Raymond Anthony Lewis Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a middle linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens for his entire 17-year career in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, where he earned All-America honors.
Zachary Michael Thomas is an American former professional football player who was a middle linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He played college football for Texas Tech University, and was recognized as a unanimous All-American. He was drafted in the fifth round, 22nd pick, in the 1996 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, and played for the Dolphins in his first 12 seasons in the NFL, before playing his 13th and final season with the Dallas Cowboys.
Seth Joyner, is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos. Joyner graduated from Spring Valley High School and played college football for the UTEP Miners.
Michael George Vrabel is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State, where he earned consensus All-American honors. Vrabel was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft, then joined the New England Patriots as a free agent in 2001, becoming a three-time Super Bowl champion and an All-Pro during his tenure, then finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cornell Desmond Brown is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for Virginia Tech, and earned All-American honors twice. Drafted late in the sixth round of the 1997 NFL Draft, he played professionally for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. He is currently a defensive ends coach for Marshall. In 2013, Brown was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
Christopher Ashon Claiborne is an American football coach and former player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. Claiborne played college football for the University of Southern California, and was recognized as an All-American. He was a first-round pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, and New York Giants of the NFL.
Andrew Warren Katzenmoyer is a former football player who was a linebacker. He was selected in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. He played college football for Ohio State, and became the first Buckeye to win the Butkus Award. His playing career was shortened due to a neck injury.
Samuel Cowart III is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. He played college football for Florida State University and was recognized as an All-American. A second-round pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, he played professionally for the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. Cowart was a Pro Bowl selection in 2000.
Ian Maurice Gold is a former American football player.
DeMeco Ryans is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the head coach for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). Ryans played college football at the University of Alabama, where he was named a unanimous All-American.
William Sparkman Overstreet is a former American football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Falcons in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft out of the University of Tennessee where he was a captain on the 2001 Tennessee team. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He played high school football at Jackson (Miss.) Prep. Prior to signing with the Vols in February 1998, the Clarion-Ledger newspaper named Overstreet the 1997 Metro-Jackson Area Player of the Year and selected him as a member of their All-State team.
Raynoch Joseph Thompson is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft out of the University of Tennessee. He spent 5 years for the Cardinals, until they released him at the end of the 2004 season. After his time with the Cardinals, he signed with the Green Bay Packers, but they cut him before the season. He was an All-American and a Butkus Award Finalist in 1997 and 1998. He was an important part of the University of Tennessee National Championship team that went undefeated in 1998.
Jamie Robert Duncan is a former American football linebacker in the NFL. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1998 NFL Draft. He also played for the St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons.
Richard Ryan Phillips is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for five seasons for the New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts. He was a third round draft selection in the 1997 NFL Draft, the 68th overall pick. At the time, one of his hobbies was skydiving.
Tarek Muhammad Saleh is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played for the Carolina Panthers (1997–1998) and the Cleveland Browns (1999–2001). He was born in Woodbridge, Connecticut. Saleh attended Notre Dame High School and the University of Wisconsin. He is one of the few Palestinian Americans to have played in the NFL.
Jason Chorak is a former All-American American football linebacker.
Trent Jordan Watt is an American football outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin and was drafted by the Steelers in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. His older brothers are J. J. Watt and Derek Watt. He was a finalist for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019 and 2020 before winning the award in 2021. In 2021, Watt signed a four-year extension worth over $112 million, including $80 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. Despite missing two games in 2021, he tied the single-season NFL record for most quarterback sacks in a season, matching Michael Strahan's 22.5-sack record set in 2001.
Isaiah Simmons is an American football inside linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson and was drafted by the Cardinals eighth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. While at Clemson, Simmons was noted for his positional versatility as he played linebacker, defensive end, cornerback, and safety.
Dennis Stallings is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played for the Tennessee Oilers from 1997 to 1998.
Tony McCombs is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played for the Arizona Cardinals from 1997 to 1998.
