The greatest all-time football players from the Chicago area

An argument can be made that Joliet is not part of the Chicago area, but rather an entity of its own. In this case, we'll stand with the former, considering Joliet Catholic Academy, where Alstott starred during the late 1980s and into the '90s, plays football in the East Suburban Catholic League/Chicago Catholic League conference. Following his stellar prep career, the bruising Alstott was an All-Big Ten performer at Purdue before excelling in the NFL. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time First Team All-Pro and Super Bowl champion, Alstott rushed for 5.088 yards and 58 touchdowns during his 11-year career — all with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

If there's one athlete who defines what a Chicago football player should be, it's the legendary Butkus. A product of Chicago's blue-collar South Side and Chicago Vocational High School, Butkus was an All-American at Illinois before establishing himself as one of the game's greatest defenders in NFL history. At 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, Butkus had no trouble inflicting pain on opponents. An eight-time Pro Bowler and six-time first-team All-Pro selection, the Chicago Bears’ standout twice won NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1969, ’70). Butkus, who passed away in 2023, is a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames.

Butz was born in Alabama, but his family eventually moved to Illinois, where he was a standout at football powerhouse Maine South — just outside the northwest city limits of Chicago in Park Ridge. From there, Butz earned All-Big Ten recognition at Purdue, where he was also a finalist for the Lombardi Award in 1972. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Butz played in the NFL from 1973-88, during which he recorded 64 sacks, garnered first- and second-team All-Pro honors, made a Pro Bowl and won two Super Bowls (XVII, XXII) with Washington.

Diehl prepped at Brother Rice High School on Chicago's southwest side, then made his way to the University of Illinois. An All-Big Ten performer for the Illini during the early 2000s, Diehl was drafted in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft, but made the most of his opportunity. He spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the New York Giants, where he started at left tackle on two Super Bowl-winning teams (XLII, XLVI). In addition, the dependable Diehl, who started 156 of the 160 games he played for the Giants, was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2008, and Pro Bowl pick in '09.

A standout defensive lineman at Glenbard North High School in west suburban Carol Stream, Diem moved across the line of scrimmage to star at offensive tackle for Northern Illinois during the late 1990s, and into the 2000s. From there, the All-Mid-American Conference performer enjoyed a stellar 11-year NFL career — all as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. While starting 150 of the 157 games he played in the NFL, Diem also played a key role in Indianapolis' run to winning the Super Bowl XLI — against his hometown Chicago Bears.

Considered one of the first true superstars of the NFL, Driscoll, a World War I veteran from north suburban Evanston, who attended Northwestern, started playing pro football in 1917. He was the NFL's first All-Pro quarterback in the early-to-mid-1920s while playing for the Chicago Cardinals, then the Chicago Bears. He also served as head coach for both teams during his lifetime. A versatile threat whether throwing, running with or kicking the football, Driscoll is a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames. 

A product of perennial north-suburban prep-football power Loyola Academy, Foley was an All-American at Purdue during the late 1960s. However, he struck gold while playing 11 seasons in the NFL. Each of those seasons were spent with the mighty Miami Dolphins (1970-80). A Pro Bowl pick in 1979, Foley won two Super Bowls (VII, VIII), one of which came as a member of the legendary 14-0 undefeated 1972 club. For his career, Foley recorded 22 interceptions while playing more than 130 regular-season NFL games.

Hailing from far north suburban Waukegan, Graham is considered one of the all-time greats ever to play football. At Northwestern, Graham was the Big Ten Player of the Year and an All-American in 1943, as well as a standout basketball player. However, it was on the pro level where Graham became a legend. During his 10-year career, all with the Cleveland Browns, Graham won 81 percent of his games. Meanwhile, his 8.63 yards per pass attempt remains the highest in NFL history. For his career, the three-time NFL MVP (1951, ’53, ’55) threw for 13,499 yards and 88 touchdowns with 94 interceptions.

