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 New York.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in New York. 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 New York have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#50. Seth Payne (DT)
- City: Clifton Springs
- Years played: 1997-2006 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 121
- Weighted career value: 50
#49. Will Smith (DE)
- City: Queens
- Years played: 2004-2012 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 139
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 52
#48. John Brockington (RB)
- City: Brooklyn
- Years played: 1971-1977 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 95
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 53
#45. Dorsey Levens (RB) (tie)
- City: Syracuse
- Years played: 1994-2004 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 144
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 54
#45. John Sullivan (C) (tie)
- City: Mt. Kisco
- Years played: 2008-2018 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 153
- Weighted career value: 54
#45. Pierre Garcon (WR) (tie)
- City: Carmel
- Years played: 2008-2018 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 148
- Weighted career value: 54
#43. Lance Rentzel (WR) (tie)
- City: Queens
- Years played: 1965-1974 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 115
- Weighted career value: 56
#43. Ricky Proehl (WR) (tie)
- City: Bronx
- Years played: 1990-2006 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 244
- Weighted career value: 56
#40. DaQuan Jones (DT) (tie)
- City: Johnson City
- Years played: 2014-2024 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 155
- Weighted career value: 57
#40. Donovan Smith (T) (tie)
- City: Hempstead
- Years played: 2015-2023 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 136
- Weighted career value: 57
#40. John Schmitt (C) (tie)
- City: Brooklyn
- Years played: 1964-1974 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 130
- Weighted career value: 57
#35. D'Brickashaw Ferguson (T) (tie)
- City: New York
- Years played: 2006-2015 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 160
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 58
#35. George Starke (T) (tie)
- City: New York
- Years played: 1973-1984 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 156
- Weighted career value: 58
#35. John Mackey (TE) (tie)
- City: Queens
- Years played: 1963-1972 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 139
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 58
#35. Otis Wilson (LB) (tie)
- City: New York
- Years played: 1980-1989 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 110
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 58
#35. Saquon Barkley (RB) (tie)
- City: Bronx
- Years played: 2018-2024 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 90
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 58
#33. Adewale Ogunleye (DE) (tie)
- City: Brooklyn
- Years played: 2001-2010 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 130
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 59
#33. Jim Dombrowski (G) (tie)
- City: Williamsville
- Years played: 1986-1996 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 151
- Weighted career value: 59
#32. Dave Costa (DT)
- City: Yonkers
- Years played: 1963-1974 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 168
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- Weighted career value: 60
#30. Lance Smith (G) (tie)
- City: New York
- Years played: 1985-1996 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 182
- Weighted career value: 61
#30. Shane Conlan (LB) (tie)
- City: Frewsburg
- Years played: 1987-1995 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 120
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 61
#28. Jumbo Elliott (T) (tie)
- City: Lake Ronkonkoma
- Years played: 1988-2002 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 197
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 62
#28. Ron Heller (T) (tie)
- City: East Meadow
- Years played: 1984-1995 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 172
- Weighted career value: 62
#27. Ray Rice (RB)
- City: New Rochelle
- Years played: 2008-2013 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 92
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 63
#23. Mark May (G) (tie)
- City: Oneonta
- Years played: 1981-1993 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 159
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 64
#23. Rob Moore (WR) (tie)
- City: East Meadow
- Years played: 1990-1999 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 153
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 64
#23. Roman Phifer (LB) (tie)
- City: Plattsburgh
- Years played: 1991-2005 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 212
- Weighted career value: 64
#23. Ronnie Harmon (RB) (tie)
- City: Queens
- Years played: 1986-1997
- Games played: 181
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 64
#22. Larry Eisenhauer (DE)
- City: Hicksville
- Years played: 1961-1969 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 115
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 65
#20. Butch Byrd (DB) (tie)
- City: Watervliet
- Years played: 1964-1971 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 112
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 3
- Weighted career value: 67
#20. Marco Rivera (G) (tie)
- City: Brooklyn
- Years played: 1997-2006 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 155
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 67
#19. Dave Waymer (DB)
- City: New York
- Years played: 1980-1992 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 197
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 68
#17. Devin McCourty (DB) (tie)
- City: Nyack
- Years played: 2010-2022 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 205
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 71
#17. Tom Rafferty (C) (tie)
- City: Syracuse
- Years played: 1976-1989 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 203
- Weighted career value: 71
#15. Ken O'Brien (QB) (tie)
- City: Rockville Centre
- Years played: 1984-1993 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 129
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 73
#15. Mike Merriweather (LB) (tie)
- City: Albany
- Years played: 1982-1993 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 149
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 73
#14. Keith Bulluck (LB)
- City: Suffern
- Years played: 2000-2010 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 170
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 74
#12. Chandler Jones (DE) (tie)
- City: Rochester
- Years played: 2012-2022 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 154
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 77
#12. Ed Newman (G) (tie)
- City: New York
- Years played: 1973-1984 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 167
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 77
#11. Rob Gronkowski (TE)
- City: Amherst
- Years played: 2010-2021 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 143
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 4
- Weighted career value: 78
#10. Trevor Pryce (DT)
- City: New York
- Years played: 1997-2010 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 187
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 80
#9. Seth Joyner (LB)
- City: Spring Valley
- Years played: 1986-1998 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 195
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 84
#7. Lyle Alzado (DE) (tie)
- City: Brooklyn
- Years played: 1971-1985 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 196
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 85
#7. Ron Jaworski (QB) (tie)
- City: Lackawanna
- Years played: 1974-1989 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 188
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 85
#6. Randy Cross (G)
- City: Brooklyn
- Years played: 1976-1988 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 185
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 86
#5. Bill Bergey (LB)
- City: South Dayton
- Years played: 1969-1980 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 159
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 87
#4. Art Monk (WR)
- City: White Plains
- Years played: 1980-1995 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 224
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 90
#3. Kevin Greene (LB)
- City: New York
- Years played: 1985-1999 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 228
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 93
#2. Vinny Testaverde (QB)
- City: New York
- Years played: 1987-2007 (15 years as starter)
- Games played: 233
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 97
#1. Boomer Esiason (QB)
- City: West Islip
- Years played: 1984-1997 (12 years as starter)
- Games played: 187
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 106