NFL Football Factories: Colleges That Produce the Most NFL Players

• • Notre Dame has put the most players in the NFL with 644, followed by USC (583), Ohio State (563), and Michigan (484).

• • Ohio State and Alabama have the most players on 2025–26 NFL rosters (72 each), with Georgia close behind at 69.
• • Notre Dame and USC are tied with the most NFL Hall of Famers (14 each); Miami and Pittsburgh are next with 11 HOFers each.

• • Despite the college pipeline, 478 NFL players have never attended college. Only 1.6% of college athletes reach the NFL.

Notre Dame: The College That Has Produced the Most NFL Players All-Time

The University of Notre Dame holds leading claims to producing the most NFL players in history. The University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, has pumped out an astonishing 644 players who have played in the NFL.

In 1936, halfback William ‘Bill’ Shakespeare was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers third overall to become the first player from Notre Dame. 89 years later, some of the best football players to grace the gridiron have attended the university. Joe Montana, Joe Theismann, Tim Brown, and Jerome Bettis all call Notre Dame their alma mater.

USC: Closest Challenger in the Race for Most NFL Players

The University of Southern California (USC) consistently battles Notre Dame not just on the field, but in NFL player production as well. With 583 players, USC ranks second all-time among colleges producing pro talent. Marcus Allen, Lynn Swann, Ronnie Lott, Junior Seau, and Anthony Muñoz are products of the Trojans’ illustrious football program.

Ohio State and Michigan Among Top NFL-Producing Colleges

Two huge college rivals check in with the third- and fourth-most NFL players: Ohio State University (563) and the University of Michigan (484). Some of the most recognizable players in NFL history went to Ohio State and Michigan, including Paul Warfield and a guy you might be familiar with by the name of Tom Brady.

Players Who Reached the NFL Without Playing College Football

Interestingly, 478 NFL players historically never attended college. The vast majority of them are from the early era of NFL football when college was less important.

However, New Orleans Saints’ Pro Bowl WR Michael Lewis, who played from 2001 to 2007, never enrolled in a college program. His career shows there’s still a way to the league outside of NCAA football.

Ohio State and Alabama Lead All Colleges With the Most NFL Players in the 2025–26 Season

For the 2025-26 season, there is a tie between Ohio State University and the University of Alabama for the most players on an NFL roster. Both of these football juggernauts have 72 players active this season.

Nick Bosa, Terry McLaurin, CJ Stroud, and Garrett Wilson are a handful of the most well-known current players that call Ohio State their alma mater. The Buckeyes are once again favored at college football betting sites to win the national title.

Likewise, Alabama is well-represented in 2025-26, with Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jalen Hurts carrying the Crimson Tide flag in the NFL.

Georgia Close Behind With One of the Largest NFL Player Totals

The University of Georgia is narrowly behind Ohio State and Alabama this season. The Georgia Bulldogs have 69 former players roaming the field in the NFL currently.

Matthew Stafford, who is also the oldest, is playing at an MVP caliber in 2025-26. George Pickens, Roquan Smith, and Brock Bowers are other examples of former Bulldogs making an impact.

Michigan and LSU Round Out the Top Five NFL-Producing Colleges for 2025–26

Following Georgia, there is a drop-off to the University of Michigan, with 57 players. The LSU Tigers wrap up the top five with 50 former players on an NFL roster.

You’ll see players from all of these schools in NFL mock drafts for 2026, and they’ll add to their current totals!

Notre Dame and USC Lead All Colleges With the Most NFL Hall of Famers

One of the best ways to measure the long-term success of a college football program is by the number of alumni who make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And once again, two of the sport’s greatest institutions sit at the top: Notre Dame and USC, each producing 14 NFL Hall of Famers, the most of any college.

While both schools share the No. 1 spot, it’s worth noting that USC has sent fewer total players to the NFL since 1936, giving the Trojans a slightly higher Hall of Fame rate. Regardless, both programs have shaped the league through nearly a century of elite talent.

In addition to Bettis, Montana, and Brown, Alan Page, David Casper, George Trafton, and Earl “Curly” Lambeau are all in the NFL Hall of Fame after attending Notre Dame. The Trojans have names etched in football lore, too, including Allen, Swann, Lott, Seau, Muñoz, and O.J. Simpson.

Miami and Pittsburgh Follow as Top Producers of NFL Hall of Famers

The Miami Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Panthers are also well-regarded as NFL Hall of Fame factories. The University of Miami and the University of Pittsburgh have each produced 11 players who have been enshrined. Household names such as Michael Irvin, Ray Lewis, Warren Sapp, and Jim Kelly parlayed a successful career at Miami into a Hall of Fame career in the NFL.

Pittsburgh also boasts quite the impressive list, which includes Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett, Dan Marino, and Darrelle Revis in the NFL Hall of Fame.