Though born in Pennsylvania, George and his family would relocate to the western Chicago suburb of Wheaton (where he reportedly earned 16 varsity letters in high school). From there, Grange's story is well told. Perhaps the greatest football player — and athlete — to compete at the University of Illinois, the man known as the "Galloping Ghost" played both college and pro football in the same season. Grange, who played for the aforementioned George Halas and the Chicago Bears, won two NFL championships with the club (1932, '33) and had his famed No. 77 retired by the franchise. 

Football fans might not know that Halas, who founded what became the NFL in the 1920 and the current-day Chicago Bears, was a pretty good player. After attending high school at Crane, on Chicago's West Side, Halas played football at the University of Illinois. Then while serving in World War I, Halas played for a team at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, in north suburban Chicago, and starred in the 1919 Rose Bowl. Also a major league baseball player, Halas eventually found his way to Decatur, Ill., where he was player-coach of the Staleys, which eventually became the Chicago Bears. The rest, as we know, is history.

Visit Marian Catholic High School in south suburban Chicago Heights, and Harrison's retired football jersey will be on display. Following a strong prep career, Harrison played at Western Illinois, where he racked up a school-record 345 tackles and went on to be selected in the fifth round of the 1994 NFL Draft. A fierce hitter, Harrison played parts of 15 NFL seasons with San Diego and New England. He was selected to two Pro Bowls, named first-team All-Pro twice (1998, 2003) and won a pair of Super Bowls (XXVIII, XXXIX) with the Patriots.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection (1974-77) with the St. Louis Cardinals, Hart was the United Press International's NFC Offensive Player of the Year in 1974, when he threw for 2,411 yards with 20 touchdowns. For his NFL career, which included parts of 19 seasons, Hart threw for more than 34,600 yards with 209 touchdowns — and 247 interceptions. Pretty good for a kid who went undrafted after throwing for more than 3,700 yards during his three seasons at Southern Illinois, and prepped at Niles West High School in Chicago's near-north suburbs.

Talk about football longevity. Another Evanston product, Kenn played 17 seasons in the NFL. And, remarkably, all came with the Atlanta Falcons. During that impressive NFL run, Kenn, who starred at the University of Michigan, was named to five Pro Bowls (1980-84) and earned first-team All-Pro recognition on three occasions — and in two different decades (1980, 1983, 1991) -- during his pro career. Kenn is a member of the Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor and his No. 78 jersey was retired by the franchise.

Maryland was not heavily recruited out of Chicago's Whitney Young High School. However, after entering Miami (FL), Maryland blossomed into one of the great college defensive players of all time. He was the first Hurricanes player to win the Outland Trophy. That came in 1990, when Maryland recorded 10 1/2 sacks and also earned All-American status. For his college career, Maryland posted 279 tackles, including 25 for loss, and 20 1/2 sacks. He also won two national championships (1987 and '89) with the Hurricanes, then won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX). During his 10-season NFL career, Maryland also earned a Pro Bowl nod (1993) and recorded 23 1/2 sacks. In 2011, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

From the famed Matthews football family, Clay was a star linebacker for the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons from 1978-96. That's after he starred at USC and cut his teeth on the gridiron at New Trier East High School on the suburban North Shore of Lake Michigan. Matthews, a four-time Pro Bowl selection (1985, 1987-89), was among the most menacing defenders of his time. He totaled nearly 1,600 tackles and exactly 69 1/2 sacks during that illustrious NFL career. Matthews is a member of the Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor. 

A standout at Rich East High School in south suburban Park Forest, McCarren was a two-year captain and also named MVP during his time at the University of Illinois. But, it was with the Green Bay Packers, from 1973-84, where McCarren established himself as one of the most dependable offensive lineman at the time. Though the Packers struggled during most of McCarren's time in Green Bay, he played in 162 straight games, was named to two Pro Bowls (1982, '83) and second-team All-Pro (1983). McCarren also is a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

Another South Sider, McNabb prepped at famed Chicago football power Mount Carmel High School. McNabb seemed destined for stardom on the gridiron. After starring at Syracuse (as the three-time Big East Offensive Player of the Year), McNabb threw for more than 37,000 yards with 234 touchdowns, 117 interceptions and rushed for 3,469 yards and 29 scores during his 13-year NFL career. All but two of those seasons came with the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he made six Pro Bowls, 16 playoff appearances, a trip to the Super Bowl and had his famous No. 5 retired.

