A list of some of the most famous NFL players from Florida, USA, is here. The NFL is one of the most popular sports in the United States. Overall, 37% of Americans prefer watching the NFL over other sports.
Meanwhile, Florida is home to Three popular NFL teams. From the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, we’ve seen some of the best NFL players emerge from these teams over time.
But who are these famous players from Florida’s NFL teams who have managed to win our hearts and become famous? Worry not! We have compiled this list of ten famous NFL players from Florida.
Top 10 Famous NFL Players from Florida
More than 37% of Americans love to watch the NFL. It is one of the most played sports in the United States. People from all over the USA love to watch and play the NFL in one way or another. Their ambition to pursue a career in American football is growing with time. Florida is not falling behind the competition as well. Florida has brought Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers teams, some of the best teams in the National Football League.
It’s unimaginable to think that Florida hasn’t given us popular NFL players. Here’s the list of 10 of the most famous NFL players from Florida, United States.
| NFL Player Name | City |
| 10. Doug Baldwin | Gulf Breeze, Florida |
| 9. Chad Johnson | Miami Beach, Florida |
| 8. Ryan Shazier | Lauderdale Lakes, Florida |
| 7. Kevin Louis Carter | Miami, Florida |
| 6. Nathaniel Moore | Tallahassee, Florida |
| 5. Emmitt Smith | Pensacola, Florida |
| 4. Ray Lewis | Bartow, Florida |
| 3. Ken Riley | Bartow, Florida |
| 2. Daunte Culpepper | Ocala, Florida |
| 1. Asante Samuel | Accra, Ghana |
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10. Doug Baldwin
Born: September 21, 1988, at Gulf Breeze, Florida
Role: Wide Receiver
NFL Draft: Undrafted (2011)
34-year-old Douglas Dewayne Baldwin Jr. is one of the most famous NFL players from Gulf Breeze, Florida.
Early Days
In his early years, Dough used to play youth football and ran track in Pensacola. From 2007 to 2010, Dough led Stanford in receiving yards as a senior.
But, despite leading the statistics as a senior, Dough went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft. Leaving behind as an undrafted free agent, Baldwin got the opportunity to sign with the Seattle Seahawks for a 3-year deal worth $1.4 million. It would become a great outcome for him and his professional career.
Professional Career
In his professional career, Doug Baldwin became 3rd all-time leader in team receptions and receiving yards and 2nd receiving touchdowns. Baldwin was selected twice in the Pro Bowl games and won the Super Bowl XLVIII with his team.
Doug Baldwin retired from the NFL in 2019 and is now a family man with an NFL background.
9. Chad Johnson
Born: January 9, 1978, in Miami, Florida
Role: Wide Receiver
NFL Draft: 2001
The 44 years old Chad Johnson is a former American football wide receiver and one of the most influential athletes in social media. Chad has played 11 seasons in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, and the Miami Dolphins. In the 2001’s NFL Draft, Johnson was picked by The Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL and played 10 seasons for them.
In 2011, Chad played for the New England Patriots, and later in the next year, Johnson played for the Miami Dolphins. In 2014, Chad took the option to build his career in the CFL.
Professional Career
In his professional NFL career, Chad was selected to the Pro Bowl 6 times and selected to the Pro Bowl four times. Besides all the honors and highlights, Chad is the AFC Champion (2011).
At the end of 2020, Chad Johnson held 10 Bengals franchise records, including Career 1000+ receiving yard seasons (7). Chad Johnson has received multiple honors and awards and has also tried acting, which brought him more popularity.
8. Ryan Shazier
Born: September 6, 1992, at Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Role: Linebacker
NFL Draft: 2014
The former American football linebacker Ryan started his NFL career playing College Football at Ohio State Buckeyes football. He was picked to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers team in the 1st round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Having a few successful first seasons, Shazier made his Pro Bowl appearance in 2016.
Professional Career
Ryan Shazier had a ranking of 3rd best outside linebacker. Later on, the NFLDraftScout.com Ryan was ranked 19th best prospect. He continuously played from 2014 to 2017 NFL from the Pittsburgh Steelers side. Unfortunately, he had to back off from playing the 2018 and 2019 NFL seasons due to a serious Spinal Injury that he received playing against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017’s Monday Night Football.
In 2019, Ryan received the George Halas Award (2019) and announced his retirement in 2020.
7. Kevin Louis Carter
Born: September 21, 1973, in Miami, Florida
Role: Defensive End
NFL Draft: 1995
Kevin is a 49 years old former professional football player from Miami, Florida. He played in the defensive end position in the NFL from the 1990s and 2000s.
Early days
In his early years, Kevin attended Lincoln High School and became a letterman for the Lincoln Trojans high school football and basketball teams.
Professional Career
On March 7, 2005, Kevin signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins and left Miami on March 2, 2007. He continued his NFL career from 1995 to 2008 and received All-American honors, and became Super Bowl champion (XXXIV). Kevin is also inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame and Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame.
6. Nathaniel Moore
Born: September 19, 1951, in Tallahassee, Florida
Role: Wide Receiver
NFL Draft: 1974
The 71 years old American former professional football player Nat Moore is one of the most famous NFL players from Tallahassee, Florida. He is famous for taking Tough Helicopter Hit in 1984.
Early Days
In the early years, Nat attended Miami Edison Senior High School and Miami-Dade Community College. In 1972, Moore transferred from the University of Tennessee to the University of Florida and became a star running back for the Gators.
As a junior, Nathaniel led the Gators and earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC). In 1978, Moore became a “Gator’s Great” by becoming one of the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Famer.
