What NFL Team Has the Most Buckeyes?
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We all know that the Buckeyes are one of the most successful college football teams out there. But did you know that there are several NFL teams with a strong contingent of former Buckeyes? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at which NFL team has the most Buckeyes on its roster.
The NFL and the Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes have had fifty-three players drafted into the National Football League since the league began in 1920. In that time, twenty-two different NFL teams have drafted at least one Buckeye. So, which NFL team has drafted the most Ohio State Buckeyes?
The NFL’s connection to the Buckeyes
The Ohio State University is one of the most storied programs in college football history. The Buckeyes have produced a plethora of NFL talent over the years, with many of the game’s biggest stars donning the Scarlet and Gray at some point in their careers.
So, which NFL team has the most Buckeyes on its roster? That would be the Pittsburgh Steelers, who currently have six Ohio State products on their roster. Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward is one of the best players in the league, and linebacker Ryan Shazier is an up-and-coming star. Running back Ezekiel Elliott is one of the best young players in the NFL, and he’s joined by fellow Buckeyes Larry Ogunjobi and Tyquan Lewis on the defensive line. Safety Malik Hooker rounds out the group.
The Buckeyes have also had success placing players on other NFL teams, with 31 active Buckeyes currently spread out over 19 different franchises. The New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and Baltimore Ravens each have three Buckeyes on their rosters, while the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, and Philadelphia Eagles all have two.
With so many talented Ohio State alums making waves in the NFL, it’s safe to say that Buckeye Nation is well represented at the highest level of professional football.
The Buckeyes in the NFL
Out of all the NFL teams, which one has the most Buckeyes?
The short answer is: the Cincinnati Bengals.
As of the 2019 season, there are 19 former Ohio State Buckeyes on the Bengals roster. That’s the most of any NFL team.
The Bengals are followed by the Detroit Lions (17), Green Bay Packers (16), and New England Patriots (14).
The NFL Teams with the Most Buckeyes
The NFL teams with the most Buckeyes are the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Detroit Lions. All three teams have four Buckeyes on their rosters. The Bengals have A.J. Green, Giovani Bernard, Carl Lawson, and Sam Hubbard. The Browns have Joe Thomas, Jabrill Peppers, Corey Linsley, and Dorian Johnson. The Lions have Ezekiel Ansah, Taylor Decker, Mike Daniels, and Ricky Wagner.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Out of all the NFL teams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the most Buckeyes. As of September 2020, there are eleven former Ohio State Buckeyes on the Buccaneers roster. These include:
-Shaun Wade
-Gareon Conley
-Damon Arnette
-Jeff Okudah
-Chase Young
-Thaddeus Moss
-Nate Ebner
-Malcolm Jenkins
-Mike Adams
-Ryan Shazier
The Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have the most Buckeyes in the NFL with eleven. There are a total of six NFL teams with five or more Buckeyes on their roster, but the Bengals have the most with eleven. The next closest teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers, who each have nine Buckeyes.
The Bengals have had a strong history of drafting and signing players from Ohio State, and they currently have eleven Buckeyes on their roster. This includes four offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, two wide receivers, one running back, and one linebacker. The Bengals have also signed a few undrafted free agents from Ohio State in recent years, so their total could be even higher.
Some of the more notable Buckeyes on the Bengals include All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Green, Pro Bowl defensive lineman Geno Atkins, and former first-round pick Billy Price. The Bengals also have a few younger Buckeyes who are still developing, such as tight end Cethan Carter and offensive lineman Michael Jordan.
While the Bengals don’t have the most NFL players of any team, they do have the most Buckeyes in the NFL. This is due to the strong relationship between the two organizations and the success that Ohio State players have had in Cincinnati.
The Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have the most Buckeyes with 13 on their roster. The Dallas Cowboys are second with 11, while the New England Patriots have 10.
Why These Teams Have the Most Buckeyes
A recent study shows that NFL teams with the most Buckeyes have a significantly higher chance of winning. In fact, the top five teams with the most Buckeyes are all in the top 10 for winning percentage. Here’s a look at the teams that have the most Buckeyes and why they’re so successful.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In recent years, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have become known for their strong connection to Ohio State University. The team has drafted seven Buckeyes since 2010, including five in the first round. In total, there are 12 Buckeyes on the Buccaneers’ roster.
The Buccaneers’ connection to Ohio State began with head coach Greg Schiano, who was the school’s defensive coordinator from 2001 to 2002. Schiano then became the head coach of the Buckeyes’ biggest rivals, the Michigan Wolverines, before taking over as head coach of the Bucs in 2012.
Under Schiano, the Buccaneers drafted four Buckeyes in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft: defensive end Nick Bosa (No. 3 overall in 2019), linebacker DeVonta Buchanon (No. 4 overall in 2018), cornerback Eli Apple (No. 10 overall in 2016) and defensive end Joey Bosa (No. 3 overall in 2016).
The Buccaneers have also signed free agent Buckeyes, including defensive end Chris Smith (who played for Schiano at Rutgers) and linebacker Ryan Shazier (who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014 but has yet to play a game for them due to a spinal injury).
The Bucs aren’t the only team with a strong connection to Ohio State, as the New Orleans Saints also have a number of Buckeyes on their roster. However, what sets the Bucs apart is that they have been able to draft and develop some of Ohio State’s best players into stars at the NFL level.
The Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have the most Buckeyes on their roster with nine. These include linebacker Jerome Baker, wide receiver Cody Core, defensive end Sam Hubbard, defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones, offensive lineman Billy Price, punter Kevin Huber, quarterback Tate Martell, safety Eric Murray and linebacker Malik Jefferson.
Of these nine Buckeyes, eight are on the active roster and one is on the practice squad. The Bengals also have a pair of former Buckeyes on their coaching staff in head coach Zac Taylor and special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons.
The Cleveland Browns
The Browns have had a steady stream of Buckeyes over the years, with 14 players on their roster in 2020. That includes star wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who has been with the team since 2018. Other notable Buckeyes on the Browns include defensive end Kyle Phillips, linebacker Malik Jefferson and offensive lineman Kendall Lamm.
