Like any sport, college football has its fair share of legends.
While there are numerous that you could keep tabs on after their playing days, we’ve decided to check in on 10 of the most notable names that have ever taken the gridiron at the college level.
While some of these guys may have made their biggest impacts in the NFL, all 10 of these former athletes are absolute college football legends in every sense of the word.
Let’s remember these 10 great college football players, admire what they accomplished for their respective schools and get an update on what they’re up to nowadays.
Bo Jackson (Auburn)
Bo Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most prolific college football players of all time, highlighted by a brief-but-spectacular NFL career with the Los Angeles Raiders and nearly a decade spent in the MLB.
Where is Jackson now? These days, he’s still popping up around the sports world, hosting charity events and appearing at Auburn functions.
If you’re curious about what he’s up to, Jackson busy posting about his various exploits on Instagram.
Tim Tebow (Florida)
Tebow’s career at Florida really is the stuff of college football legends, as he led the Gators to two national titles during his time in Gainesville.
After spending a number of years in the NFL and MLB, Tebow finally ended his professional sporting pursuits in 2021. Now, Tebow shares his football insights on SEC Network as a college football analyst.
Vince Young (Texas)
Young led one of the the best college football teams of the last 20 years at Texas in the 2000s, winning a national title for the Longhorns in 2005.
After he spent a number of years with the Tennessee Titans and graced the cover of Madden NFL 08, he bounced around the NFL before closing his playing career in 2017 after a stint in the CFL.
Now, Young is back at Texas as a special assistant to the athletic department.
Reggie Bush (USC)
The 2005 Heisman Trophy winner (later vacated) and legendary USC running back is one of the most notable college football talents of the 2000s.
He also spent a number of years in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints and retiring after the 2016 season.
Bush has worked in sports broadcasting with Fox Sports in the time since his playing days. While he’s no longer with the network, you can follow along with his sports musings over on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Peyton Manning (Tennessee)
Manning’s time at Tennessee has made him the de facto Vols legend in Knoxville, even if it’s the Vols team after his departure for the NFL that won the national title (That quarterback? Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks coach Tee Martin).
Since his banner NFL career that featured two Super Bowls with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, respectively, Manning has turned into one of the most recognizable sports media personalities working.
You can catch him with his brother and former NFL quarterback Eli Manning on select Mondays on ESPN’s ManningCast broadcast on Monday Night Football. He’s hard to miss these days if you’re an avid ESPN watcher.
Earl Campbell (Texas)
Campbell, also known as “The Tyler Rose,” is another Longhorns legend and Heisman winner on our list who went on to a stellar NFL career.
He’s one of the greatest Houston Oilers (now Titans) of all time, having his No. 34 retired by the franchise. He also won the NFL’s MVP award in 1979.
Texas built a statue in Campbell’s honor outside of Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. Nowadays, Campbell still makes public appearances and shares about his occasional whereabouts on Instagram.
Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State)
Sanders is the greatest-ever Oklahoma State Cowboy and another former running back on our list who won the Heisman in 1988.
After being drafted in 1989, he took the NFL by storm as the greatest-ever Detroit Lion before his sudden retirement in 1998.
The Lions great still makes public appearances and has worked with Detroit as a franchise ambassador. A new documentary about his playing days and retirement, Bye Bye Barry, releases on Nov. 20 on Amazon Prime Video.
Charles Woodson (Michigan)
Woodson is one of the few defensive players to win the Heisman, his award coming in 1997 during his incredible career at defensive back for Michigan.
He went on to an accomplished NFL career, playing for the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers, the latter team helping him win a Super Bowl.
Nowadays, Woodson works for Fox Sports as a football analyst. He’s also worked for ESPN in the past.
Roger Staubach (Navy)
Staubach has one of the most fascinating careers of any college football legend, as he is the best-ever to play for Navy and won the Heisman in 1963. However, the former quarterback served in the Navy after his college career and even served on a tour in Vietnam during the 1960s.
However, his NFL career went just fine after his absence from football. He won two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys and played in five during the 11 years he spent with the franchise.
“Roger the Dodger” worked in real estate after his playing days and briefly worked with CBS Sports in the 1980s. Staubach recently saw a high school name its football stadium after him. He’ll still make public appearances, like he did at the Navy – Air Force game in 2023.
Archie Griffin (Ohio State)
Griffin is perhaps the greatest Ohio State Buckeye, having won two Heismans in 1974 and 1975.
He also stayed in the the Buckeye State for his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals before closing out his football days in USFL’s Jacksonville Bulls in 1985. His No. 45 has been retired by Ohio State.
Griffin is still heavily involved in the ongoings at Ohio State and works as an ambassador for the school.
