Stanford in the NFL

Stanford in the NFL
Stanford has produced some of the best NFL talents, in both players and coaches, during the program’s history. Former Cardinal has gone on to Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl titles, MVPs and NFL Man of the Year awards. Three players, John Elway, James Lofton and Ernie Nevers, were honored with induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after exceptional playing careers at both Stanford and in the NFL.

Elway and Jim Plunkett are the most decorated NFL players to come through The Farm, as each quarterbacked two Super Bowl victories and took home one Super Bowl MVP. Elway was also selected to nine Pro Bowl and earned the 1987 NFL MVP award. One of the most popular players in Denver Broncos’ history, Elway was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade team following his retirement in 1998 and later had his number seven retired by the Broncos. Elway currently serves as Denver's general manager and executive vice president of football operations. 

In 2016, there were 35 former-Cardinal who received an NFL paycheck as part of a 53-man roster, practice squad or injured reserve. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck continues to be one of the most efficient NFL passers, and was joined in Indianapolis by 2015 draftees Henry Anderson and David Parry. 

On defense, Richard Sherman has been arguably the top cornerback in the league since his 2011 rookie season. Since his entrance into the NFL in 2011, no one has more interceptions than Sherman (30). He also helped Seattle reach consecutive Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XLVIII. 

Stanford has also sent many former players and coaches on to NFL success outside of the playing field. Former head coach Jim Harbaugh (2007-10) led the 49ers to an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII and dozens of others coach in the NFL including Bill Walsh, Dennis Green, Vic Fangio, Greg Roman and Pep Hamilton. 

All-Time NFL Players | #StanfordNFL

The Draft
Since Monk Moscrip’s ninth-round selection by the Brooklyn Dodgers-Tigers in 1936, Stanford has gone on to have 257 players drafted by professional teams.

In 2012, Stanford enjoyed one of its best drafts in program history, as four player’s names were called in the first 42 picks. Two players, quarterback Andrew Luck (first overall) and guard David DeCastro (24th overall), were drafted in the first round, marking the fifth time the Cardinal has had a pair of first-rounders (1942, ’72, ’78, ’92, 2012). Luck also joined quarterbacks Bobby Garrett (1954), Jim Plunkett (1971) and John Elway (1983) as the only Stanford players taken at No. 1 when the Colts selected him with the first overall selection.

The Cardinal continued its success in the 2014 and 2015 NFL Drafts, when six players were selected in each, running Stanford’s streak of having three or more picks to six straight years. In the 2017 draft, two Stanford players were picked in the opening eight selections, including Solomon Thomas (No. 3 -- San Francisco) and Christian McCaffrey (No. 8 -- Carolina). The program has now produced at least one draft pick in 44 of 47 seasons since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970.

Complete Draft History