First overall NFL draft picks

Orenthal James Simpson, also known by his nickname "the Juice", was an American professional football player, actor, and media personality who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills. Simpson is regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time, but his success was overshadowed by his criminal trial and contentious acquittal for the murders of his former wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994.

Peyton Williams Manning is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons. Nicknamed "the Sheriff", he spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and four with the Denver Broncos. Manning is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. A member of the Manning football dynasty, he is the second son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, older brother of former NFL quarterback Eli Manning, and uncle of Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, winning the Maxwell, Davey O'Brien, and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards as a senior en route to victory in the 1997 SEC Championship Game.

American football player and actor (1945–2011)

American football player and sports analyst (born 1948)

American football player (born 1981)

John Albert Elway Jr. is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 16-year career as a quarterback with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Following his playing career, he then spent 11 years with the Broncos in various front office positions, eventually being promoted to general manager. Elway and former backup quarterback and head coach Gary Kubiak are the only individuals to be associated with all three of the Broncos' Super Bowl wins.

Troy Kenneth Aikman is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. After transferring from the Oklahoma Sooners, he played college football for the UCLA Bruins and won the Davey O'Brien Award as a senior. Aikman was selected first overall in the 1989 NFL draft by the Cowboys, where he was named to six Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls. He was also named MVP of Super Bowl XXVII, the franchise's first title in over a decade. Aikman was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Cameron Jerrell Newton is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers. Nicknamed "Super Cam", he is second in career quarterback rushing touchdowns and third in career quarterback rushing yards. Following a stint with the Florida Gators, Newton played college football for the Auburn Tigers, winning the Heisman Trophy and the 2011 BCS National Championship Game as a junior. He was selected first overall by the Panthers in the 2011 NFL draft.

American football player (born 1996)

American football player (born 1989)

American football player (born 1980)

American football player (born 1984)

American football player (born 1987)

American football player (born 1994)

American football player (1939–1963)

Myles Lorenz Garrett is an American professional football defensive end for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, receiving unanimous All-American honors in 2016. Selected first overall by the Browns in the 2017 NFL draft, Garrett is the team's all-time career sacks leader. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and 2025 and has earned seven Pro Bowl and five first-team All-Pro selections. Garrett holds the NFL single season sack record (23), which he set in 2025.

William Trevor Lawrence is an American professional football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). Considered among the highest-touted college football prospects, he won the 2019 National Championship Game as a freshman with the Clemson Tigers and set the school's record for quarterback wins. Lawrence was selected first overall by the Jaguars in the 2021 NFL draft. In his second season, Lawrence led the Jaguars to their first division title since 2017 and earned Pro Bowl honors. He led the team to another division title in 2025.

Baker Reagan Mayfield is an American professional football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Following one season of college football with the Texas Tech Red Raiders, he played for the Oklahoma Sooners, becoming the first walk-on player to win the Heisman Trophy. He was selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL draft.

American football and baseball player (born 1962)

John Matthew Stafford is an American professional football quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, receiving first-team All-American honors in 2008, and was selected first overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL draft. Ranking in the top 10 of all time in pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns, Stafford is currently sixth all time in passing yards per game and the fastest player in NFL history to have reached 40,000 career passing yards.

American football player (born 2000)

American football player (born 1979)

American football player (1935–2020)

American football player (born 1994)

Kyler Cole Murray is an American professional football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Following one season of college football with the Texas A&M Aggies, Murray played for the Oklahoma Sooners, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2018. Murray was selected first overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL draft. He was also selected ninth overall by the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the 2018 draft, making him the first player drafted in the first round of both sports.

Bryce Christopher Young is an American professional football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, setting the school record for most passing yards in a single game (559) and winning several player of the year awards in 2021, including the Heisman Trophy. Young was selected first overall by the Panthers in the 2023 NFL draft. In the 2025 season, he helped lead the Panthers to their first playoff appearance since 2017 and first division title since 2015.

American football player (1937-2018)

American football player (born 1985)

American football player (born 1963)

American football player (born 1947)

American football player, quarterback

American actor and American football player (1950–1989)

All-American college football player, professional football player, quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner

American football player (born 1955)

American football player

American football player, quarterback

American football player (born 1985)

American football player (born 1991)

Caleb Williams is an American professional football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Following one season of college football with the Oklahoma Sooners, he played for the USC Trojans and won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 after setting single-season school records in passing yards and touchdowns.

Wikimedia list article

American football player

American football player (1925-2015)

American football player (born 1985)

American football player (1921-2010)

American football player and sportscaster (1919–1990)

American football player (born 1993)

American football player (1921–2022)

All-American college football player, professional football player, defensive lineman, College Football Hall of Fame member

American football player (born 2002)

All-American college football player, professional football player, wide receiver

American footballer (1933-1998)

American football player (1959-2025)

American football player (born 1977)

American football player (1930-2015)

American football player and coach, shot putter (1913-2002)

Fernando Gabriel Mendoza V is an American professional football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Mendoza played college football for the California Golden Bears before transferring to the Indiana Hoosiers in 2025, where he won the Heisman Trophy en route to a national championship. He was selected by the Raiders first overall in the 2026 NFL draft.

American football player (1954-2011)

college football player, professional football player, quarterback, All-American, Heisman Trophy winner, U.S. Marine (1921-1999)

American football player (1928-2002)

American football player, halfback, Heisman Trophy winner (1914-2002)