1 Player from Each NFL Roster Most Likely to Appear in a Feature Film

The NFL is populated with a variety of players that could turn to Hollywood and appear in a feature film once they decide to hang up the cleats.

With the average career of an NFL player only lasting six years, it is only natural for players to pursue other high-profile endeavors. The players in the NFL play on the biggest stage of them all under the biggest spotlight in the country; a transition to Hollywood only makes sense.

To date, there haven’t exactly been a number of impressive feature films with former NFL players as the lead actors. This makes sense because acting is a ridiculously hard pursuit to perfect.

There are at least a few players on each roster in the NFL that have displayed the potential to have a smooth transition to the film industry. Whether they have displayed charisma in commercials or interviews is typically a good indicator of whether a player can handle the pressure of being in front of a camera or not.

Here is one player from each NFL roster that is most likely to appear in a feature film at some point in their lives.

Arizona Cardinals

Larry Fitzgerald

Larry Fitzgerald was an easy pick when perusing the Arizona Cardinals’ roster. There were not really any other good candidates, and Fitzgerald would win out on most rosters.

Fitzgerald is a naturally funny person who is never seen without a smile on his face. He has appeared in a few successful commercials already and it only feels right that he will someday attempt to find a role in a movie. 

Atlanta Falcons

Tony Gonzalez

The Atlanta Falcons did not have a solid number of candidates either, but Tony Gonzalez is as good a candidate as any. He is a natural leader on and off the field and would be able to hold down a variety of roles if he chooses to do so.

Gonzalez has appeared in several commercials to date and has done a fantastic job. It is not out of the question for studios to come calling in the next few years now that he is about to begin the final season of his illustrious NFL career. 

Baltimore Ravens

Ray Lewis

Ray Lewis is one of the easiest selections to make. His passion and intensity for the game of football is something that would make him a natural in the movie business. He would be a perfect fit for some kind of movie dealing with the sport.

Lewis has a very serious demeanor on the field, but in front of a Hollywood camera it is a safe bet that he could show off a wide range of emotions most never realized he had.

It is exciting to think about Lewis in some sort of feature film simply because it would allow us to see another side of him. 

Buffalo Bills

Vince Young

Vince Young has been a bit of a character since entering the league. His story would certainly make an entertaining movie, but he would be able to land a few different kinds of roles.

Young hasn’t really shown a propensity for acting just yet, but there is some potential there.

As long as there isn’t a feature film in the works about towels. 

Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton

Cam Newton is the biggest rising star in the NFL and has the world watching him. To go along with his elite skills, he has an electric personality that will likely develop further over the course of his career.

It is hard to tell at this point what kind of movies Newton could play a role in at this time. But one thing is for sure—Newton puts butts in seats when he steps onto a football field, and he’ll have the same effect in movie theaters should he choose to do so. 

Chicago Bears

Brian Urlacher

Brian Urlacher was the best candidate from the Chicago Bears’ roster. He is now a savvy veteran that is second only to Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens in terms of on-the-field personality and leadership.

Urlacher has appeared in a few commercials, but hasn’t shown much of anything in those spots. Despite this, he has a personality that could see him develop his acting talents. Urlacher is an interesting person and the majority of fans would attend a movie he appears in. 

Cincinnati Bengals

A.J. Green

The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t have a large candidate pool to select from here. One obvious choice would be Adam “Pacman” Jones, but let’s just not go there.

A.J. Green tore up the NFL as a rookie last year and is taking a much larger leadership role this upcoming season. He is a quiet guy on the field and has yet to appear in many television spots.

Green is an interesting person to listen to in interviews, and that could eventually lead to opportunities in the film business. Only time will tell. 

Cleveland Browns

Trent Richardson

If one candidate absolutely had to be picked for a movie role from the Cleveland Browns at this point in time, it would be rookie running back Trent Richardson.

Richardson is a beast on the field and in the weight room. He is a humble player who is likely going to make a name for himself in the league. The commercials and television opportunities are sure to come pouring in soon. Hollywood could follow. 

Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo

Tony Romo just looks like a Hollywood star. He also has the look of a franchise NFL quarterback, which he happens to be.

Romo has an extremely likeable personality that will allow him to land acting gigs once his NFL career has concluded. He is always smiling and is easily one of the most popular, although scrutinized, players in the league.

