The 25 greatest undrafted NFL players of all time

Segregation within the ranks of pro football left the undersized Willis on the outside looking in. That was until he tried out for a new franchise—the Cleveland Browns, run by the legendary Paul Brown. Willis made the team and quickly became the anchor of the Browns' defense. During his eight seasons with the Browns, Willis was named an All-Pro first-teamer six times and was part of four AAFC  championship squads. In 1970, Willis was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

A teammate of the aforementioned Bill Willis in Cleveland, the two essentially broke the color barrier in pro football at the time. While training with the United States Navy during World War II, Motley played on the service team that was coached by Paul Brown. Who, in turn, encouraged Motley to try out for the Cleveland Browns. During his pro career, the Hall-of-Fame rusher rushed for more than 4,700 yards and scored 31 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught more than 80 passes for better than 1,000 yards.

Like Willis and Motley, Gatski also tried out for the Cleveland Browns, for whom he played all but one of his 12 pro seasons. A stout offensive lineman, Gatski paved the way for the likes of Motley to run free. As a pro, Gatski played on four AAFC championship teams and was a member of four NFL champions. The four-time, first-team All-Pro was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

Though undrafted, Tunnell, who played football in the U.S. Coast Guard, was the first black player to sign and play for the New York Giants. He played with the franchise for 11 of his 14 seasons and won a world championship with them in 1956. Tunnell earned a spot in Canton for recording 79 career interceptions, which rank second in NFL history. His 1,282 interception return yards are also among the top 10 in league history. Tunnell, who played in 158 straight games, also enjoyed success as a punt returner. 

Another undrafted Hall of Fame player who starred for the Cleveland Browns. In fact, Groza played his entire career with the Browns and was part of an eight league championship squad. One of the first kickers to routinely make field goals of 50 yards or more, Groza retired as the NFL leader for field goals (234), extra points (641), and total points (1,349). Including his time with the Browns in AAFC, Groza made good on 57.8 percent of his field-goal attempts and 97.6 percent of his extra-point tries.

The first black player to win the NFL MVP. Perry did so in 1954, while running for 1,049 yards and 10 touchdowns for the San Francisco 49ers. For his career, spent mostly with San Francisco, Perry ran for more than 8,300 yards with 53 touchdowns. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969. Not bad for a guy whose college ball was played at Compton (Calif.) Junior College. 

Butler joined the Pittsburgh Steelers on the recommendation of the brother of team owner Art Rooney Sr.  Consider that more than sound advice. Butler went on to enjoy a Hall-of-Fame career with the Steelers, recording 52 interceptions and earning four Pro Bowl selections. His 10 interceptions led the NFL in 1957.

After playing football at a junior college and during his military service, Lane walked into the Los Angeles Rams' offices and asked for a tryout. The rest was history. The Hall-of-Fame defensive back recorded 27 of his 68 interceptions in his first three seasons while starring for the Rams and Chicago Cardinals. Lane was both a seven-time All-Pro first-teamer and Pro Bowl pick. As for the nickname: According to The Los Angeles Times, Lane got his famous nickname from some teammates because he enjoyed dancing to the R&B hit "Night Train" by Jimmy Forrest during training camp.

Wood played quarterback at USC, but after getting a tryout with the Green Bay Packers was moved to defensive back. The rest was Hall-of-Fame history.  He totaled 48 career interceptions and was named to eight Pro Bowls and was a five-time first-team All-Pro. Wood, who spent his entire career with the Packers, was part of eight NFL championship teams and two Super Bowl winners. 

Tingelghoff was a decorated player at Nebraska, but went undrafted. However, he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings and spent his entire, lengthy career with the team. Tingelhoff was a starter as a rookie and a true ironman, starting 240 regular-season games and 19 playoff contests. A five-time All-Pro first-teamer and six times selected to the Pro Bowl, Tingelhoff was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. 

Brown played his college ball at Grambling, but eventually found his way to the American Football League. However, he was initially cut by the Houston Oilers before getting his shot in Denver (1963-68). He then cemented his Hall of Fame career with the Oakland Raiders (1967-78). A two-time All-Pro performer with the Raiders, Brown won a Super Bowl in Oakland and posted 54 interceptions for his career.

Thomas went from tiny Bishop College in Dallas to a Hall of Fame career spent entirely with the Kansas City Chiefs. Thomas' 58 career interceptions are the most of any Chiefs player, and 12 of those came in 1974, when he led the league in that department. He also returned five interceptions for touchdowns during a career that included five Pro Bowl nods and a Super Bowl victory.

Out of Bethune-Cookman, Little played his first two seasons in San Diego, but became an NFL legend while spending the rest of his career with the Miami Dolphins. One of the greatest guards in the history of the league, Little won two Super Bowl championships with the Dolphins, highlighted by that undefeated run in 1972. In addition, Little was a five-time, first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl pick. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame  in 1993.

