Thirty-one former NFF National Scholar-Athletes/William V. Campbell Trophy® finalists appear on active NFL rosters, with an additional four players on injured reserve and five players on practice squads as the 2026 regular season begins this week.
The group includes six recipients of the Campbell Trophy®: the Detroit Lions' Jack Campbell (Iowa - 2022), Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert (Oregon - 2019), Los Angeles Chargers' Charlie Kolar (Iowa State - 2021), Seattle Seahawks' Jalen Milroe (Alabama - 2024), Denver Broncos' Bo Nix (Oregon - 2023), and Philadelphia Eagles' Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt - 2025); five Pro Bowlers; and six first-round picks. The Los Angeles Chargers are the only NFL team with two Campbell Trophy® recipients on their roster, with Herbert and Kolar representing the franchise.
The total includes six members of the most recent NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments: Jonah Coleman (Denver Broncos - Washington), Jalon Daniels (Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Kansas), Trey Moore (Miami Dolphins - Texas), Red Murdock (Denver Broncos - Buffalo), Eli Stowers (Philadelphia Eagles - Vanderbilt), and Jack Strand (Atlanta Falcons - Minnesota State Moorhead).
The Denver Broncos lead all NFL teams with five NFF National Scholar-Athletes in the organization, including Jonah Coleman (Washington - 2025), Sam Ehlinger (Texas - 2020), Matt Henningsen [Injured Reserve] (Wisconsin - 2021), Red Murdock [Practice Squad] (Buffalo - 2025), and Bo Nix (Oregon - 2023).
Twenty-two NFL teams boast at least one former NFF National Scholar-Athlete, led by the Broncos with five and the Los Angeles Chargers with four. The Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs have three each. The Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers each feature two NFF National Scholar-Athletes.
The list contains 11 quarterbacks, leading all positions. QB Kirk Cousins (Michigan State - 2011) is the most experienced NFF National Scholar-Athlete on the list as he enters his 15th NFL season.
The 40 NFF National Scholar-Athletes on NFL Rosters or Practice Squads
(School and year honored listed in parentheses)
Arizona Cardinals
Jack Gibbens, LB (Abilene Christian/Minnesota, 2020)
Atlanta Falcons
JD Bertrand†, LB (Notre Dame, 2023)
Cooper Rush, QB (Central Michigan, 2016)
Jack Strand, QB (Minnesota State Moorhead, 2025)
Buffalo Bills
DeWayne Carter, DT (Duke, 2023)
Cincinnati Bengals
Tahj Brooks, RB (Texas Tech, 2024)
Dalton Risner, OL (Kansas State, 2018)
Cleveland Browns
Dillon Gabriel†, QB (Oregon, 2024)
Zak Zinter, G (Michigan, 2023)
Dallas Cowboys
Cooper Beebe, G (Kansas State, 2023)
Denver Broncos
Jonah Coleman, RB (Washington, 2025)
Sam Ehlinger, QB (Texas, 2020)
Matt Henningsen†, DE (Wisconsin, 2021)
Red Murdock‡, ILB (Buffalo, 2025)
Bo Nix*, QB (Oregon, 2023)
Detroit Lions
Jack Campbell*, LB (Iowa, 2022)
Aidan Hutchinson, DE (Michigan, 2021)
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jack Kiser‡, LB (Notre Dame, 2024)
Kansas City Chiefs
Mike Caliendo, OL (Western Michigan, 2021)
Ashton Gillotte, DL (Louisville, 2024)
Drue Tranquill, LB (Notre Dame, 2018)
Las Vegas Raiders
Thomas Booker IV, DL (Stanford, 2021)
Kirk Cousins, QB (Michigan State, 2011)
Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert*, QB (Oregon, 2019)
Charlie Kolar*, TE (Iowa State, 2021)
Ladd McConkey, WR (Georgia, 2023)
Elijah Molden, DB (Washington, 2020)
Miami Dolphins
Trey Moore†, ILB (Texas, 2025)
Jackson Woodard, LB (UNLV, 2024)
New England Patriots
Walter Rouse, OT (Stanford, 2022)
New York Giants
Braxton Berrios‡, WR (Miami (FL), 2017)
Jaxson Dart, QB (Ole Miss, 2024)
New York Jets
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT (Penn State, 2023)
Philadelphia Eagles
Jake Majors‡, C (Texas, 2024)
Eli Stowers*, TE (Vanderbilt, 2025)
Pittsburgh Steelers
Zach Frazier, C (West Virginia, 2023)
San Francisco 49ers
Jake Brendel, C (UCLA, 2015)
Seattle Seahawks
Jalen Milroe*, QB (Alabama, 2024)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jalon Daniels, QB (Kansas, 2025)
Easton Stick‡, QB (North Dakota State, 2018)
* NFF William V. Campbell Trophy® recipient
† Injured Reserve
‡ Practice Squad
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