- Kirk Gibson
Kirk Harold Gibson (born May 28, 1957) is a former American two-sport athletic star, best known as a Major League Baseball player noted for his competitiveness and clutch hitting. Currently he serves as the bench coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
- Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Burress (born August 12, 1977 in Norfolk, Virginia) is an American football wide receiver for the NFL's New York Giants. After being drafted in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft (8th overall) out of Michigan State, Burress became a full-time starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2001. Burress is a "big-play" threat and was considered to have been a good balance to the Steelers' other starting wide receiver, Hines Ward, …
- Charles Rogers
Charlie Rogers (born May 23, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan) is an American football wide receiver, currently a free agent in the NFL. He was originally selected by the Detroit Lions with the second overall pick of the 2003 NFL Draft out of Michigan State University. He is nicknamed "Mister Rogers" after the children's TV personality Fred Rogers.
- Julian Peterson
Julian Thomas Peterson (born July 28, 1978 in Temple Hills, Maryland) is an American football player for the Seattle Seahawks. He signed with them after the San Francisco 49ers did not use the franchise tag and he became an unrestricted free agent. Peterson attended Michigan State University. He was drafted by the 49ers in the 1st round (16th overall) in the 2000 NFL Draft. Peterson is very explosive at the snap, gets to the edge in a hurry, and is a big hitter.
- Muhsin Muhammad
Muhsin Muhammad II (born Melvin Campbell on May 5, 1973) is an American football player who currently plays wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the NFL.
- Herb Adderley
Herbert A. Adderley (born June 8, 1939, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former American football cornerback who played for the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Michigan State University and was an All-Big Ten offensive star. While at Michigan State University, Adderly became a charter member of the Sigma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
- Earl Morrall
Earl Edwin Morrall (born May 17, 1934, in Muskegon, Michigan) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. Morrall, who also occasionally punted, lasted 21 seasons in the National Football League as both a starter and reserve. In the latter capacity, he earned something of a back-handed compliment: the greatest backup quarterback in NFL history. Morrall made Pro Bowl appearances following the 1957 and 1968 seasons.
- Morten Andersen
Morten Andersen (born August 19, 1960, in Copenhagen, Denmark) is an American football placekicker who played for the Atlanta Falcons in 2006 and is currently a free agent. He has enjoyed a long career as one of the NFL's most prolific kickers. At age 46, he is the oldest player in the NFL, and is seven months older than current Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino. On December 16, 2006, Andersen passed Gary Anderson to become the all-time leading scorer in NFL history.
- Bubba Smith
Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith (born February 28, 1945 in Orange, Texas) is an American actor and former athlete. He was a professional football player in the 1960s and 1970s who became an actor in the late 1970s. Born in Orange, Texas, he attended high school in Beaumont, Texas. In addition to his great football ability, he was well known for what was considered to be a tremendous size at the time of his football career: 6 ft 7 in (2 m) and 260 lbs (118 kg).
- Ike Reese
Ike Reese (born October 16, 1973 in Jacksonville, North Carolina) is a NFL Linebacker who is currently a free agent after being released from the Falcons on March 2, 2007. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1998 to 2004 until he signed with the Falcons before the 2005 season. He played college football for Michigan State University.
- Derrick Mason
Derrick James Mason (born January 17, 1974 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American football player. He is a wide receiver who as of 2005 plays for the Baltimore Ravens, and went to Michigan State. Mason started his career with the Oilers/Titans after being drafted in the 4th round (98th pick overall) in 1997. He has averaged around 86 receptions, 1150 yards and a bit more than 7 touchdowns over the last 4 years.
- Flozell Adams
Flozell Justin Adams (born May 18, 1976 in Chicago, Illinois) is an offensive tackle who currently plays football for the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. In 2005 he began his 8th season. He tore his ACL on Sunday, October 16 2005 vs The New York Giants and was out for the remainder of the season. His loss was considered huge, as after the injury to Adams, Dallas had problems at the offensive line for the rest of the season, some say costing them their playoff spot.
- Bob Roop
Bob Roop is a wrestler whose career has spanned high school, college, Army, amateur and professional wrestling. He was an American Heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
- George Saimes
George Saimes (born September 15, 1941), an All-American at defensive back and fullback for Michigan State, the Spartan MVP in 1961 and 1962 and a member of their all-time defensive team, joined the Buffalo Bills in 1963. He quickly developed into an outstanding safety and became a key member of the outstanding Bills defensive squads, which produced American Football League Championships in 1964 and 1965.
