Top 11 NFL Teams With The Most Homegrown Talent

Which NFL teams have to most home town kids playing for them? Find out here!
stories · 4 min
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Every young football fan often dreams of playing for their hometown team they've been growing up watching.

I remember as a child, I would play backyard football with the other neighborhood kids. We would have our Vikings jerseys on pretending to be our favorite players. 

High school is where the dream of even playing in the NFL or even college sputters out for most players.

Only 6.5% of high school ballplayers make it to the college ranks while an insanely low percentage of college players make it to the NFL at 1.6%.

Very little chance to make it in the NFL
Image Source: @GatorScott

Even if you make it to the NFL, you'll be lucky to have a career that's 3 years or more. It's an incredibly long and arduous road to the NFL and many who dream of making it won't even come close.

Now, what about those players who have had an interesting enough career path that they wind up playing for the team they grew up watching?

If you're looking for more odds, let's just say it's the fewest out of any I've shared so far.

Since NFL teams draft players, they don't have a say where they're going to play for the first part of their career, many won't come close to their old stomping grounds.

Players let go by teams are Free Agents and have more of an option of where they would like to play, but that's a two-way deal so it's still pretty rare for players to be able to play for their childhood team.

Today, however, we're going to be taking look at the players who are currently playing for their hometown team.

Note: I left out teams that are from the following states:

  • California
  • Florida 
  • Texas

My reasoning behind this is these three states have some of the highest populations in the country. Along with that, these three states are heavy football powerhouses that produce the most NFL talent by far.

The NFL teams residing in these states have the biggest chance of securing the most homegrown talent which would make this list very dull.

NFL players by state

Now, here are the top 11 teams with the most homegrown talent.

1. Cincinnati Bengals 

  • Number of hometown players: 9
  • Most notable: Joe Burrow

2. New York Jets

  • Number of hometown players: 7
  • Most notable: Greg Van Roten

3. Cleveland Browns

  • Number of hometown players: 4
  • Most notable: No Cleveland Brown from Ohio has not made sufficient enough impact to mention.

4. New York Giants

  • Number of hometown players: 4
  • Most notable: Saqoun Barkley

The Numbers are still skewed

Due to New York's high population along with Ohio's higher population and football history, the top 4 teams with homegrown NFL Talent make up only two states.

The next 6 teams are all tied with the same number of homegrown players.

5. Chicago Bears

  • Number of hometown players: 3
  • Most notable: Cole Kemt

6. Arizona Cardinals

  • Number of hometown players: 3
  • Most notable: Kristian Kirk

7. Buffalo Bills

  • Number of hometown players: 3
  • Most Notable: Jon Feliciano

8. Carolina Panthers

  • Number of hometown players: 3
  • Most Notable: All native Carolinians on the Panthers roster have yet to make an impact

9. Kansas City Chiefs

  • Number of hometown players: 3
  • Most Notable: Austin Blythe-Although he has just signed this offseason, he will look to make an impact for the Chiefs during the 2021 season.

10. Minnesota Vikings

  • Number of hometown players: 3
  • Most Notable: Adam Theilen

11. Atlanta Falcons

  • Number of hometown players: 3
  • Most Notable: Mike Davis

Hometown roots, small-time impact

Homegrown players don't always make a tremendous impact on their teams as they would like.

Homegrown talents such as Adam Theilen and Saqoun Barkley have become superstars for their local team, but many others find it hard to break into stardom.

Which teams have the fewest homegrown players?

There are 5 different teams tied for the lowest amount of homegrown talent. The Ravens, the Patriots, the Raiders, the Eagles, and the Seahawks have zero players born in their state.

There's always a chance

If you're a young football player who dreams of playing for your hometown team, it goes without saying it's near impossible.

But theirs still a chance.

This list goes to show that it is possible to one day play for your team even if you get drafted by a different team to begin your career.

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Opinions and Perspectives

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Skylar_48 commented Skylar_48 3 years ago

Free agency should give more players chances to come home late in their careers.

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SierraH commented SierraH 3 years ago

The successful hometown players really become local legends in a unique way.

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Heilemann_Highlights commented Heilemann_Highlights 3 years ago

Seeing how hard it is to make it home makes me appreciate these players even more.

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Couture-Goddess commented Couture-Goddess 3 years ago

Having local players definitely helps with community connection.

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Mason commented Mason 3 years ago

The draft system makes hometown dreams tough, but that's what makes these stories so special.

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Casual_Chic commented Casual_Chic 3 years ago

Minnesota developing local talent like Thielen shows the importance of good scouting in your backyard.

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Marley-Hudson commented Marley-Hudson 3 years ago

These hometown stories are what make football special.

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Ultimate_Cinema_Experience commented Ultimate_Cinema_Experience 3 years ago

Free agency definitely gives veterans more chances to come home, but roster spots are so competitive.

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Sundance_Festival_Addict commented Sundance_Festival_Addict 3 years ago

Would be cool to see how these numbers change year to year.

