Auburn Football: 10 Greatest Tigers in NFL History

Auburn University has been a consistent producer of NFL talent with a number of impact pros coming from the Tigers in the past. There are a number of talented Tigers that have done well in the NFL, but 10 have risen to be the greatest Tigers in NFL history.

The Auburn Tigers have seen over 250 of their alumni make it to the NFL over the years, with a number of those earning All-Pro honors and playing in more than a few Super Bowls. The Tigers have a rich tradition of placing talent in the pros with all signs pointing to that tradition continuing well into the future.

Auburn had 30 players on NFL rosters this past season with a number of them serving in impact roles. The most obvious of those current stars was Cam Newton, earning Rookie of the Year honors this past season.

Auburn has become known as Running Back U over the years, but there are also a number of talented linebackers that have made waves for the Tigers in the NFL. Defense is undoubtedly the Tigers' strong suit in the professional ranks.

Here are the top 10 Tigers in NFL history. 

Tucker Frederickson: 1965-1971

Tucker Frederickson was one of the first in a line of running backs to come through Auburn and move on to the professional ranks. Frederickson was the first overall draft choice by the New York Giants in 1965, when he was honored with a Pro Bowl appearance and went on to a good career until a knee injury cut his time short.

Frederickson produced over 3,000 all-purpose yards in his time with the Giants, scoring 17 total touchdowns as a fullback. Frederickson did not produce the best statistics of all the Tigers on this list, but his contribution was huge for the Giants before his injury.

Frederickson will be remembered as a great Tiger player, as he is currently a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, but his time in the NFL can’t be forgotten either. 

Mike Kolen: 1970-1977

Mike Kolen played for the Miami Dolphins for his entire NFL career, playing during the height of the Miami franchise. Kolen was a linebacker that gained the nickname “Captain Crunch” for his hard-hitting play.

Kolen was a part of two Super Bowl-winning squads during his time with the Dolphins and was a part of some of the NFL’s greatest teams while serving as a starting linebacker.

His participation with the famous Miami teams has etched him in NFL history.

James Brooks: 1981-1992

James Brooks was one of many successful Auburn Tigers running backs to make a great career in the NFL. Brooks spent 12 seasons in the pros, amassing 7,962 rushing yards on 1,685 carries. He also caught another 297 passes for 3,012 yards.

Brooks was a four-time Pro Bowl selection starting in 1986, with his consecutive streak ending in 1990. Brooks produced three seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards, while in two other seasons, he finished just shy of the 1,000-yard mark.

Brooks finished his career with a 4.7-yard rushing average, which may be his most impressive stat.

Brooks was an impact player in his time in the NFL, as he remains in the top 25 all-time leading scorers in NFL history. 

Al Del Greco: 1984-2000

Al Del Greco is one of many in a line of great specialists that have come through Auburn. Del Greco translated his collegiate success into a very lengthy and successful career in the NFL.

Del Greco played 17 seasons in the NFL.

Del Greco finished with 1,584 total points scored in his career, leaving him as the No. 16 total points scorer in NFL history. Del Greco finished his career with a 77.3 field-goal percentage and a 98.5 extra-point percentage. 

Kevin Greene: 1985-1999

Kevin Greene began his Auburn playing career as a walk-on but finished his playing career as one of the best linebackers in NFL history. Greene had a lengthy career as a player, still impacting the professional ranks as a coach for the Green Bay Packers.

Greene had a very productive NFL career, producing 160 sacks, the most ever by a linebacker in the NFL. Greene also stands at No. 3 all time with his 160 sacks and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection in his career, which spanned 15 seasons.

Greene was also selected to the NFL 1990s All-Decade team, further solidifying his status as one of the best players to come from Auburn.

Stephen Davis: 1996-2006

Stephen Davis was a producer.

Davis knew how to churn up yards, and during his time in the NFL, he plowed defenses for 8,052 yards on 1,945 carries, the most of any Auburn running back in NFL history. He also totaled 65 touchdowns, another Auburn record.

Davis had four seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards, three of those in a row with the Washington Redskins from 1999 to 2001. Davis was also selected to the Pro Bowl on three different occasions.

Davis currently is a part of the intern coaching program with the Carolina Panthers, the team that Davis retired from in 2008. Davis was an extremely productive back at Auburn and professionally, leaving him as the most productive Auburn Tiger at the running back position in the NFL.

Willie Anderson: 1996-2008

Willie Anderson spent 13 seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens. He started a total of 184 games in his career and made the Pro Bowl four consecutive times from 2003 to 2006.

Anderson was a cornerstone of the Cincinnati offensive line for 12 years. Anderson was an aggressive lineman that could handle virtually every defender put in his path.

Anderson was a first-round draft choice out of Auburn, living up to every expectation. 

Takeo Spikes: 1998-Present

Takeo Spikes has been one of the hardest-hitting linebackers in the NFL for the past 14 seasons. Spikes made a reputation for himself at Auburn as an aggressive, fierce linebacker, and that reputation has continued into the NFL.

Spikes has accumulated over 1,000 tackles in his career, with at least five seasons with more than 100 tackles. Spikes has played for five organizations in the pros, most recently making waves in San Diego, pulling down 106 combined tackles this past season.

Spikes has been selected to the Pro Bowl twice in his career, both times with the Buffalo Bills following the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

As Spikes winds down his career in the next few seasons, his legend will live on, as he was not only one of the best linebackers in Auburn history, but he has left his mark on the NFL as well. 

Karlos Dansby: 2004-Present

Karlos Dansby was an extremely dangerous defender in his time with the Tigers. Building on that success, Dansby has gone on to have a very successful NFL career.

Dansby has 753 total tackles, acquired in 120 games in his career. Dansby has also accumulated 30.5 sacks.

Dansby has been with two NFL teams in his career, with the majority of his playing time coming in Arizona. He has had three seasons with over 100 tackles and has not played in less than 14 games in a season his entire career.

Dansby currently plays with the Miami Dolphins, where he accumiliated 103 tackles, two sacks and one interception this past season. He has played eight seasons in the pros with no signs of slowing down.

Dansby has time to build his status as one of the top NFL talents to come from the Auburn Tigers. 

Jay Ratliff: 2005-Present

Jay Ratliff was a defensive lineman for Auburn during one of Auburn football's best periods—Ratliff was a part of the 2004 undefeated team. He was drafted in 2005 in the seventh round, a steal for the player that he has become.

Ratliff has totaled 212 tackles and 27 sacks in his short career with the Cowboys and has garnered Pro Bowl honors four times in his career, most recently this past season. Ratliff has become one of the more dominant defensive linemen in the game.

The career that Ratliff has put together has been quite impressive, with more success seemingly just around the corner. Ratliff could finish with one of the best careers of any Auburn Tiger in the NFL.

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