Alumni

Our Huskies

From DeKalb to the pros, from campus to careers. The brotherhood never ends.

Huskies in the Pros

Currently in the Pros

NIU alumni representing the Cardinal and Black at the professional level.

NFL

James Ester

NFL

Brock Lampe

NFL

Nate Valcarcel

NFL

Jimmie Ward

NFL

Marques Cox

Denver Broncos

George Gumbs Jr.

Indianapolis Colts

Skyler Gill-Howard

Detroit Lions

Eric Rogers

Los Angeles Chargers

Jack Heflin

New York Jets

Pete Nygra

Kansas City Chiefs

Devin Lafayette

Las Vegas Raiders

Quinn Urwiler

Seattle Seahawks

Trayvon Rudolph

Indianapolis Colts

Donte Harrison

Baltimore Ravens

Daveren Rayner

Atlanta Falcons

Nevaeh Sanders

Seattle Seahawks

UFL

Izayah Green May

Birmingham Stallions

CFL

Devonte O'Malley

Calgary Stampeders

Antario Brown

Edmonton Elks

jaVaugn Byrd

Edmonton Elks

Cyrus McGarrell

Montreal Alouettes

Overseas

Rocky Lombardi

Dresden Monarchs · GFL

Quarterback · 2021 MAC Champion

Rosters updated as of April 2026. Have an update? Let us know.

The Complete List

Every Huskie in the Pros

NIU alumni who reached the NFL, AFL, and pro football's biggest stages.

WR 1987

Carl Aikens

Raiders · 1987 · AFL HoF 2000

DT/DE 1988

Doug Bartlett

Rams · R4, 1987 · Eagles 1988

OT 1987

Bill Bealles

Dolphins · 1987 · replacement player

WR '18–'20

Chad Beebe

Vikings · UDFA, 2018 · 5 NFL seasons

E 1942

Charlie Behan

Lions · 1942 · KIA Okinawa · Navy Cross

DT '14–'15

Ken Bishop

Cowboys · R7, 2014

WR '19–'21

Christian Blake

Falcons · UDFA, 2019 · Cardinals · Steelers

QB CFB HOF

'64–'67

George Bork

CFL: Montreal Alouettes · CFB HOF '99

DE/E '48–'54

Larry Brink

Rams · 2× Pro Bowl · All-Pro · '51 NFL champ

DB '20–'25

Elijah Campbell

Jets/Dolphins · UDFA, 2020 · 6 NFL seasons

TE '05–'08

Brad Cieslak

Bills/Browns · UDFA, 2005

C/T/G '80–'87

Randy Clark

Cardinals/Falcons · R8, 1980

WR 2010

Britt Davis

Broncos · UDFA, 2010

OT/G '01–'11

Ryan Diem

Colts · R4, 2001 · SB XLI champ

DE '09–'14

Larry English

Chargers · R1 (#16), 2009

WR 2004

P.J. Fleck

49ers · UDFA, 2004 · now Minnesota HC

OT '07–'16

Doug Free

Cowboys · R4, 2007 · 10 seasons

TE 1987

Brian Glasgow

Bears · UDFA, 1987 · 3 career games

WR '17–'22

Kenny Golladay

Lions · R3, 2017 · Pro Bowl

QB '77–'83

Jerry Golsteyn

Giants · R12, 1976 · 5 NFL teams

DB 2001

Jermaine Hampton

Colts · UDFA, 2001

OT 1983

Jim Hannula

Bengals · R9, 1981

QB '12–'14

Chandler Harnish

Colts · R7 (#253), 2012 · Mr. Irrelevant

DB '99–'02

Duane Hawthorne

Cowboys · UDFA, 1999 · NFL Europe MVP

DL '21–'25

Jack Heflin

Packers · UDFA, 2021 · 4+ NFL teams

WR '02–'04

Darrell Hill

Titans · R7, 2002

DB 1987

Steve Hirsch

Lions · 1987 · replacement player

WR '06–'11

Sam Hurd

Cowboys/Bears · UDFA, 2006 · 6 seasons

TE '97–'99

Mitch Jacoby

Rams/Chiefs · UDFA, 1997 · 3 seasons

HB '44–'45

Toimi Jarvi

Eagles/Steelers · 1944–45

RB '94–'99

LeShon Johnson

Packers · R3, 1994 · Cardinals · Giants

RB '76–'78

Mark Kellar

Vikings · R6, 1974

NT '86–'87

Scott Kellar

Colts · R5, 1986

RB '75–'78

Jerry Latin

Cardinals · R11, 1975

WR '16–'21

Tommylee Lewis

Saints · UDFA, 2016 · 6 seasons

QB CFB HOF

2014

Jordan Lynch

Bears UDFA · CFL Grey Cup '15 · CFB HOF '26

WR '01–'08

Justin McCareins

Titans · R4, 2001 · 114 G · 3,676 rec yds

CB '14–'21

Rashaan Melvin

Bucs · UDFA, 2013 · 8 NFL seasons

DE/DT '76–'80

Jerry Meyers

Bears · R15, 1976

TE 1978

Ken Moore

Vikings · R5, 1977

TE '07–'09

Jake Nordin

Patriots · UDFA, 2007 · UFL champ '09

QB '37–'38

Reino Nori

Dodgers/Bears · pre-WWII era

WR 2012

Nathan Palmer

UDFA, 2012 · 49ers · Colts · Dolphins

WR 1987

Curt Pardridge

Chargers · R6, 1986

G '87–'93

Todd Peat

Cardinals/Raiders · R11, 1987 · All-Rookie '87

DB 1981

David Petway

Packers · UDFA, 1981

C/G '87–'88

Dan Rosado

Chargers · 1987–88 · 14 starts

RB 1987

Pete Roth

1987 · replacement player

DB '04–'05

Justin Sandy

Titans · UDFA, 2004 · 5 seasons

OT '19–'24

Max Scharping

Texans · R2 (#55), 2019

TE 1987

Reggie Sims

1987 · 1 game

DB 2011

Chris Smith

Rams · UDFA, 2011

DE 2021

Sutton Smith

Steelers · R6, 2019 · Raiders '21

RB '11–'13

Chad Spann

CFL: Saskatchewan · brief NFL '11–'13

WR '69–'71

John Spilis

Packers · R3, 1969

OT 2021

Jordan Steckler

Browns PS · UDFA, 2020

DT '96–'09

Hollis Thomas

13 NFL seasons · Super Bowl XXXIX

RB '04–'12

Michael Turner

Chargers/Falcons · 2× Pro Bowl · 2× All-Pro

RB '84–'89

Tim Tyrrell

Falcons/Rams/Steelers · 6 seasons

DB '87–'91

Clarence Vaughn

Redskins · R8, 1987 · 2× SB champ (XXII · XXVI)

SS '14–'24

Jimmie Ward

49ers · R1 (#30), 2014 · 11 seasons

OL 2012

Scott Wedige

Cardinals/Bengals · UDFA, 2012

DT 2006

Stephen Williams

Chiefs · UDFA, 2006

S '11–'12

Tracy Wilson

Jets/Titans · '11–'12 · 14 games

P '73–'77

Tom Wittum

49ers · R8, 1972 · 2× Pro Bowl

RB '07–'11

Garrett Wolfe

Bears · R3 (#93), 2007 · 50 games