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ViralStormX commented ViralStormX 3 years ago

Even 3 hometown players is impressive when you consider the odds of making it to the NFL.

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BrielleH commented BrielleH 3 years ago

Amazing to think about all the local high school games these guys played before making it big.

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Clean_Eats_Only commented Clean_Eats_Only 3 years ago

Browns need to do better at keeping Ohio talent at home.

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Caroline_Torres commented Caroline_Torres 3 years ago

This really shows how rare it is to make it to the NFL, let alone play for your hometown team.

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WellnessWarrior commented WellnessWarrior 3 years ago

Barkley playing for the Giants is great, but Pennsylvania has so much more talent to offer.

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FuturePhantom commented FuturePhantom 3 years ago

Pretty cool that some of these guys get to play in the same stadiums they watched games in as kids.

4
SweetNothingsWhispered commented SweetNothingsWhispered 3 years ago

The population explanation makes sense but still would've been interesting to see Texas numbers.

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OutdoorExplorer commented OutdoorExplorer 3 years ago

Playing for your hometown team must add extra pressure. Not everyone can handle that.

0
UpliftAndInspire commented UpliftAndInspire 3 years ago

Jets leading New York teams in local talent is unexpected. Giants need to step up their game.

1
Veronica_Bloom commented Veronica_Bloom 3 years ago

Interesting how offensive line positions seem to have more hometown players.

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Style_Slay commented Style_Slay 3 years ago

Love how Burrow embraced being Cincinnati's hometown hero. Not all players do that.

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SolarFlareX commented SolarFlareX 3 years ago

Thielen went from practice squad to Pro Bowl. That's the kind of story every hometown kid dreams about.

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TheBalancedMind commented TheBalancedMind 3 years ago

Surprised Green Bay isn't on this list at all. Thought they'd have at least a few Wisconsin players.

4
LockedInLove commented LockedInLove 3 years ago

The Bills mafia must love having those 3 local guys on the team.

0
Milbank_Memo commented Milbank_Memo 3 years ago

Cole Kmet representing Chicago is great. Hope he develops into a star for the Bears.

8
CherishedForever commented CherishedForever 3 years ago

Raiders having zero hometown players might change now that they're in Las Vegas.

4
The_DressUp commented The_DressUp 3 years ago

Those college to NFL percentages are eye-opening. Makes you appreciate these success stories even more.

1
SuccessFlow commented SuccessFlow 3 years ago

Always loved seeing local guys make it. Gives the community something special to rally around.

3
Calm_And_Centered_88 commented Calm_And_Centered_88 3 years ago

I disagree about hometown rules. League parity is more important than hometown connections.

0
LoveYourLife commented LoveYourLife 3 years ago

These numbers would look totally different if we included California teams.

1
BrittanyHicks commented BrittanyHicks 3 years ago

Greg Van Roten's story with the Jets is underrated. Local guy who worked his way up through the ranks.

2
VirtualMystic commented VirtualMystic 3 years ago

The draft really limits these hometown opportunities. Maybe NFL should consider a hometown exception rule?

4
Streaming_Addict2023 commented Streaming_Addict2023 3 years ago

Ravens having zero local players is shocking with all the talent Maryland produces.

0
SilentObserver commented SilentObserver 3 years ago

Mike Davis with Atlanta is a cool story. Finally got to play for his hometown team after bouncing around the league.

4
LilySun commented LilySun 3 years ago

Cardinals having 3 local players is pretty good considering Arizona's not traditionally a football powerhouse.

2
ToriXO commented ToriXO 3 years ago

Think about how many kids are wearing Burrow jerseys in Ohio right now, dreaming of doing the same thing.

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Meditation-Moments_01 commented Meditation-Moments_01 3 years ago

Bengals really embracing Ohio talent lately. Smart strategy if you ask me.

3
AmariLynn commented AmariLynn 3 years ago

The three-year average career length in NFL makes these hometown stories even more remarkable.

3
Katherine commented Katherine 3 years ago

Would love to see this broken down by position groups too.

1
Glam_Guru_66 commented Glam_Guru_66 3 years ago

Population size definitely skews things, but it's still interesting data to look at.

4
PurelyYou commented PurelyYou 3 years ago

Makes me think about all the great players who never got to play for their hometown teams.

0
Theatre_Kid_2004 commented Theatre_Kid_2004 3 years ago

The Patriots having zero local players feels very Belichick somehow.

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Body_And_Soul-Fit_777 commented Body_And_Soul-Fit_777 3 years ago

Wonder how these numbers compare to other professional sports leagues like NBA or MLB?

0
HollywoodInsider commented HollywoodInsider 3 years ago

I remember watching Thielen play in high school. Nobody thought he'd make it this far.

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NatalieXO commented NatalieXO 3 years ago

The Falcons number seems low considering how much football talent Georgia produces.

