; we are sure to see more like these!
People Also Read:
