Husker Corner
Fansided

10 Greatest Nebraska football NFL careers in school history

By Josh Yourish

Dec 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Lions defeated the Bears 20-14. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Lions defeated the Bears 20-14. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Sep 17, 1995; Kansas City, MO, USA; FILE PHOTO; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Neil Smith (90) against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 1995; Kansas City, MO, USA; FILE PHOTO; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Neil Smith (90) against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports /

Neil Smith (DE). 6. player. 124. . .

Nebraska: 1984-87

NFL: 1988-2000

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers

Accomplishments: 2x Super Bowl Champ, 6x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro, 1990s All-Decade team

Before the 1988 NFL Draft, the Chiefs showed their cards a bit too early regarding Smith and were forced to trade up from three to two to select him out of Nebraska. Smith made five straight pro bowls from 1991-95, and another in 1997. In 1993, he led the NFL with 15.0 sacks.

His individual success came with KC, but when he went to Denver, he help the Broncos get over the hump and win two Super Bowls.

CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 22: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions sacks quarterback Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears during the second quarter of the game at Soldier Field on October 22, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Lions 13-7. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 22: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions sacks quarterback Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears during the second quarter of the game at Soldier Field on October 22, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Lions 13-7. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

50. . . . Ndamukong Suh (DT). 5. player

Nebraska: 2006-09

NFL: 2010-22

Teams: Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles

Accomplishments: Super Bowl LV Champion, 2010 Defensive Rookie of the Year, 5x Pro Bowl, 3x All-Pro, 2010s All-Decade team

Suh didn’t win the Heisman Trophy at Nebraska, but it is hard to argue there was a player better in the country. He finished fourth in Heisman voting as a defensive lineman in 2009 and was selected second overall by the Detroit Lions in 2010. In his final season at Nebraska, he had 20.5 sacks.

In the NFL he had 10 sacks as a rookie, but never reached double-digits again. He became more known as a fearsome run defender, tallying 21 tackles for loss in 2014, his third first-team All-Pro season.

Suh has been a controversial and at times dirty player, but later in his career he brought a much-needed edge to the Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s defense and won Super Bowl LV with fellow Cornhusker Lavonte David. He is yet to officially retire.

Home/Nebraska Football