25 NFL Players You Didn’t Know Came From Upstate New York

Rob Gronkowski with the New England Patriots. Photo: AddyTsl / Shutterstock

When casual fans picture football talent coming out of New York, they usually imagine the five boroughs, Long Island, or the state’s major college programs. But the factory towns, lake-effect snow belts, Capital Region communities, and rural stretches of Upstate New York have produced an impressive group of professional football players.

For this list, “came from Upstate New York” means a player was born in the region or spent substantial formative years and high school football there. Every person on the list also appeared in at least one NFL regular-season game. From Hall of Famers and Pro Bowl quarterbacks to Super Bowl champions and long-time starters, these 25 players all have genuine Upstate New York roots.

1. Rob Gronkowski – Amherst / Williamsville (Erie County)

Rob Gronkowski was born in Amherst and grew up in nearby Williamsville, where he played his first three years of high school football at Williamsville North before moving to Pennsylvania for his senior season. One of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, Gronkowski won four Super Bowls, earned five Pro Bowl selections and four First-Team All-Pro honors, and finished his career with 621 receptions, 9,286 receiving yards, and 92 touchdown catches.

2. Ernie Stautner – Albany / East Greenbush (Capital Region)

Ernie Stautner was born in Bavaria, Germany, but his family immigrated to the Albany area when he was three years old. He attended Columbia High School in East Greenbush and Vincentian Institute in Albany before serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and playing at Boston College. Stautner spent 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, made nine Pro Bowls, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969. Pittsburgh retired his No. 70.

3. Ron Jaworski – Lackawanna (Erie County)

Ron Jaworski was born in Lackawanna and starred at Lackawanna High School before playing at Youngstown State. The Los Angeles Rams selected him in the second round of the 1973 NFL Draft, but his defining years came with the Philadelphia Eagles. Jaworski led Philadelphia to Super Bowl XV following the 1980 season and finished a 17-year NFL career with 28,190 passing yards and 179 touchdown passes.

4. Daryl Johnston – Youngstown (Niagara County)

Daryl “Moose” Johnston was born in Youngstown and attended Lewiston-Porter High School before playing at Syracuse University. Drafted by Dallas in the second round in 1989, Johnston became the fullback who helped clear the way for Emmitt Smith during the Cowboys dynasty of the 1990s. He earned two Pro Bowl selections and won three Super Bowls with Dallas.

5. Chandler Jones – Rochester / Endicott (Monroe and Broome Counties)

Chandler Jones was born in Rochester and grew up in Endicott, where he attended Union-Endicott High School before playing at Syracuse University. New England selected him in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Jones went on to record 112 career sacks, earn four Pro Bowl selections and two First-Team All-Pro honors, and win Super Bowl XLIX with the Patriots.

6. Arthur Jones – Rochester / Endicott (Monroe and Broome Counties)

Arthur Jones, Chandler’s older brother, was born in Rochester and also came through Union-Endicott High School before playing at Syracuse. The Baltimore Ravens selected the defensive lineman in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Jones played 64 NFL games for Baltimore, Indianapolis, and Washington and was a member of the Ravens team that won Super Bowl XLVII.

7. Shane Conlan – Frewsburg (Chautauqua County)

Shane Conlan was born in Frewsburg and became one of the great football players to come out of Western New York’s Southern Tier. After starring at Penn State and helping the Nittany Lions win the 1986 national championship, Conlan was selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Bills in 1987. He earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, made three Pro Bowls, and played on Buffalo’s first three consecutive AFC championship teams.

8. Tim Green – Liverpool (Onondaga County)

Tim Green was born in Liverpool and starred at Liverpool High School before becoming an All-American at Syracuse University. The Atlanta Falcons selected him 17th overall in the 1986 NFL Draft. Green spent his entire eight-year NFL career with Atlanta, appearing in 99 games and recording 24 sacks while playing linebacker and defensive end.

9. Bill Bergey – South Dayton (Cattaraugus County)

Bill Bergey was born in South Dayton and attended Pine Valley Central before playing college football at Arkansas State. He became one of the most respected linebackers of the 1970s, earning five Pro Bowl selections and two First-Team All-Pro honors. Bergey played for Cincinnati and Philadelphia and helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl XV following the 1980 season.

10. Don Majkowski – Buffalo / Depew (Erie County)

Don Majkowski was born in Buffalo and attended Depew High School before playing at the University of Virginia. Known as “The Majik Man,” he enjoyed his greatest season with Green Bay in 1989, when he led the NFL with 4,318 passing yards, threw 27 touchdown passes, made the Pro Bowl, and finished second in Associated Press NFL MVP voting.

11. Jim Burt – Buffalo / Orchard Park (Erie County)

Jim Burt was born in Buffalo and played high school football at Orchard Park before attending the University of Miami. Undrafted in 1981, Burt developed into a fierce nose tackle for the New York Giants and later the San Francisco 49ers. He made the 1986 Pro Bowl and won two Super Bowls, first with the Giants in Super Bowl XXI and later with San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIV.