Joining the aforementioned Larry Little on those dominant Miami Dolphins teams of the 1970s, Langer is one of five players in franchise history to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of ineligibility. Pretty impressive considering his introduction to the NFL was getting cut by the Cleveland Browns. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and four-time, first-team All-Pro with Miami, and often considered by NFL historians as one of the greatest centers of all time. 

Undrafted out of Tulsa, Pearson signed with the Dallas Cowboys and made the team due to his special teams. By his second season of 1974, Pearson was a 1,000-yard receiver. When his career, all spent in Dallas, ended in 1983, Pearson amassed 489 receptions for 7,822 yards with 48 touchdowns. Three times, he was named first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler. In 2021, Pearson was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A member of the famed "Hogs," starring for Washington, Jacoby enjoyed massive amounts of individual and team success for an undrafted player. One of the premier offensive tackles throughout the 1980s, Jacoby was selected to four consecutive Pro Bowls and was a three-time, first-team All-Pro. Perhaps most impressive, Jacoby was a big reason Washington appeared in four Super Bowls during his tenure, winning three of them. 

In college, Moon was a star at Washington. But the NFL didn't think he could cut it at that level, so Moon turned to the CFL, where in six seasons he became one of the league's greatest players while leading Edmonton to five Grey Cup titles. In 1984, Moon finally got his NFL shot, signing with the Houston Oilers. He played 17 seasons in the league, made the Pro Bowl nine times, and was NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1990. For his NFL career, which spanned four teams, Moon threw for more than 49,000 yards with 291 touchdowns. He threw for more than 4,000 yards four times. 

One of the greatest success stories in NFL history. Mills played his college ball at New Jersey's Montclair State, but at 5-9, he was not drafted. He signed with Cleveland, but was cut and suffered the same fate with Toronto of the CFL. However, Mills made a name for himself in the USFL. That led to another shot at the NFL, where he followed Jim Mora, his coach from the USFL, to the New Orleans Saints. Between the Saints and Chargers, the late Mills posted 1,319 tackles, 20 1/2 sacks, and 11 interceptions. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.  

Perhaps the greatest undrafted player in NFL history, Randle ranks among the all-time leaders with 137 1/2 sacks earned during his Hall-of-Fame career (1990-2003), mostly spent with Minnesota. Considered one of the game's hardest workers, the undersized Randle got that ethic growing up, where he picked watermelons, worked in an oil field, and dreamed of being a garbage man. After going undrafted in 1990, Randle actually tried out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before landing in Minnesota.

Undrafted out of South Dakota State, Vinatieri went on to become the NFL's all-time leading with 2,673 points. During his 24-year NFL career (spent between New England and Indianapolis), Vinatieri also set league records for made field goals (599) and postseason points (238). A three-time, first-team All-Pro, Vinatieri kicked the winning field goals in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXVIII for New England. He won another Super Bowl with the Patriots and one with Indianapolis.

The undrafted quarterback from Northern Iowa spent time bagging groceries, then played some arena ball and in NFL Europe before getting his shot with the St. Louis Rams. Then, after Trent Green got hurt in 1999, Warner's path to the Hall of Fame began. During his 12-year career, Warner threw for 32,344 yards, 208 touchdowns, 128 interceptions, was a two-time NFL MVP (1999, 2001), and won a Super Bowl. 

At 6-feet tall, Harrison was considered too small to thrive in the NFL coming out of college at Kent State. Thus, he went undrafted; however, he was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though it took some time, and dues were paid, Harrison eventually became a starter by his fifth season. From 2008-'10, Harrison recorded 36 1/2 of his 84 1/2 career sacks. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and won two Super Bowls with the Steelers. 

After stops at Michigan State and Eastern Michigan, Gates found a home playing basketball at Kent State. However, with the NBA not in his future, Gates managed to work his way to try out for NFL scouts. That's all it took for Gates to begin his career in the NFL, where he recorded 116 touchdowns (an NFL record for touchdowns). Gates spent his entire NFL career with the Chargers, where he caught 955 passes for 11,841 yards. The eight-time Pro Bowler is the first player elected into the Hall of Fame who did not play college football.

Welker's 903 receptions are the most in NFL history by an undrafted free agent. While most of those came with New England (2007-'12), he made a name for himself with Miami in 2006. Three times Welker led the NFL in receptions (2007, 2009, 2011), and caught more than 100 passes on five occasions. Welker was a five-time Pro Bowl and twice named a first-team All-Pro.

Football fans might not know that Peters came out of Arkansas as a tight end. After foregoing his senior season for the NFL Draft, Peters was not selected but signed by the Buffalo Bills. Peters was eventually made into an offensive lineman, where he was a full-time starter by 2006. Then it was off to Philadelphia, where he spent 11 seasons (2009-'20) and became an Eagles legend while making nine Pro Bowls and helping the franchise win a Super Bowl.