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Best NFL players born in Tennessee

Football has long been woven into the cultural fabric of America, and every state has produced its share of gridiron legends. From Hall of Fame quarterbacks to record-setting receivers and defensive stalwarts, some of the NFL's greatest talents trace their roots back to Tennessee.

Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in Tennessee. Players were ranked by weighted career approximate value (AV), a metric developed by Pro Football Reference that measures overall career impact. Data is as of the start of the 2025 NFL season.

This list highlights players who made their mark on the league—some remembered for their longevity, others for their peak dominance. Read on to see which football stars born in Tennessee have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.

#49. Tee Higgins (WR) (tie)
- City: Oak Ridge
- Years played: 2020-2024 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 70
- Weighted career value: 37

#49. Vonn Bell (SS) (tie)
- City: Chattanooga
- Years played: 2016-2024 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 139
- Weighted career value: 37

#47. Jim Mitchell (TE) (tie)
- City: Shelbyville
- Years played: 1969-1979 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 155
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 39

#47. Trevor Lawrence (QB) (tie)
- City: Knoxville
- Years played: 2021-2024 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 60
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 39

#45. John Jerry (G) (tie)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 2010-2019 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 132
- Weighted career value: 40

#45. Tony Pollard (RB) (tie)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 2019-2024 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 95
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 40

#44. Bruce Wilkerson (T)
- City: Loudon
- Years played: 1987-1997 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 147
- Weighted career value: 41

#42. Aubrayo Franklin (DT) (tie)
- City: Johnson City
- Years played: 2003-2013 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 142
- Weighted career value: 42

#42. Michael Oher (T) (tie)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 2009-2016 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 110
- Weighted career value: 42

#39. Derrick Rodgers (LB) (tie)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 1997-2004 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 116
- Weighted career value: 43

#39. Jerome Woods (DB) (tie)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 1996-2005 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 128
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 43

#39. Richard Cooper (T) (tie)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 1990-1998 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 108
- Weighted career value: 43

#37. James Stewart (RB) (tie)
- City: Morristown
- Years played: 1995-2002 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 101
- Weighted career value: 46

#37. Linden King (LB) (tie)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 1978-1989 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 164
- Weighted career value: 46

#36. Mike Cofer (LB)
- City: Knoxville
- Years played: 1983-1992 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 123
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 47

#35. Billy Wade (QB)
- City: Nashville
- Years played: 1954-1966 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 128
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 48

#34. Robert James (DB)
- City: Murfreesboro
- Years played: 1969-1974 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 83
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 49

#33. Bob Reynolds (T)
- City: Nashville
- Years played: 1963-1973 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 141
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 51

#31. John Gordy (G) (tie)
- City: Nashville
- Years played: 1957-1967 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 134
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 52

#31. Lenny Lyles (DB) (tie)
- City: Nashville
- Years played: 1958-1969 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 149
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 52

#26. Mike Harden (DB) (tie)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 1980-1990 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 158
- Weighted career value: 54

#26. Mike Hegman (LB) (tie)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 1976-1987 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 170
- Weighted career value: 54

#26. Ramon Foster (G) (tie)
- City: Henning
- Years played: 2009-2019 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 160
- Weighted career value: 54

#26. Shaq Mason (G) (tie)
- City: Columbia
- Years played: 2015-2024 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 152
- Weighted career value: 54

#26. Tyson Clabo (T) (tie)
- City: Knoxville
- Years played: 2006-2014 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 132
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 54

#24. Chad Pennington (QB) (tie)
- City: Knoxville
- Years played: 2000-2010 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 89
- Weighted career value: 55

#24. Dontari Poe (DT) (tie)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 2012-2020 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 128
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 55

#23. Shelton Quarles (LB)
- City: Nashville
- Years played: 1997-2006 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 148
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 56

#22. Golden Tate (WR)
- City: Hendersonville
- Years played: 2010-2020 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 160
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 58

#21. Harry Galbreath (G)
- City: Clarksville
- Years played: 1988-1996 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 141
- Weighted career value: 60

#20. D.D. Lewis (LB)
- City: Knoxville
- Years played: 1968-1981 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 186
- Weighted career value: 61

#19. Lynn Swann (WR)
- City: Alcoa
- Years played: 1974-1982 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 116
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 62

#16. John Henderson (DT) (tie)
- City: Nashville
- Years played: 2002-2011 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 146
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 64

#16. Raleigh McKenzie (G) (tie)
- City: Knoxville
- Years played: 1985-2000 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 227
- Weighted career value: 64

#16. Randall Cobb (WR) (tie)
- City: Maryville
- Years played: 2011-2023 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 166
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 64

#15. Dont'a Hightower (ILB)
- City: Lewisburg
- Years played: 2012-2021 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 117
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 65

#14. Al Wilson (LB)
- City: Jackson
- Years played: 1999-2006 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 125
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 67

#12. Harrison Smith (FS) (tie)
- City: Knoxville
- Years played: 2012-2024 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 192
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 69

#12. Tim Irwin (T) (tie)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 1981-1994 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 201
- Weighted career value: 69

#11. Chad Clifton (T)
- City: Martin
- Years played: 2000-2011 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 165
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 72

#9. Doug Atkins (DE) (tie)
- City: Humboldt
- Years played: 1953-1969 (15 years as starter)
- Games played: 205
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 78

#9. Mike Stratton (LB) (tie)
- City: Vonore
- Years played: 1962-1973 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 156
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 78

#8. Jalen Ramsey (CB)
- City: Smyrna
- Years played: 2016-2024 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 135
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 79

#7. Jason Witten (TE)
- City: Elizabethton
- Years played: 2003-2020 (16 years as starter)
- Games played: 271
- Pro Bowl selections: 11
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 80

#6. Claude Humphrey (DE)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 1968-1981 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 171
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 84

#5. Gene Hickerson (G)
- City: Trenton
- Years played: 1958-1973 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 202
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 88

#4. Ray Childress (DT)
- City: Memphis
- Years played: 1985-1996 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 163
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 90

#3. Patrick Willis (LB)
- City: Bruceton
- Years played: 2007-2014 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 112
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 5
- Weighted career value: 93

#2. Too Tall Jones (DE)
- City: Jackson
- Years played: 1974-1989 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 224
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 94

#1. Reggie White (DE)
- City: Chattanooga
- Years played: 1985-2000 (15 years as starter)
- Games played: 232
- Pro Bowl selections: 13
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 8
- Weighted career value: 160