5 best NFL players of all-time from Texas, from Earl Campbell to Patrick Mahomes

The Lone Star State has produced the most players to compete in the National Football League.

According to PlayfootballNFL , the league has had 187 players from Texas playing professional football. And with the 2024 season approaching, your favorite team likely has a few Texans on the roster.

Some of the greatest pros of all time are from here. Here are five of the best NFL players from Texas.

1. Earl Campbell (RB, 1978-1985)

From Tyler, Texas, Campbell played six seasons with the Houston Oilers before finishing his career with the New Orleans Saints.

Campbell finished his career with 74 touchdowns and 9,407 yards.

His career highlights include:

• NFL Most Valuable Player (1979)
• 3× NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1978–1980)
• NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1978)
• 3× First-team All-Pro (1978–1980)
• 5× Pro Bowl (1978–1981, 1983)
• 3× NFL rushing yards leader (1978–1980)
• 2× NFL rushing touchdowns leader (1979, 1980)
• NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
• Pro Football Hall of Fame (1991)

LaDainian Tomlinson (RB, 2001-2011)

From Rosebud, Texas, LT played three years at TCU before being drafted by the San Diego Chargers.

He spent nine years with the Chargers, putting up some of his best work. He finished his career with 145 touchdowns, which is second all-time behind Emmitt Smith.

Here is a look at his career highlights:

• NFL Most Valuable Player (2006)
• NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2006)
• Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2006)
• 3× First-team All-Pro (2004, 2006, 2007)
• 3× Second-team All-Pro (2002, 2003, 2005)
• 5× Pro Bowl (2002, 2004–2007)

Adrian Peterson (RB, 2007-2021)

Born in Palestine, Texas, Peterson played 15 seasons in the NFL and is considered on the greatest to play in the league.

Not only does Peterson have one of the greatest careers a player could ever have, but he also has a great comeback story.

In late 2011, Peterson suffered a devastating injury during a game, tearing both his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL). Despite this setback, he made a remarkable comeback at the start of the 2012 season. Peterson ended the season with an impressive 2,097 rushing yards, just nine yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season record. In recognition of his exceptional performance, Peterson was honored with the NFL MVP Award, among other accolades. Moreover, in 2013, he became the third-fastest player in NFL history to achieve 10,000 rushing yards, solidifying his place among the league's greatest running backs.

His career highlights are as follows:

• NFL Most Valuable Player (2012)
• NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2012)
• NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2007)
• 4× First-team All-Pro (2008, 2009, 2012, 2015)
• 3× Second-team All-Pro (2007, 2010, 2013)
• 7× Pro Bowl (2007–2010, 2012, 2013, 2015)
• 3× NFL rushing yards leader (2008, 2012, 2015)
• Most rushing yards in a game with 296

Von Miller (LB, 2011-present)

Miller grew up in DeSoto, a suburb of Dallas. He played college football at Texas A&M before being drafted by the Denver Broncos.

He won a Superbowl with the Broncos in 2016 and one with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.

A nightmare for quarterbacks and offensive linemen, Miller has a bevy of highlights sending your team's QB to the dirt.

Here is a look at his career highlights:

• 2× Super Bowl champion
• Super Bowl MVP (50)
• 3× First-team All-Pro (2012, 2015, 2016)
• 4× Second-team All-Pro (2011, 2014, 2017, 2018)
• 8× Pro Bowl (2011, 2012, 2014–2019)
• NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2011)

Patrick Mahomes (QB, 2017-present)

The Tyler, Texas-born Mahomes could have followed his father's place in playing baseball. Mahomes was an MLB draftee but playing football has worked out just fine for him.

Since being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes has gone on to win three Superbowls.

If you're not already familiar with this current body of work, take a look at his career highlights:

• 3× Super Bowl champion (LIV, LVII, LVIII)
• 3× Super Bowl MVP (LIV, LVII, LVIII)
• 2× NFL Most Valuable Player (2018, 2022)
• 2× NFL passing touchdowns leader (2018, 2022)
• 6× Pro Bowl (2018–2023)

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 5 best NFL players of all-time from Texas, from Earl Campbell to Patrick Mahomes