The pride of far northwest suburban Elmwood Park, the legendary Nitschke endured a rough upbringing after both his mother and father died during his early teen years. Football, however, became an outlet for his anger issues in high school at Proviso Township in nearby Maywood. Though he struggled in the classroom, Nitschke continued to excel on the football field and earned his way to the University of Illinois, where he was a two-way standout. Of course, Nitschke became an NFL icon while playing for the Green Bay Packers (1958-72). He earned seven All-Pro nods, winning five NFL championships and two Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame career.

Nomellini had quite the journey to achieve stardom on the gridiron. Born in Italy, Nomellini and his family immigrated to the United States, first to Minnesota before settling in Chicago. He also attended Crane High School on the West Side, but did not play football until he joined the Marines in the early 1940s. A two-time All-American at the University of Minnesota, Nomellini then became a two-way star for the San Francisco 49ers, starting 166 of the 174 regular-season games he played from 1950-63. A 10-time Pro Bowl pick and six-time first-team All-Pro, Nomellini is a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames.

He may not be the most decorated or celebrated player on this list, but perhaps nobody overachieved more than the versatile Randle El. Despite being 5-foot-10, Randle El starred at Thornton High School in south suburban Harvey (where he was teammates with fellow NFL standouts Napoleon Harris and Tai Streets), then was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and an All-American, both in 2001, at Indiana. A second-round pick by Pittsburgh, Randle El played nine NFL seasons as a receiver and return specialist. In 2005, Randle El was named a first-team All-Pro while recording 35 receptions and returning two punts for touchdowns. He also helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL that season. For his career, Randle El caught 370 passes for 4,467 yards with 15 touchdowns, and also had six return TDs.

From humble beginnings on Chicago's South Side to an exceptional NFL career that spanned 12 seasons, Rice has written quite the football story. Another elite talent from Chicago's Mount Carmel High School, Rice was a two-time, first-team All-American at Illinois before being taken third overall in the 1996 NFL Draft. As a pro, Rice Rice recorded 122 sacks and forced 34 fumbles. He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1996, a three-time Pro Bowler, All-Pro and won a Super Bowl (XXXVII) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A rather underrated performer, Turner was a highly active linebacker, a disruptive presence due to his well-balanced combination of speed and strength. During his 11-year NFL career, all spent in San Francisco, the Pro Bowler helped usher in the era of the pass-rushing linebacker, recording 19 1/2 sacks (plus 11 interceptions), while helping the 49ers win four Super Bowls (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV). Not bad for a guy from Chicago's South Side, who like the aforementioned Dıck Butkus, prepped at Chicago Vocational. Turner then starred at Purdue.

Hailing from Chicago's far northwest side, "Ox" earned All-American honors at the University of Michigan — along with brothers Whitey and Alvin. At the pro level, though, Wistert became one of the all-time greats ever to play in Philadelphia (for the Steagles and Eagles), where he spent all nine of his NFL seasons from 1943-51). A four-time All-Pro, Wistert also played in the first Pro Bowl (1950) and won two NFL championships (1948, '49). Wistert is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame, and had his No. 70 retired by the team.

Woodson was born in Mississippi, but eventually found his way to Chicago, where he attended Austin High School on the West Side. Woodson then landed at Illinois, where he earned legendary status for scoring three second-half touchdowns during a comeback 20-13 victory over No. 1 Michigan State in 1956. Following a stint in the military, Woodson played nine seasons in the NFL with San Francisco and St. Louis, during which he was a both a Pro Bowl and All-Pro pick five times while averaging a stellar 28.7 yards per kick return.

Young was a man among boys when he dominated the prep football scene at Chicago Heights' Bloom High School during the late 1980s. So, it was no surprise that Young went on to become a three-year starter and All-American at Notre Dame. From there, things would only get better for the 6-3, 300-pound Young, who started all 208 games he played over 14 NFL seasons — all with the San Francisco 49ers. Young recorded 89 1/2 sacks, forced 11 fumbles, made four Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl (XXIX) before his Hall of Fame career came to an end.