Romo can and will appear in movies at some point; it is just a matter of time.

Denver Broncos

Peyton Manning

If you threw 50 pundits in a room and made them pick one NFL player to be a Hollywood lead in a major feature film, 50 out of 50 would elect Peyton Manning.

Manning is fantastic in front of the camera. He took the idea of appearing in ads for money and ran with it. Manning is now the example most NFL players try to hit when it comes to appearing in ads.

It seems like Manning is headed for the big screen once he decides to retire. 

Detroit Lions

Ndamukong Suh

Ndamukong Suh is one of the most intriguing personalities in the NFL right now. He is without a doubt a dirty player on the field, but quiet and humble off of it.

Suh is one of those players fans would pay to see should he appear in a film. He is a hard person to figure out, and sometimes that is enough. Whether Suh has the acting talent is an entirely different question. 

Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers

Those same 50 pundits that elected Peyton Manning a few slides back are going to unanimously select Aaron Rodgers in a couple of years from now.

Rodgers is one of those players that fans of a heated rival can’t even hate. He is a hilarious guy and is taking a Manning-like approach to his advertising. In a few years Rodgers will over-saturate the market with his presence like Manning did for years—and we’ll love every second of it.

A long time from now, Hollywood will end up calling Rodgers. 

Houston Texans

Arian Foster

Arian Foster has an incredible story as an undrafted free agent who has become one of the best running backs in the league. It is a story that is built for Hollywood, but that is not why he is on this list.

Foster is another player that is incredibly humble. His path to NFL stardom probably plays a large role in that. He also has a great sense of humor and is entertaining in interviews.

Add all these factors together and you get a player in Foster who could have a big Hollywood career in front of him as well.

Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck

There is hard to find much of anything good on the Indianapolis Colts’ roster, and that includes potential movie stars.

If Andrew Luck is, well, lucky, he’ll have a similar career path to his predecessor in Indianapolis. That includes great success in front of a camera.

If Luck turns out to match the enormous hype surrounding him, he will likely be going head-to-head with the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers when it comes to advertising. Appearing in a film would be the next step after that.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Maurice Jones-Drew

Maurice Jones-Drew is similar to Arian Foster in that both players are very humble, but also very entertaining in interviews.

Jones-Drew is too busy dominating the NFL right now to shoot a lot of ads and appear on television, but that will change as he ages.

Even in a market like Jacksonville, Jones-Drew is one of the most visible players in the league. With the organization finally appearing to be on the upswing, his exposure will be even more on a national level. 

Kansas City Chiefs

Peyton Hillis

Let’s run with the whole Peyton Hillis to the C.I.A. storyline for a minute here. Even if it isn’t all that believable, Hillis just looks the part. Unfortunately, sometimes in Hollywood that is more than enough.

Hillis doesn’t have a lot of experience in front of a camera yet, but that could change. It is very hard to tell how the rest of his NFL career will pan out. Hillis could still end up on the big screen. Crazier things have happened. 

Miami Dolphins

Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush is another player that looks to have a knack for appearing in front of a camera. He gives great interviews and is one of the more likeable players in the league.

Bush not only played at the highly visible football powerhouse USC in college, but he also won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints. This type of national exposure will likely continue to catapult Bush into the national stream of consciousness and open up plenty of opportunities once he steps away from football. 

Minnesota Vikings

Jared Allen

Jared Allen is just like Aaron Rodgers in that no matter how much you despise the team he plays for, you simply can’t help but like the guy.

Usually when Allen appears on television or in front of a microphone, hilarity ensues. When Allen isn’t terrorizing the quarterbacks of the NFL, he is a natural entertainer.

Allen’s skills as an entertainer will do nothing but improve as he gains more experience. He’ll be in movies soon enough. 

New England Patriots

Chad Ochocinco

Chad Ochocinco is a natural. It was clear from the onset of his NFL career that he would easily have a future in acting. Over the course of his career, Ochocinco has expanded his brand from reality shows to mobile phone applications to finally appearing in a movie.

Ochocinco isn’t going anywhere, and he’s everywhere. He will have a movie to call his own in the very near future.  

