Dick Lebeau was a Pro Bowl NFL star and is also regarded as one of the greatest defensive
masterminds as a coach.
Discover which Buckeye stars have made the biggest impact in Pro Football
The Big 10 power is a leader in Pro Football Hall of Fame Members
Few colleges can match the presence that the Buckeyes have in Canton and more appear to be headed to the Hall soon.
Ohio State Buckeyes in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
With eight former players enshrined in Canton, the University ranks in the top
echelon of college programs that have produced the NFL all-time best.
Of all Ohio State players who have impacted the NFL, Jim Parker’s accomplishments
continue to stand tall.
Cris Carter:
“All he does is catch touchdowns.” That’s a phrase that will forever
be linked to this former Buckeye who was drafted by Philadelphia in the 1987
supplemental draft. Carter was an 8-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time
First-team All-Pro in his career that spanned 16 seasons for the Eagles, Vikings
and Dolphins. With his 2013 inclusion into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Carter
became the 8th Buckeye to gain the honor.
Buckeye to be selected first in
the NFL Draft when the Rams
picked him in 1997.
Eddie George:
The 1995 Heisman
winner was selected in the first round of
the ’96 draft by the Houston Oilers. In
nine seasons, George surpassed the
1,000-yard mark seven times and
surpassed the 10,000 career rushing
mark.
Sid Gillman:
Inducted in 1983. Although he played only on pro season, (1936
Cleveland Rams), Gilliam is known as an innovator who helped develop the deep
passing game that still thrives today. Gilliam also won the 1963 AFL
Championship as a head coach and mentored
Santonio Holmes won Super Bowl XLIII MVP honors with a
tremendous receiving performance that included a 6-yard TD reception with 35 seconds left in the game.
The clutch catch enabled
Pittsburgh to defeat Arizona.
Further boosting Holmes’ MVP
credentials were his overall 9
receptions for 131 yards and a
score. Four of those catches came
in the Steelers last-minute winning drive.
future coaching legends such as
Chuck Noll, Dick Vermeil, George Allen and Don Coryell.
Randy Gradishar:
After earning
All-American honors for OSU in 1972
and ’73, Gradishar was drafted by the
Denver Broncos with the overall 14th
selection of the 1974 NFL Draft. The LB
was a 5-time First Team All-Pro
selection and was the 1978 NFL
Defensive Player of the Year.
Since 1992, college football’s top placekicker has received this award named after the former Buckeye.
Lou Groza:
Inducted in 1974. Following his one season as a Buckeye, Groza
served a stint in the Army before joining the Cleveland Browns in 1946. Known as
the “Toe”, Groza played and incredible 21 years. Although he briefly retired for one
season (1960), Groza played through 1967. Groza earned a place on the NFL
1950s All-Decade Team primarily as a kicker, but he also played offensive tackle
(6-time All-Pro) for the Browns. Overall he was a 9-time All-Pro. The award that
goes to the top collegiate placekicker is named in his honor.
Dante Lavelli:
Inducted in 1975. Not only was Lavelli regarded as a hero on the
gridiron, but the former Buckeye and Cleveland Brown was a World War II veteran
who landed at Omaha Beach and was in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.
Follwing his military service, Lavelli joined Cleveland for the 1946 season and
played with the franchise for 11 seasons. Known as “Gluefingers”, the wide
receiver was named to the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team.
Lou Groza led the NFL in field
goals made six separate
seasons.
Dick Lebeau:
Inducted in 2010. After being selected by Cleveland with in the 5th
round of the 1959 NFL Draft (58th overall), Lebeau emerged as one of the top
interception leaders of all-time with 62 picks through his 14-season career with the
Detroit Lions. LeBeau is also regarded as one of the greatest defensive minds of
all time as a NFL defensive coach for more than 3 decades.
Nick Mangold:
Since being drafted
in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft
by the NY Jets, Mangold has not only
been a fixture at center, but one of the
league’s top linemen. Through the
2011 season, Mangold had earned
All-Pro honors in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Know as one of the hardest hitters
in NFL history, Jack Tatum was
drafted by the Raiders in the 1st
round of the 1971 draft (19th
overall) by the Raiders. Tatum
earned 3 Pro Bowls while totaling
37 Int’s from 1971-1980
Orlando Pace:
After being the first
selection of the 1997 NFL Draft,
Orlando Pace was a 5-time All-Pro and
a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade
Team. Pace played all but one season
for St. Louis before retiring in 2009 after
one season with the Bears.
Jim Parker:
Inducted in 1973. After a Buckeye career that saw Parker earn
All-American honors and the 1956 Outland Trophy, Parker was drafted by the
Baltimore Colts with the 8th overall selection of the 1958 NFL Draft. Parker was a
10-time All-Pro selection in his 11-year career and was named to the NFL 1050s
All-Decade Team and the NFL’s 75th All-time Team.
Paul Warfield led the NFL in
receiving TD’s in 1968 with
Cleveland (12) and 1971 as a
Dolphin (11).
Ed Sabol:
Inducted in 2011. Co-founder of NFL films
Paul Warfield:
Inducted in 1983. After being a two-time All-Big halfback,
Warfield excelled as a wide receiver during 14 pro seasons that saw him 
win an
NFL Championship with Cleveland and two Super Bowls with Miami. Warfield was
a 6-time First Team All-Pro and is a member of the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.
Bill Willis:
Inducted in 1977. Following his collegiate career that saw Willis end
All-America honors as a lineman, he joined the Cleveland Browns in 1946. Willis
was an All-Pro selection for all 8 of his pro seasons and is a member of the NFL
1940s All-Decade Team.