12. Isaiah Kacyvenski – Endicott (Broome County)

Isaiah Kacyvenski was born in Endicott and starred at Union-Endicott High School before attending Harvard. Seattle selected him in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Kacyvenski played 100 NFL games with the Seahawks, Rams, and Raiders and was part of the Seattle team that reached Super Bowl XL.

13. Dion Lewis – Albany (Albany County)

Dion Lewis grew up in Albany and attended Albany High School and Albany Academy before finishing high school at Blair Academy in New Jersey. After starring at the University of Pittsburgh, he was drafted by Philadelphia in 2011 and later became an important part of New England’s offense. Lewis won Super Bowl LI with the Patriots and finished his NFL career with 2,425 rushing yards and 1,408 receiving yards.

14. Phil McConkey – Buffalo (Erie County)

Phil McConkey was born in Buffalo and attended Canisius High School before graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy and serving in the Navy. He reached the NFL at age 27 and became a receiver and return specialist for the New York Giants. McConkey delivered one of the memorable moments of Super Bowl XXI when he caught a six-yard touchdown pass in the Giants’ victory over Denver.

15. Marv Hubbard – Salamanca / Randolph (Cattaraugus County)

Marv Hubbard was born in Salamanca and attended Randolph Central before playing at Colgate University. A bruising fullback for the Oakland Raiders during the early 1970s, Hubbard made three consecutive Pro Bowls and finished his career with 4,544 rushing yards. His career average of 4.8 yards per carry reflected the effectiveness of his hard-running style.

16. Joe Cocozzo – Mechanicville (Saratoga County)

Joe Cocozzo was born in Mechanicville and starred at Mechanicville High School before playing at the University of Michigan. The San Diego Chargers selected him in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. Cocozzo played five NFL seasons, appeared in 77 games, made 48 starts, and started on the offensive line for the Chargers team that reached Super Bowl XXIX.

17. Corey Graham – Buffalo (Erie County)

Corey Graham was born in Buffalo and played at Turner-Carroll High School before attending the University of New Hampshire. Drafted by Chicago in 2007, Graham built a 12-year NFL career as a defensive back and special-teams standout. He earned a Pro Bowl selection and won two Super Bowls, one with Baltimore and another with Philadelphia.

18. James Starks – Niagara Falls (Niagara County)

James Starks was born in Niagara Falls, played at Niagara Falls High School, and stayed close to home for college at the University at Buffalo. Green Bay selected him in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Starks rushed for 315 yards during the Packers’ 2010 postseason run and helped Green Bay defeat Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV.

19. Brett Kern – Grand Island (Erie County)

Brett Kern was born on Grand Island and attended Grand Island High School before playing at the University of Toledo. He developed into one of the NFL’s most reliable punters during a career that lasted from 2008 through 2022. Kern earned three Pro Bowl selections, one First-Team All-Pro honor, and finished with more than 46,000 career punting yards.

20. Mike Mamula – Lackawanna (Erie County)

Mike Mamula was born in Lackawanna and starred at Lackawanna High School before becoming an All-American defensive player at Boston College. Philadelphia selected him seventh overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. Mamula spent his entire NFL career with the Eagles, recording 31.5 sacks in 77 games.

21. George “Butch” Byrd – Watervliet (Albany County)

George “Butch” Byrd was born in Watervliet and attended La Salle Institute before playing at Boston University. He became one of the great defensive backs of the Buffalo Bills’ AFL era, helping Buffalo win championships in 1964 and 1965. Byrd intercepted 40 passes for the Bills, a franchise record that still stands, and earned five AFL All-Star selections.

22. Joe Ehrmann – Buffalo (Erie County)

Joe Ehrmann was born in Buffalo and played at Riverside High School before becoming an All-American at Syracuse University. The Baltimore Colts selected him 10th overall in the 1973 NFL Draft. Ehrmann played ten NFL seasons with Baltimore and Detroit, appearing in 121 games and recording 41.5 career sacks according to historical sack totals.

23. Tom Rafferty – Syracuse (Onondaga County)

Tom Rafferty was born in Syracuse and attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School before playing at Penn State. Dallas selected him in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft. Rafferty spent his entire 14-year NFL career with the Cowboys, appearing in 203 games, making 182 starts, and winning Super Bowl XII.

24. DaQuan Jones – Johnson City (Broome County)

DaQuan Jones was born in Johnson City and starred at Johnson City High School before playing at Penn State. Tennessee selected the 320-pound defensive lineman in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Jones went on to play more than 160 NFL games for the Titans, Carolina Panthers, and Buffalo Bills, establishing himself as a durable interior defensive lineman.

25. Mike Hart – Syracuse / Nedrow (Onondaga County)

Mike Hart was born in Syracuse and starred at Onondaga Central High School in Nedrow, where he became one of the most productive high school running backs in New York history. After a record-setting college career at Michigan, Hart was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He appeared in 21 NFL games over three seasons with Indianapolis.

Upstate New York NFL Pipeline: Quick Reference

For more New York football history, read our History of the New York Giants NFL Football Team and History of the New York Jets. For more notable people with roots north of the metropolitan area, see 25 Famous People You Didn’t Know Were From Upstate New York.