New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees

Drew Brees in another player with a personality perfect for breaking into the movie industry. He isn’t done dominating the NFL as of now, but he will have no issue moving to the big screen if he wants.

Brees has appeared in a few commercials but hasn’t done anything spectacular just yet. Like his NFL career, it will take some time before he can truly dominate the field. 

New York Giants

Victor Cruz

Victor Cruz broke onto the scene last year and promptly won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants. This exposure and the likely longevity of his career could propel him into a movie role at some point.

Cruz is yet another example of a player with a likeable personality who will find success in commercials and television as early as next year. If he keeps winning, more opportunities will continue to open up. 

New York Jets

Tim Tebow

Too easy. Tim Tebow is the most recognizable name and face in all of sports in America. Love him or hate him, he isn’t going away any time soon.

Tebow is beginning to assault the population with commercials, and this is just the beginning. It is only natural that his progression will lead him to the big screen. It is hard to tell what kind of roles he will reel in, but they are sure to be blockbuster hits.

Oakland Raiders

Darren McFadden

This was the hardest selection to make. The only solution was to go with the face of the franchise right now, and that happens to be Darren McFadden.

McFadden is one of the league’s most explosive runners, as long as he can stay healthy. He has appeared in one notable commercial to this point, but more are likely to come calling if he can stay on the field.

Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Vick

This would be a controversial occurrence if Michael Vick landed in a prominent movie role, but it is within the realm of possibility.

Vick is one of the most polarizing figures in all of sports. He would be a huge draw to essentially any movie he decided to appear in. Though Vick has been in a number of commercials, it has not been for his acting ability. He’s never shown the ability, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Troy Polamalu

Troy Polamalu is one of the most recognizable players in the league thanks to his hair, ability and membership with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Polamalu has been spotty in television commercials during his career, but he is poplar enough that he would be a sizeable draw on any movie. If he doesn’t land in a broadcast booth after he retires, he could make a splash in the movie industry. 

San Diego Chargers

Philip Rivers

Philip Rivers isn’t the most likeable person in the world, but he does happen to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL. That typically leads to a plethora of opportunities off the field, including movies.

A few commercials have had Rivers in place as a set piece, but not as the primary actor. It is unknown if Rivers has any acting talent whatsoever, but it is a safe bet that we will find out soon. 

San Francisco 49ers

Vernon Davis

Vernon Davis is a top-five tight end in the NFL right now, and with the way things have been looking he is only going to get better. With his natural progression will come more opportunities to appear on television as the national audience begins to learn about him.

Davis isn’t close to appearing in any movies yet, but he is as good a candidate as any on the San Francisco 49ers’ roster. 

Seattle Seahawks

Marshawn Lynch

America has finally discovered Marshawn Lynch thanks to his Skittles escapade last year. It also helps that he is a top-10 running back in the NFL.

Lynch was the most likely candidate from the Seattle Seahawks' roster because he is the most visible. He probably has commercials on the way, and those could lead to many more should he perform well.  

St. Louis Rams

James Laurinaitis

James Laurinaitis is the nephew of Joe Laurinaitis, better known as “Animal” from his WWE days. That means acting is natural in the family.

Unfortunately, Laurinaitis plays on one of the worst teams in the NFL. The public likely has no idea who he is, which is a shame because he is so good at what he does. The talent for acting could be there, and if it is, it will be discovered one day.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ronde Barber

Ronde Barber appears to have found the fountain of youth. At 37 years old, he is still playing in the NFL at an efficient level.

If Barber can somehow find this type of longevity in the NFL, he can likely find a way into a large movie role. He has been very good in interviews so the potential is certainly there. 

Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson

Even after a horrible season last year, Chris Johnson remains the most recognizable face on the Tennessee Titans' roster. But if his play doesn’t rebound this upcoming season, he may not be on the roster for much longer.

Despite his struggles, Johnson is a funny player who interacts with fans and has done well in a few commercials. It is not entirely out of the question that he could pick up acting once he retires. 

Washington Redskins

Robert Griffin III

Robert Griffin is a star in the making, similar to the Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton. He has an amazing personality and is already lighting it up in commercials.

Hopefully Griffin can be everything the Washington Redskins hope he can be. If Griffin finds immediate success on the field, it will only accelerate him on his path to Hollywood. 

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