Professional Career
Nathaniel started his professional career by becoming a player for the Miami Dolphins in the 1974’s NFL Draft. From 1974 to 1986, Moore played 13 seasons for the Dolphins in 12 years. By the time of his retirement, Moore had played 183 games and had 510 receptions. Moore is one of the few to receive the “Man of the Year” honor for giving outstanding service to the community.
5. Emmitt James Smith III
Born: May 15, 1969, in Pensacola, Florida
Role: Running Back
NFL Draft: 1990
From Pensacola, Florida, Smith is a 53 years old former American Football Player. In his professional NFL career, Smith has been an RB for 15 seasons.
Early Days
In his early years, Emmitt Smith attended Escambia High School and started playing HS football while running track for the Escambia Gators.
Escambia won two state football championships in Smith’s HS football career. In 2007, 20 years after Smith graduated, he was recognized as the Florida high school football Player of the Century.
Professional Career
Smith ended his college career with the 1989 season and started his professional career in 1990. From 1990–2002 Smith played with the Dallas Cowboys. At first, some NFL teams undervalued his college success and went to look for other players. Despite all the look-downs he faced, he went straight to get the name NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He also received Pro Bowl honors.
Besides Dallas Cowboys, Smith had played for Arizona Cardinals from 2003 to 2004 as a free agent. Being an active player for fourteen straight years, Smith started his new career as a studio analyst in 2005.
4. Raymond Anthony Lewis Jr.
Born: May 15, 1975, in Bartow, Florida
Role: Middle linebacker
NFL Draft: 1996
The former middle linebacker of the Baltimore Ravens, 47 years old, Ray Lewis, is in the most famous NFL players list. Ray is a former American professional football player who started his NFL journey with the Miami Hurricanes. While he was having a college football career, he received All-America honors.
Early days
Well, his early life wasn’t a usual daily life like others. He had an abusive father who would abuse his mother. At an early age, Ray started to take Push-Ups regimen to become strong and protect his mother from his father’s abuses. Later, He started his college career at the University of Miami by becoming a member of the Miami Hurricanes football team.
Professional Career
In the 1996 season, Rey was the top-rated inside linebacker selected in the 1996 NFL Draft. It was the year he started his professional NFL career as a Middle linebacker. He continued his career straight from 1996 to 2012, in which he became 2x NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Lewis along with his team had won the Super Bowl twice in 2000 and 2012. Anyways, Lewis’s wonderful career came to an end in 2013 when he officially announced that he would stop playing after the 2012–13 NFL playoffs.
3. Kenneth Jerome Riley
Born: May 15, 1975, in Bartow, Florida
Role: Middle linebacker
NFL Draft: 1996
Coming from Bartow, Florida, Ken Riley was one of the few underrated NFL players of his time. His position in the NFL was as a Cornerback for his team. He was one of the most efficient defensive backfield members for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Early Days
Riley started his College Football career as a quarterback for Florida A&M University. Trained by Jake Gaither, Riley led his team The Arizona Rattler’s 23-7 record and 3x Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles. Later in 1982, Riley got inducted into Florida A&M’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Professional Career
During the 1969 Common Draft, Riley got picked by the Bengals in the 6th round. His journey with Cincinnati began in its 2nd year in the AFL. After becoming a cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals, Riley never changed or transferred from the team.
Despite holding many records and being a favorite cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals, Riley was not as famous as other players on the list. Despite his successful NFL career, he was out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But he was certainly one of the most underrated famous NFL players of his time.
2. Daunte Culpepper
Born: January 28, 1977, in Ocala, Florida
Position: Quarterback
NFL Draft: 1999
From Ocala, Florida, Daunte is a former American football quarterback who participated in 11 NFL seasons for the Minnesota Vikings. Daunte had his most successful NFL season in 2004 by making a single-season record for the total yardage produced by a quarterback in NFL. Ending his career in the Vikings due to injury, Daunte made his return by playing for the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, and Detroit Lions.
Early Days
In his early years, Daunte started his college career by playing Football for The University of Central Florida (UCF) as a quarterback. In his starting career, Daunte rewrote many records and started to attract many professional American Football teams.
Professional Career
Starting his career with the Minnesota Vikings, Daunte was fast in making success in the NFL. In 2000, Daunte was selected for his first Pro Bowl. Despite having immediate success, Daunte had to go through struggles. In 2001, Daunte suffered a Knee injury along with his seasons. Daunte suffered many losses until 2005 due to poor plays made from 2001 to 2004.
Despite getting linked to the 2005’s Minnesota Vikings boat cruise scandal and having serious injuries, Culpepper goes straight to become one of the most famous NFL players from Florida.
1. Asante T. Samuel Sr.
Born: January 6, 1981, in Accra, Ghana
Role: Cornerback
NFL Draft: 2003
Asante Samuel was born in Accra, Ghana but was raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It will be fair to list him in this list of famous NFL players from Florida. His son Asante Samuel Jr. is also one of the famous NFL players from Florida.
Early Days
In his starting days, Samuel attended the University of Central Florida (UCF) and played for the UCF Knights football team. His early days came to an end after 127 tackles and 8 interceptions, and he made a school record of 38 passes deflected.
Professional Career
Samuel got picked by The New England Patriots in the 2003 NFL Draft. In 2003, Samuel signed a 4-year long contract for $1.68 million. Samuel started for the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX in 2004 after Tyrone Poole and Ty Law was sidelined by injury.
In 2007, Samuel signed a 1-year tender for $7.79 million. By the end of 2007, Samuel was eligible for free agency, soon signing a 6-year contract with the Eagles for $56 million. Samuel was named in the 2008 Pro Bowl and led the New England Patriots to Super Bowl XLII.
In the 2009 season, Samuel broke Troy Vincent’s record of seven interceptions in a season with his eighth interception. In Samuel’s professional NFL career, he was chosen 4 times in Pro Bowl games and won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.
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