Now that the NFL season is officially here, there are some former Nebraska football players who get to take part on an active roster. The bad news for the Huskers program is that the nine players on those opening-week active rosters are the fewest in at least five years.
Ameer Abdullah at running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Maliek Collins at defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns, Thomas Fidone II at tight end for the New York Giants, Luke Gifford at linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, Cam Jurgens at center for the Philadelphia Eagles, Emmett Johnson at running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, Ty Robinson at defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Cam Taylor-Britt at cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts are the eight players opening the year on 53-man NFL rosters.
Those eight former Nebraska football stars were named to the active rosters not long after cut day, but they were joined by a ninth, Ben Stille, who was on the Detroit Lions' practice squad. He was elevated to the 53-man roster just ahead of the Lions' Week 1 game against the New Orleans Saints.
Of the nine players opening the season, Johnson is the lone rookie and will definitely be one to watch to see just how many carries he gets in his debut game. The oldest of the bunch is Abdullah, who has defied all odds when it comes to NFL running backs and is entering his 12th season with his sixth different team.
Nebraska football NFL roster representation falls from 19 players in 2022 to nine in 2026
Last season, Nebraska saw 12 players open the season on NFL rosters, in 2024 and in 2023, there were 10 and in 2022 there was a whopping 19 former Huskers on active rosters.
Of the nine, Nebraska football fans will have to wait a week before they actually get to watch Taylor-Britt start the year with his new team. After beginning his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, he signed as a free agent with the Colts this offseason. He's also suspended for the first week of the 2026 season.
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