High school football: Greatest player from every major metro area — then and now

Travis Kelce, Christian McCaffrey and Jalen Ramsey among new generation of stars emerging as the best to ever do it from their respective metros.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Kevin Askeland
By
Oct 9, 2026, 10:30am
These are the good old days. For football fans watching players like Travis Kelce, Jalen Ramsey and Christian McCaffrey, there is no need to wait for nostalgia to appreciate greatness. Some of today's players have already built careers that rival — or surpass — those of any NFL player their hometown has produced.

Of course, certain legends have set a standard that may never be reached. Jim Brown remains the measuring stick for the New York metro area while Tom Brady's place atop the San Francisco–Oakland list looks particularly secure. Ronnie Lott presents a similarly imposing challenge in Riverside–San Bernardino.

Elsewhere, the hometown hierarchy has already changed. Kelce gets the nod over Hall of Fame guard Tom Mack in Cleveland, Ramsey has moved past E.J. Junior in Nashville and McCaffrey leads Denver's comparison with Daniel Graham.

To explore where the legends still reign and where today's stars have taken over, MaxPreps has put together a then and now look at the nation's 50 largest metro areas, selecting the top retired and active NFL player based on where they attended high school.
New York 

Then: Jim Brown, Manhasset 
Bonafides: 9 Pro Bowls, 8 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Quenton Nelson, Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank, N.J.)
Bonafides: 8 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections

Los Angeles

Bonafides: 9 Pro Bowls, Hall of Fame

Now: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Bonafides: 4 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections

Chicago 

Then: Otto Graham, Waukegan 
Bonafides: 5 Pro Bowls, 7 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Alec Pierce, Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn)
Bonafides: 5th season

Dallas–Fort Worth 

Then: Tim Brown, Wilson (Dallas) 
Bonafides: 9 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Myles Garrett, Martin (Arlington)
Bonafides: 7 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pro selections

Houston 

Then: Mike Singletary, Worthing (Houston) 
Bonafides: 10 Pro Bowls, 7 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Mike Evans, Ball (Galveston)
Bonafides: 6 Pro Bowls

Atlanta 

Then: Richard Dent, Murphy 
Bonafides: 4 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Cameron Heyward, Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee)
Bonafides: 7 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro selections

Washington, D.C. 

Then: Jonathan Ogden, St. Albans (Washington) 
Bonafides: 11 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Stefon Diggs, Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney)
Bonafides: 4 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections

Miami–Fort Lauderdale 

Then: Larry Little, Booker T. Washington (Miami)
Bonafides: 5 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Lamar Jackson, Boynton Beach
Bonafides: 4 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections

Philadelphia 

Then: Herb Adderley, Northeast (Philadelphia) 
Bonafides: 5 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Chris Godwin, Middletown (Del.)
Bonafides: 1 Pro Bowls

Phoenix 

Then: Randall McDaniel, Agua Fria (Avondale) 
Bonafides: 12 Pro Bowls, 7 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Cameron Jordan, Chandler (Ariz.)
Bonafides: 8 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selections

Boston 

Then: Mark Bavaro, Danvers
Bonafides: 2 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections

Now: Pat Freiermuth, Brooks (North Andover)
Bonafides: 6th season

Riverside–San Bernardino 

Then: Ronnie Lott, Eisenhower (Rialto) 
Bonafides: 10 Pro Bowls, 8 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Kenny Clark, Carter (Rialto)
Bonafides: 3 Pro Bowls

San Francisco–Oakland 

Then: Tom Brady, Junipero Serra (San Mateo) 
Bonafides: 15 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections

Now: Jared Goff, Marin Catholic (Kentfield)
Bonafides: 5 Pro Bowls

Detroit 

Then: Antonio Gates, Central (Detroit) 
Bonafides: 8 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Sauce Gardner, King (Detroit)
Bonafides: 2 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections

Seattle–Tacoma 

Then: Corey Dillon, Franklin (Seattle) 
Bonafides: 4 Pro Bowls

Now: Budda Baker, Bellevue
Bonafides: 8 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections

Minneapolis–St. Paul 

Then: Larry Fitzgerald, Academy of Holy Angels (Richfield) 
Bonafides: 11 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Joe Alt, Totino-Grace (Fridley)
Bonafides: 1 Pro Bowl

Tampa–St. Petersburg 

Then: Rick Casares, Jefferson (Tampa) 
Bonafides: 5 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selections

Now: Azeez Al-Shaair, Hillsborough (Tampa)
Bonafides: 1 Pro Bowl

San Diego 

Then: Marcus Allen, Lincoln (San Diego) 
Bonafides: 6 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Fred Warner, Mission Hills (San Marcos)
Bonafides: 4 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro selections

Denver 

Then: Daniel Graham, Jefferson (Edgewater) 
Bonafides: 2-time Super Bowl champion

Now: Christian McCaffrey, Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch)
Bonafides: 4 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections

Orlando 

Then: Warren Sapp, Apopka 
Bonafides: 7 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Trey Hendrickson, Apopka
Bonafides: 4 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selections

Charlotte 

Then: Dwight Clark, Garinger (Charlotte) 
Bonafides: 2 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selection

Now: Stephon Gilmore, South Pointe (Rock Hill)
Bonafides: 5 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections

Baltimore 

Then: John Mackey, Poly (Baltimore) 
Bonafides: 5 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Andrew DePaola, Hereford (Parkton)
Bonafides: 3 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections