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Brooklyn_Murphy commented Brooklyn_Murphy 3 years ago

Kansas City's numbers might look different next year. They've been good at developing local talent lately.

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NeonSpecter commented NeonSpecter 3 years ago

Carolina Panthers situation is interesting. Three hometown players but none making major impact yet.

1
BatSignalOn commented BatSignalOn 3 years ago

Buffalo having 3 local players is pretty impressive considering the smaller market size.

2
HollywoodInsider commented HollywoodInsider 3 years ago

These numbers really show how the draft system can separate players from their hometown dreams.

3
Lilac_Dew commented Lilac_Dew 3 years ago

The lack of impact players from Cleveland is surprising given how much high school football talent Ohio produces.

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NeonGalaxy commented NeonGalaxy 3 years ago

Wonder if this data includes practice squad players? That could change the numbers significantly.

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Retro_Glam_82 commented Retro_Glam_82 3 years ago

Interesting how New York teams have such high numbers. Must be nice having that large talent pool to draw from.

1
Daisy-Ferguson commented Daisy-Ferguson 3 years ago

Being from Minnesota, seeing Thielen succeed makes me proud. Local kid making it big.

0
AmberLuxe commented AmberLuxe 3 years ago

I bet the numbers in Texas would be insane if they were included. Friday Night Lights culture is real!

3
Radiate-Joy_07 commented Radiate-Joy_07 3 years ago

Some of these guys probably took less money to play at home. Got to respect that commitment to community.

5
Frum_Focus commented Frum_Focus 3 years ago

The free agency point is interesting. You'd think more veterans would choose their hometown teams when they get the chance.

7
Aurora_Carter commented Aurora_Carter 3 years ago

Anyone else notice how many of these hometown players are offensive linemen? Seems to be a pattern there.

2
Popcorn_Addict_24 commented Popcorn_Addict_24 3 years ago

The numbers for making it to college and NFL are brutal. Makes these hometown success stories even more special.

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Amira-Fox commented Amira-Fox 3 years ago

As a Bears fan, I wish we had more than just 3 Illinois players. Chicago's football culture deserves better representation.

2
Jessica commented Jessica 3 years ago

I find it fascinating that the Jets have 7 local players. That's pretty impressive for a team that's struggled lately.

3
Irene_Spring commented Irene_Spring 3 years ago

Joe Burrow's impact on Cincinnati has been incredible. Perfect example of how a hometown hero can transform a franchise.

2
Yoga-And_Chill_101 commented Yoga-And_Chill_101 4 years ago

True about the Seahawks, but remember Washington state has a much smaller population compared to others. Smaller talent pool to draw from.

6
Lawler_Look commented Lawler_Look 4 years ago

Growing up in Seattle, it's kind of disappointing to see the Seahawks with zero hometown players. We've got some great football programs here.

4
Vivian_Light commented Vivian_Light 4 years ago

The fact that 5 teams have zero local players is pretty telling about how the draft system works.

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HollyWalters commented HollyWalters 4 years ago

Not necessarily. Just because someone's local doesn't mean they're the best fit. Teams need to focus on talent first.

5
ClassicHollywoodElite commented ClassicHollywoodElite 4 years ago

I've always felt teams should prioritize local talent more. These players often have a deeper connection to the team and community.

3
Mia-Jones commented Mia-Jones 4 years ago

Look at the Vikings though. Adam Thielen went from selling dental equipment to becoming a star for his hometown team. Anything's possible!

3
HollywoodEliteInsider_101 commented HollywoodEliteInsider_101 4 years ago

The stats about making it to the NFL are sobering. Only 1.6% from college? That's even lower than I thought.

5
IntentionalLiving commented IntentionalLiving 4 years ago

You make a good point about Eagles. As a Philly native, it does feel strange we don't have any local guys on the roster.

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RealityTVDramaKing commented RealityTVDramaKing 4 years ago

Saquon Barkley representing PA on the Giants is great, but I wonder why the Eagles have zero hometown players? That seems odd for such a football-rich state.

4
Hope-Patrick commented Hope-Patrick 4 years ago

Actually, I disagree with excluding California and Texas. Would give us a more complete picture of homegrown talent distribution across the league.

2
RetroRebel commented RetroRebel 4 years ago

The population factor makes total sense. Would be interesting to see the numbers for California teams, bet they'd be off the charts.

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CelesteM commented CelesteM 4 years ago

Love seeing Adam Thielen on this list. From undrafted Minnesota native to Vikings star. That's the kind of story that keeps hometown dreams alive.

2
AdalynH commented AdalynH 4 years ago

I'm surprised the Browns only have 4 local players given Ohio's rich football tradition. You'd think they'd have more hometown talent on their roster.

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Melody_Grace commented Melody_Grace 4 years ago

Really interesting to see the Bengals leading with 9 hometown players. Joe Burrow's story is particularly amazing since he grew up in Ohio and is now leading his home state team.

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