10 Greatest Auburn football NFL careers in school history

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For as storied a history as the Auburn football program has, there hasn’t been much history of NFL success for former Tigers. Just two NFL Hall of Famers played their college ball at Auburn and only one NFL MVP.

Hugh Freeze is doing his best to raise the talent level of the program and produce more NFL draft picks. His 2024 recruiting class includes multiple five-star wide receivers who no doubt have their eyes set, not just on the league, but on the first round of the draft.

Derrick Brown and Noah Igbinoghene in 2020, were Auburn’s most recent first-rounders and the 31st and 32nd first-round picks in program history. In total, 322 Auburn Tigers have been drafted into the NFL. Six of the 10 players on this list of the greatest NFL careers by Auburn alumni, were drafted in the first round.

This list spans quite a bit of football history, and we’ll start with a player who was drafted fifth overall in 1958.

Dec 6, 1959; Los Angeles, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Los Angeles Rams tight end Jim “Red” Phillips (82) catching the ball against Green Bay Packers defensive back Hank Gremminger (46) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during the 1959 season. Mandatory Credit: David Boss-USA TODAY Sports /

. . Red Phillips. 10. player. 51.

Auburn: 1955-57

NFL: 1958-67

Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings

Accomplishments: 3x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro

After his career at Auburn, Red Phillips was taken fifth overall in the NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams. In 1961 Red Phillips led the NFL in receptions with 78 and finished with 1,092 yards for the Rams. In his 10-year career, he had over 500 receiving yards seven times.

Nov 23, 1969; New York, NY, USA; FILE PHOTO; Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Bobby Hunt (10) tackles New York Jets receiver George Sauer (83) at Shea Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports /

player. 124. . . . Bobby Hunt (SS). 9

Auburn: 1959-61

NFL: 1962-69

Teams: Dallas Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals

Accomplishments: 1x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro, 2x AFL Champ

In his three seasons at Auburn, Bobby Hunt played quarterback and both threw and rushed for over 1,000 yards in his career. He also played defensive back, and he stuck on the defensive side of the ball in the NFL.

Hunt made the AFL all-rookie team for the Dallas Texans. Then he transitioned to the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs. He made second-team All-Pro twice and finished with 42 career interceptions.

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