St. Louis 

Then: Steve Atwater, Lutheran North (St. Louis) 
Bonafides: 8 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Kyren Williams, Vianney (Kirkwood)
Bonafides: 1 Pro Bowl

San Antonio 

Then: Priest Holmes, Marshall (San Antonio)
Bonafides: 3 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections

Now: Terrence Steele, Steele (Cibolo)
Bonafides: 7th season

Austin

Then: Drew Brees, Westlake (Austin) 
Bonafides: 13 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Baker Mayfield, Lake Travis (Austin)
Bonafides: 2 Pro Bowls

Portland-Vancouver 

Then: Mel Renfro, Jefferson (Portland) 
Bonafides: 10 Pro Bowls, Hall of Fame

Now: Osa Odighizuwa, David Douglas (Portland)
Bonafides: 6th season

Sacramento 

Then: Lance Briggs, Elk Grove
Bonafides: 7 Pro Bowl, 2 All-Pro selections

Now: Arik Armstead, Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove)
Bonafides: 12th season

Pittsburgh 

Then: Joe Montana, Ringgold (Monongahela) 
Bonafides: 8 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Joey Porter Jr., North Allegheny (Wexford)
Bonafides: 4th season

Las Vegas 

Then: Steven Jackson, Eldorado (Las Vegas) 
Bonafides: 3 Pro Bowls

Now: Ronnie Stanley, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Bonafides: 2 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selections

Cincinnati 

Bonafides: 7 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: David Montgomery, Mt. Healthy (Cincinnati)
Bonafides: 8th season

Kansas City 

Then: Mike McCormack, De La Salle (Kansas City)
Bonafides: 6 Pro Bowls, Hall of Fame

Now: Drew Lock, Lee's Summit
Bonafides: 8th season

Columbus

Then: Bill Willis, East (Columbus) 
Bonafides: 3 Pro Bowls, 6 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Jonathon Cooper, Lincoln (Gahanna)
Bonafides: 6th season 

Indianapolis 

Then: Jeff George, Warren Central (Indianapolis)
Bonafides: 12 seasons

Now: Zack Martin, Bishop Chatard (Indianapolis) 
Bonafides: 9 Pro Bowls, 7 All-Pro selections

Nashville 

Then: E.J. Junior, Maplewood (Nashville)
Bonafides: 2 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selections

Now: Jalen Ramsey, Brentwood Academy (Brentwood)
Bonafides: 8 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections

Cleveland 

Then: Tom Mack, Cleveland Heights
Bonafides: 11 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Travis Kelce, Cleveland Heights
Bonafides: 11 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro selections

San Jose 

Then: Jared Allen, Los Gatos 
Bonafides: 5 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Davante Adams, Palo Alto
Bonafides: 6 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections

Virginia Beach–Norfolk 

Then: Bruce Smith, Booker T. Washington (Norfolk) 
Bonafides: 11 Pro Bowls, 8 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Josh Sweat, Oscar Smith (Chesapeake)
Bonafides: 1 Pro Bowls

Jacksonville 

Then: Brian Dawkins, Raines (Jacksonville) 
Bonafides: 9 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Derrick Henry, Yulee
Bonafides: 5 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selections

Providence

Then: Gerry Philbin, Tolman (Pawtucket) 
Bonafides: 2 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections

Now: Kwity Paye, Bishop Hendricken (Warwick)
Bonafides: 6th season

Raleigh 

Then: Braxton Berrios, Leesville Road (Raleigh)
Bonafides: 7 seasons

Now: Dexter Lawrence, Wake Forest (N.C.)
Bonafides: 3 Pro Bowls

Milwaukee 

Then: J.J. Watt, Pewaukee
Bonafides: 5 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pro selections

Now: T.J. Watt, Pewaukee
Bonafides: 8 Pro Bowls, 6 All-Pro selections

Oklahoma City 

Then: Steve Largent, Putnam City (Oklahoma City) 
Bonafides: 7 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: George Kittle, Norman
Bonafides: 7 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections

Louisville 

Then: Paul Hornung, Flaget (Louisville)
Bonafides: 2 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Nate Hobbs, Male (Louisville)
Bonafides: 6th season

Richmond 

Then: Russell Wilson, Collegiate (Richmond)
Bonafides: 10 Pro Bowls

Now: Tyler Warren, Atlee (Mechanicsville)
Bonafides: 1 Pro Bowl

Memphis 

Then: Claude Humphrey, Lester 
Bonafides: 6 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Kenneth Walker III, Arlington (Tenn.)
Bonafides: 5th season

Salt Lake City 

Then: Haloti Ngata, Highland (Salt Lake City) 
Bonafides: 5 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections

Now: Jaxson Dart, Corner Canyon (Draper)
Bonafides: 2nd season

Fresno 

Then: Les Richter, Fresno
Bonafides: 8 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Josh Allen, Firebaugh
Bonafides: 4 Pro Bowls

Birmingham 

Then: Buck Buchanan, Parker (Birmingham) 
Bonafides: 8 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Now: Marlon Humphrey, Hoover
Bonafides: 4 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections

Grand Rapids 

Then: Joe Staley, Rockford 
Bonafides: 6 Pro Bowls

Now: Kirk Cousins, Holland Christian (Holland)
Bonafides: 4 Pro Bowls

Hartford 

Then: Dwight Freeney, Bloomfield
Bonafides: 7 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections, Hall of Fame

Bonafides: 6th season

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