The University of Wisconsin has developed a proven pipeline of talent into the National Football League.
The Badgers have consistently sent powerful, fundamentally polished linemen to the league, while UW's run-centric identity has helped launch numerous successful NFL backs like Jonathan Taylor. In recent years, Wisconsin’s defensive units have also produced standout pros, including elite pass rushers and versatile linebackers, including T.J. Watt, T.J. Edwards and Leo Chenal. Throughout its history, the Badgers have forged one of college football’s most respected NFL pipelines, with Wisconsin alumni becoming synonymous with reliability, toughness, and long professional careers.
33 former Badgers are currently on NFL rosters. In Spring 2025, S Hunter Wohler (Indianapolis) and OL Jack Nelson (Atlanta) were selected in the 7th Round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Badgers had 5 NFL Pro Bowlers in 2024, the 5th most of any college football program. Russell Wilson (10th), T.J. Watt (7th), Jonathan Taylor (2nd), Andrew Van Ginkel (1st) and Zack Baun (1st) all earned the Pro Bowl nod. Wisconsin has had a former player named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last 18 seasons.
13 of the last 15 Super Bowls have featured a former Badger. Leo Chenal became one of three Badgers to play in three straight Super Bowls (James White, Nate Odomes).
Current Badgers in the NFL:
| Name, Position | NFL Team | Years at Wisconsin | Drafted |
| Braelon Allen, RB | New York Jets | 2021-23 | 2024 - 4th round, pick 134 |
| Zack Baun, LB | Philadelphia Eagles | 2015-19 | 2020 - 4rd round, pick 74 |
| Keeanu Benton, DT | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2019-22 | 2023 - 2nd round, pick 49 |
| Tyler Biadasz, OL | Washington Commanders | 2016-19 | 2020 - 4th round, pick 146 |
| Tanor Bortolini, OL | Indianapolis Colts | 2020-23 | 2024 - 4th round, pick 117 |
| Quintez Cephus, WR | Houston Texans | 2016-19 | 2020 - 5th round, pick 166 |
| Leo Chenal, LB | Kansas City Chiefs | 2019-21 | 2022 - 3rd round, pick 103 |
| Michael Deiter, OL | Washington Commanders | 2015-18 | 2019 - 3rd round, pick 78 |
| David Edwards, OL | Buffalo Bills | 2016-18 | 2019 - 5th round, pick 169 |
| T.J. Edwards, LB | Chicago Bears | 2015-18 | 2019 - UDFA |
| Jake Ferguson, TE | Dallas Cowboys | 2017-21 | 2022 - 4th round, pick 129 |
| Bryson Green, WR | Arizona Cardinals | 2023-24 | 2025 - UDFA |
| Rob Havenstein, OL | Los Angeles Rams | 2010-14 | 2015 - 2nd round, pick 57 |
| Matt Henningsen, DL | Denver Broncos | 2017-21 | 2022 - 6th round, pick 206 |
| Nick Herbig, OLB | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2020-22 | 2023 - 4th round, pick 132 |
| Joe Huber, OL | Minnesota Vikings | 2023-24 | 2025 - UDFA |
| Alec Ingold, FB | Miami Dolphins | 2015-18 | 2019 - UDFA |
| Isaiahh Loudermilk, DL | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2016-20 | 2021 - 5th round, pick 156 |
| Jason Maitre, CB | Miami Dolphins | 2023 | 2024 - UDFA |
| Jack Nelson, OL | Atlanta Falcons | 2020-24 | 2025 - 7th round, pick 318 |
| Maema Njongmeta, LB | Carolina Panthers | 2019-23 | 2024 - UDFA |
| Dare Ogunbowale, RB | Houston Texans | 2012-16 | 2017 - UDFA |
| Kendric Pryor, WR | Cincinnati Bengals | 2016-20 | 2022 - UDFA |
| Hayden Rucci, TE | Detroit Lioins | 2019-23 | 2024 - UDFA |
| Jack Sanborn, LB | Dallas Cowboys | 2018-21 | 2022 - UDFA |
| Jonathan Taylor, RB | Indianapolis Colts | 2017-19 | 2020 - 2nd round, pick 41 |
| Joe Tippmann, OL | New York Jets | 2019-22 | 2023 - 2nd round, pick 43 |
| Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB | Minnesota Vikings | 2017-18 | 2019 - 5th round, pick 151 |
| Cole Van Lanen, OL | Jacksonville Jaguars | 2016-20 | 2021 - 6th round, pick 214 |
| T.J. Watt, OLB | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2013-16 | 2017 - 1st round, pick 30 |
| Russell Wilson, QB | New York Giants | 2011 | 2012 - 3rd round, pick 75 |
| Hunter Wohler, S | Indianapolis Colts | 2021-24 | 2025 - 7th round, pick 232 |
| Kevin Zeitler, OL | Tennessee Titans | 2009-11 | 2012 - 1st round, pick 27 |
Good luck this season to all of our NFL Badgers! :open_hands:#OnWisconsin x #MadeInMadison pic.twitter.com/xa1EbfQCzD
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) September 3, 2025
The definition of a Wisconsin Sports Legend :muscle:
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 25, 2025
Welcome home to 3x NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Badger alum & Pewaukee native @JJWatt pic.twitter.com/p6Y68TTq7Z
increasing the Wattage :battery::moneybag:
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) July 18, 2025
Congrats on making history (again), @_TJWatt!#OnWisconsin x #MadeInMadison pic.twitter.com/TrVmtSg6P4
Zach Baun - Philadelphia Eagles
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
Baun joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 and made an immediate impact. He started in 16 games for the Eagles racking up 151 tackles, 11 TFL's, 3.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles. The West Bend, Wis. native was selected to his first career pro bowl and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Tyler Biadasz - Washington Commanders
Tyler Biadasz is the starting center for the Washington Commanders. In 2024, he started in 15 games, as the Commanders had their best season this decade going 12-5 and earning a wild card playoff spot. Biadasz helped the Commanders make the NFC Championship game for the first time since 1992.