- Dean Look
Dean Zachary Look (born July 23, 1937 in Lansing, Michigan) was an American college and professional football player. A quarterback at Michigan State and for the American Football League (AFL) New York Titans, a Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder, and American football official in the National Football League (NFL).
- Matt Trannon
Matt Trannon (born July 7, 1983 in Flint, Michigan) an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. He played football and basketball collegiately at Michigan State University. He is the son of Katherine Trannon and cousin of former NFL player Lonnie Young.
- Wayne Fontes
Wayne Fontes (born February 2, 1940) is a former American football coach and college and professional football player who was the head coach of the NFL's Detroit Lions from 1988 to 1996. His 67 wins and 71 losses are each the most for a head coach in team history.
- Doug Weaver
Douglas W. Weaver (born 1930) was a college football coach and athletics director. As head football coach at Kansas State from 1960 to 1966, his teams were notoriously awful and posted two of the longest losing streaks in college football history. He later achieved positive acclaim as the athletic director at Michigan State University. Weaver was used to success on the football field, starring as a center on Michigan State's great early 1950s teams.
- Paul Edinger
Paul Edinger (born January 17, 1978 in Frankfort, Michigan; raised in Lakeland, Florida) is a free agent National Football League kicker. Edinger has played for the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. Edinger is known for his unusual "corkscrew" kicking motion: before the snap he faces backwards in the direction of the opposite side of the field. As the ball is snapped he turns as he steps in a circular pattern toward the ball.
- Andre Rison
The Associated Press reports former NFL WR Andre Rison was arrested and cited for public intoxication after an early-morning disturbance at a San Antonio hotel Monday, Dec. 29. Police were called to the hotel after Rison and a friend caused a scene at the Crown Plaza Riverwalk, the San Antonio Express-News reported. Rison paid an $85 fine for the misdemeanor offense and was released, police said.
- Joe Delamielleure
Joseph Michael DeLamielleure (born March 16, 1951, Detroit, Michigan) is a former American football offensive lineman who was an All-American at Michigan State. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round, in 1973. He won All-Rookie Honors, after finding out a physical condition with his irregular heartbeat was not serious. Seven times he was named All-Pro and was named to the Pro Bowl six times.
- Tom Yewcic
Thomas J. Yewcic (born May 9, 1932 in Conemaugh, Pennsylvania) is a former American football quarterback and punter and Major League Baseball player. He attended Michigan State University, where as a baseball player he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1954 College World Series despite his team not reaching the championship game. After signing with the Detroit Tigers, he went on to play one game as a catcher with the team on June 27, 1957.
- Drew Stanton
Drew Emeric Stanton (born May 7, 1984) is a National Football League quarterback (QB) for the Detroit Lions. He played collegiately for the Michigan State Spartans.
- Billy Joe Dupree
Billy Joe Dupree (born March 7, 1950 in Monroe, Louisiana) is former professional American football tight end who played his entire career (1973-1983) for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. Before his NFL career, he played collegiately at Michigan State University. Known as a superb blocker and pass receiver, Dupree was one of the top tight ends of his era, helping the Cowboys become one of the top teams in the NFL during the 1970s.
- Bob Guiney
Robert "Bob" Guiney (b. May 8 1971, Riverview, Michigan) was a contestant on the first season of "The Bachelorette". Later, he was chosen to pick his own perfect lady on the fourth season of "The Bachelor". Guiney is a 1989 graduate of Riverview Community High School. He graduated from Michigan State University, where he was a walk-on quarterback for their football team. He started his own company, Allied Home Mortgage, with his childhood friend, …
- Sonny Grandelius
Everett "Sonny" Grandelius (born April 16, 1929 in Muskegon Heights, Michigan) was the head football coach of the Colorado Buffaloes from 1959 to 1961. He posted a 20-11 (.645) record as head coach. He was a halfback for Michigan State from 1948 to 1950.
- Al Dorow
Albert Richard Dorow (born November 15, 1929 in Imlay City, Michigan) is a former professional American football quarterback in the NFL and in the AFL. Dorow played college football at Michigan State University. After retiring he became an assistant coach for the Spartans. He was the head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1971.
