Joseph Donald Meredith, nicknamed "Dandy Don" was an American football player, sports commentator, and actor who played quarterback for nine seasons with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the SMU Mustangs, and was selected by the Cowboys 32nd overall in the 1960 NFL Draft. He was the second starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, following Eddie LeBaron, and is the first major franchise quarterback in Cowboys history. Under the mentorship of head coach Tom Landry, Meredith led the Cowboys to three-straight postseason appearances from the 1966 to 1968 seasons, including back-to-back NFL Championship Game appearances in the 1966 and 1967 seasons. He was selected a second-team All-Pro in 1966 and made three-straight Pro Bowls from 1966 to 1968.
Eric Demetric Dickerson is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. Dickerson played college football for the Mustangs of Southern Methodist University and was recognized as an All-American. He was selected second overall in the 1983 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams, and later played for the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons. During his NFL career, he rushed for over 13,000 yards. He holds the NFL's single-season rushing record with 2,105 yards, set in 1984. Dickerson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 and, in 2019, was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time. He wore prescription goggles throughout his career due to myopia.
Ewell Doak Walker II was an American football halfback and kicker who played with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons from 1950 to 1955. He played college football for the SMU Mustangs, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1948.
William Kyle Rote, Sr. was an American professional football player who was a running back and wide receiver for eleven years in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants. He was an All-American running back for the SMU Mustangs and was the first overall selection of the 1951 NFL Draft. Following his playing career, Rote was the Giants backfield coach and was a sports broadcaster for WNEW radio, NBC, and WNBC New York.
Jerry Ball Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL), playing primarily as a nose tackle. He played college football for the SMU Mustangs. Ball played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders, and Minnesota Vikings.
Margus Hunt is an Estonian former professional American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at SMU. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints.
Jarett Juma Porter Dillard is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. Dillard played college football player for the Rice Owls, earning first-team All-American honors in 2008. He was selected by Jacksonville in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
Raymond Lucian Mallouf was an American football quarterback and punter who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL). He played four seasons for the Chicago Cardinals, interrupted by World War II, and one season with the New York Giants.
Thomas James Morstead is an American football punter for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft.
Taylor Thompson is a former American football tight end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Titans in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He was released during minicamps on June 18, 2015. He played college football at Southern Methodist.
Paxton James Lynch is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He played college football at Memphis, and was drafted in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Lynch played just two seasons in Denver and made four starts before being released prior to the 2018 season. Lynch has also been a member of the Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL), the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL), and the Orlando Guardians and San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL.
Courtland Sutton is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft.
Zach Wood is an American football long snapper for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU. He has also been a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
David Lee "Trey" Quinn III is an American football wide receiver for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at LSU and SMU. Quinn was selected by the Washington Redskins with the final pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, making him that year's Mr. Irrelevant. He has also been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Detroit Lions.
James Proche II is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Kylen Granson is an American football tight end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rice and SMU before being drafted by the Colts in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Timothy Brandon Stephens is an American football cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and SMU Mustangs.
Tanner Mordecai is an American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, SMU Mustangs and Wisconsin Badgers. He signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL draft.
Marcus Elliot Jones is an American football cornerback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Troy Trojans and the Houston Cougars. He was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Danny Gray is an American football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Blinn and SMU before being drafted by the 49ers in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
