The University of Nebraska was founded in 1869, less than two years after Nebraska was granted statehood. While their football program also got its start in the 19th century (the first game was held in late November of 1890), the university didn’t have a football coach until three years later. It took a while for the school to settle on a team name, but fortunately the sports editor of the “Nebraska State Journal,” Charles “Cy” Sherman, called them the Cornhuskers in 1900, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Since those early days, Nebraska’s football teams and their players have brought home a number of impressive awards, including five national titles, three Heisman Trophies (Johnny Rodgers, 1972; Mike Rozier, 1983; and Eric Crouch, 2001), and a slew of other awards throughout their impressive history. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is one such player – he received the Outland, Lombardi, Bronko Nagurski, and Chuck Bednarik awards, and was also named the AP College Player of the Year in 2009.
Unsurprisingly, there have been many former Huskers drafted into the NFL (or signed as an undrafted free agent), including Link Lyman, Guy Chamberlin, Boomer Brown, Will Shields, and Mick Tingelhoff – all Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees. Let’s take a look to see which former Nebraska football players are currently playing in the NFL.
Cornhuskers in the Game
There are 26 former Huskers in the NFL today. As we glance over the current players list, one of the biggest names that stands out is Ndamukong Suh, the former Nebraska superstar who continued a high level of play in the pros. Suh has been elected to five Pro Bowls over his career, which got its start in 2010 when he was drafted No. 2 overall by the Detroit Lions (he currently plays for the Miami Dolphins). He’s also been selected to the First-Team All-Pro three times and has been a sack machine over his seven-plus years of professional play (he has 49 sacks and counting).
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaEUXhADB62/?taken-by=ndamukong_suh
Another player to mention is Prince Amukamara, who earned the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 while at Nebraska and is a one-time All-American. He was drafted in 2011, 19th overall, by the New York Giants, and was part of a championship winning team his rookie year. Amukamara currently plays for the Chicago Bears.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaMwvutAOUl/?taken-by=princeamukamara
Richie Incognito is another former Husker currently playing in the NFL. Incognito entered the NFL in the third round of the 2005 draft for the St. Louis Rams after a great Nebraska college career, and has been selected to three Pro Bowls during his time in the NFL. Incognito currently plays for the Buffalo Bills.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZyjdRIlDZS/?taken-by=68incognito
Go Big Red
If you’ve been following the Huskers for decades, or you’re a newer fan of this brand of college ball, make sure you’re properly suited up for a visit to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, by visiting Fanatics. You’ll find loads of authentic Nebraska gear, including shirts, hoodies, and hats.
Sources
- https://nebraska.edu/history-mission.html?redirect=true
- http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=1060800
- http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&&&SPSID=230&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=606981
- http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=2803
- http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=194247
- https://www.si.com/college-football/2009/12/22/suh-poy
- http://www.profootballhof.com/players/william-roy-link-lyman/
- http://www.profootballhof.com/players/guy-chamberlin/
- http://www.profootballhof.com/players/bob-boomer-brown/
- http://www.profootballhof.com/players/will-shields/
- http://www.profootballhof.com/players/mick-tingelhoff/
- https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SuhxNd99.htm
- https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/prince-amukamara-1.html
- https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AmukPr00.htm
- https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201202050nwe.htm
- https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/I/IncoRi20.htm