- Fred Arbanas
Frederick Vincent Arbanas (born January 14, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan) is an American former college and professional football player. Arbanas was considered by many to be the perfect tight end, partly because of his 6-foot-3 frame and 240 pounds (109 kg) of chiseled muscle. Drafted out of Michigan State by the American Football League's Dallas Texans (later the Kansas City Chiefs) in 1961, he missed the 1961 season with injuries.
- Rich Saul
Rich Saul (born February 5 1948 in Butler, Pennsylvania) was a National Football League offensive lineman from 1970 through 1981. He played college football at Michigan State University. His twin brother Ron Saul, also played with the Spartans and in the NFL.
- Rollie Dotsch
Rollie Dotsch (died March 16, 1988) was a football coach who served primarily in an assistant capacity before becoming the first coach of the United States Football League's Birmingham Stallions on September 2, 1982. Dotsch played college football at Michigan State University, helping the 1952 Spartans win the national championship, then started during his senior year on Michigan State's squad that captured both the Big Ten and Rose Bowl championships.
- Lorenzo White
Lorenzo Maurice White (born April 12, 1966 in Hollywood, Florida), is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1st round (22nd overall) of the 1988 NFL Draft. A 5 ft 11 in running back from Michigan State University, White played in 8 NFL seasons from 1988 to 1995. His best year as a pro came during the 1992 season with the Oilers, rushing for 1,226 yards and 7 touchdowns.
- Chris Baker
Chris Baker (born November 18, 1979) is an American football tight end for the New York Jets of the NFL. He attended Michigan State University. During the 2005 season, he served as backup to Doug Jolley until becoming injured and placed on the injured reserve list. Chris was born in New York and raised in the Queens. Chris Baker, nicknamed "Chris Baker the Touchdown Maker" (sometimes called the First down Maker) by Jets fans and analysts, had his breakout season in 2006.
- Donvetis Franklin
Donvetis Franklin is an Arena Football League defensive specialist for the Austin Wranglers.
- Renaldo Hill
Renaldo Hill (born November 12, 1978 in Detroit, Michigan) is a current American Football safety who currently plays for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round (202nd overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at Michigan State.
- T. J. Duckett
Todd Jeffery Duckett (born February 17, 1981 in Kalamazoo, MI) is an American football running back who currently plays for the Detroit Lions in the NFL. He is known almost exclusively as T.J. Duckett.
- Dave Rayner
David 'Dave' Michael Rayner (born October 26, 1982 in Rochester, Michigan) is an American NFL football player for the Green Bay Packers Rayner went to Oxford High School where he played as a kicker for the varsity football team. As a four-year starter he broke all but one school punting and placekicking record. He also made plays as a wide receiver, catching 13 passes for 210 yards and 3 touchdowns.
- Tupe Peko
Tupe Peko is an American Football offensive lineman. He played at the collegiate level at Michigan State University and has spent 6 years in the NFL, primarily as a backup. He has played for the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts and is currently on the Green Bay Packers roster.
- Domata Peko
Domata Peko ["DOE-mah-tah "PECK-o"] (born November 27, 1984) is a professional football player and defensive tackle selected by the Cincinnati Bengals as the 123rd pick in the 2006 NFL Draft out of Michigan State University. He is from Pago Pago, American Samoa. He is a lifelong friend of Bengals defensive end Jonathan Fanene. His brother, Tupe Peko, also played in the NFL. Peko played his college football at Michigan State University.
- Brad van Pelt
Brad Alan Van Pelt (born April 5, 1951 in Owosso, Michigan) is a former American football linebacker who played fourteen seasons the National Football League. He played for the New York Giants from 1973 to 1983, the Los Angeles Raiders from 1984 to 1985, and the Cleveland Browns in 1986. He was selected to the Pro Bowl five times from 1976 to 1980. He is the father of former Denver Broncos and current Houston Texans quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt.
- Tyrone Willingham
Lionel Tyrone Willingham, or Ty Willingham (born December 30 1953 in Kinston, North Carolina, USA), is the head football coach at the University of Washington. A football player and graduate of Michigan State University, Willingham held assistant coaching stints at his alma mater, as well as at Central Michigan University, North Carolina State University, Rice University, and Stanford University.