Leo Chenal - Kansas City Chiefs
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
Chenal has been one of the NFL's premier linebackers over the past couple of seasons. He started in 14 games for the Chiefs and recorded 60 tackles, 1 sack and TFL's. Chenal led a stout, Chiefs defensive unit to their third Super Bowl appearance in a row in 2024.
David Edwards - Buffalo Bills
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
After playing all 16 games during his first two NFL campaigns, Edwards started all 17 games for the Super Bowl-champion Rams in 2021. Edwards starred at left guard in one of the NFL’s most high-powered offenses. Edwards started four games to begin 2022 before missing the remainder of the season with an injury.
T.J. Edwards - Chicago Bears
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
Edwards has become one of the elite linebackers in the league since joining the Bears in 2023. In his 2024 campaign, Edwards was the starter in each of the 17 games he played while securing 129 tackles, 4 sacks and 12 TFL's.
Rob Havenstein - Los Angeles Rams
Havenstein continued his dominant career with the Rams in the 2024 season. He started in 11 games for Los Angeles, missing time throughout the season with injuries. Havenstein will head into his 11th season in the NFL this year, all with the Rams organization. He was able to win a Super Bowl in 2022 in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20.
Matt Henningsen - Denver Broncos
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
Henningsen was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 draft by the Broncos and went on to play in all 17 games on the defensive line and special teams. He totaled 21 tackles, a sack and 2.0 TFLs in his rookie campaign.
Alec Ingold - Miami Dolphins
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
In his third season in Miami, Ingold played in 15 games, making 10 starts. Ingold caught 11 passes for 96 yards and had a rushing touchdown against the New England Patriots in 2024. Ingold has been the Dolphin's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee each of the last two seasons as well.
Isaiahh Loudermilk - Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
Loudermilk is now on his fifth season in the NFL, all with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last season, he appeared in 16 games on the Steelers defense and special teams units. In 2025, Loudermilk made his first start with the Steelers since 2022.
Dare Ogunbowale - Houston Texans
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
Ogunbowale recently started his fourth season with the Houston Texans, where he has found a solid role on the team. He has made 5 starts with the Texans over his career and amassed over 500 all-purpose yards and a couple of touchdowns.
Jack Sanborn - Dallas Cowboys
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
Sanborn, a Chicago area native, burst onto the scene as undrafted rookie with the Bears in 2022. Over his time with the Bears Sanborn was able to accumulate over 160 tackles, 14 TFL's and 4.5 sacks. After having a couple of successful years with Chicago, Sanborn signed a contract to play with the Dallas Cowboys in 2025.
Jonathan Taylor - Indianapolis Colts
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
Jonathan Taylor had a major bounce back season with the Colts in 2024 after dealing with injuries in his past couple of seasons. Taylor made 13 starts, racking up over 1,500 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns. He also became one of the highest paid running backs in the league in 2023, signing a 3-year, $42 million dollar extension with the Colts.
Andrew Van Ginkel - Minnesota Vikings
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
In his first season as a Minnesota Viking, Van Ginkel had his best season as a professional coming away with 11.5 sacks, 18 TFL's and 2 interceptions that were both returned for touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl team for the first time in his career, and finished 7th in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
T.J. Watt - Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
Watt is widely considered one of the best pass-rushers in the league and enters his 9th season with an impressive list of accomplishments. He is a 7-time Pro Bowler, 4-time All-Pro selection, and Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.
Russell Wilson - New York Giants
NFL.com Bio | Wisconsin Bio | Wisconsin Highlights
Wilson signed a 1 year deal with the Giants in the offseason after a short stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is now in his 14th season in the league, and has amassed over 46,000 yards, 350 touchdowns and a Super Bowl in 2014. He was also named the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year by the NFL.
