Auburn Football: Tigers' All-Time NFL Offensive Unit

In addition to its success on the college gridiron, Auburn has seen its players enjoy success at the professional level for many years. Countless Pro-Bowlers once donned the Orange and Blue. 

Former Tigers at certain positions have shown more success in the NFL. Most of the success has been on the defensive side.

There have been some offensive players to leave their mark though. Who are they?

Let's look at the Auburn all-time NFL offensive unit. 

Quarterback: Jason Campbell (2005-Present)

Quarterback is one position where Auburn has failed to produce any player of great significance in the NFL. Jason Campbell has earned the title of greatest simply by sticking around in the league for a while.

Campbell has been at least a part-time starter in the NFL for seven seasons. In that time, he’s amassed over 14,000 yards and 70 touchdowns.

These are decent numbers. In 15 years though, Cam Newton should have this spot all to himself. 

Running Back: William Andrews (1979-1986)

A knee injury shortened an impressive, albeit brief, career for Andrews. During his time in the league, few backs were more productive.

His first five years in Atlanta were great. Andrews rushed for 1,000 yards in each of these seasons, save a strike-shortened 1982 season.

Andrews also excelled as a pass-catcher, accumulating 81 receptions in 1981—a season in which he led the NFL in yards from scrimmage.

Andrews went to four straight Pro Bowls prior to injuring his knee 1984.

Running Back: James Brooks (1981-1992)

Brooks was a multi-talented player in his 12-year career for four different teams. Brooks enjoyed his best success though with the Bengals.

In his eight seasons with the Bengals, Brooks was a four-time Pro Bowler, three times rushing for 1,000 yards. Brooks retired as the Bengals' all-time leading rusher.

Brooks also enjoyed success catching the ball, and gained over 11,000 yards from scrimmage in his career with 79 total touchdowns. 

Running Back: Joe Cribbs (1980-1988)

Cribbs didn’t have the longest NFL career, and his time as an elite back was short. For a brief period though, he was one of the league’s best.

In three of Cribbs’ first four seasons, he rushed for 1,000 yards. He rushed for 633 yards in a strike-shortened 1982 season.

Cribbs was a complete back. In addition to rushing for 1,000 yards in his three Pro Bowl seasons, Cribbs gained 400 yards receiving and scored 10 total touchdowns in each. 

Fullback: Tony Richardson (1995-2010)

Tony Richardson may not have touched the ball much in the NFL, but he is certainly one of the best Auburn Tigers and fullbacks in NFL history.

In Richardson’s 16-year NFL career, he led the way for running backs such as Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson.

Since he became a full time starter in 1999, Richardson made three Pro Bowl appearances, and seven times his team was top five in the NFL in rushing.  

Wide Receiver: Frank Sanders (1995-2003)

After an All-American career at Auburn, Sanders went on to a nine-year career with the Cardinals and Ravens.

In that time, Sanders accumulated 800 receiving yards in five straight seasons, twice topping 1,000 yards.

In his career, Sanders caught 507 passes for 6,749 yards and 24 touchdowns. 

Offensive Line: Frank Gatski (1946-1957)

Gatski owns the honor of being the only NFL Hall of Famer from Auburn. The center played for 12 years for the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions.

In his career, Gatski was named First Team All Pro three times. Even more impressive, his team went to 11 league title games in his 12 seasons. 

Offensive Line: Willie Anderson (1996-2008)

Willie Anderson enjoyed great success in his 13-year NFL career.

For 12 of those years, Anderson was a staple at right tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals.

During that time, Anderson was selected for four straight Pro Bowls from 2003-2006, being named First Team All Pro in the final three years of that period.