The following is a list of National Football League players that have participated in the Olympic Games, with the NFL team for which they played (the team closest to the time of the player's Olympic participation), the sport in which they participated, and their medal count. All represented the United States, except for Colin Ridgway, represented Australia in 1956 and Jahvid Best, represented Saint Lucia in 2016. American football has only been played once in 1932 (though a series demonstration college games were played in 1904).
Players Summer Olympics PlayerNFL teamSportOlympic year GoldSilverBronzeTotal Jim Thorpe Canton BulldogsAs part of the American Professional Football Association Athletics 1912 2 0 0 2 Ollie Matson Chicago Cardinals Athletics 1952 0 1 1 2 Jack Riley Boston Redskins Wrestling 1932 0 1 0 1 Bob Hayes Dallas Cowboys Athletics 1964 2 0 0 2 Sam Francis Philadelphia EaglesHis rights were eventually traded to the Chicago Bears Athletics 1936 0 0 0 0 Ron Brown Los Angeles Rams Athletics 1984 1 0 0 1 Michael Bates Seattle Seahawks Athletics 1992 0 0 1 1 Larry Burton New Orleans Saints Athletics 1972 0 0 0 0 Milt Campbell Cleveland Browns Athletics 1952/1956 1 1 0 2 Henry Carr New York Giants Athletics 1964 2 0 0 2 Michael Carter San Francisco 49ers Athletics 1984 0 1 0 1 Glenn Davis Detroit Lions Athletics 1956/1960 3 0 0 3 Sam Graddy Denver Broncos Athletics 1984 1 1 0 2 Jim Hines Miami Dolphins Athletics 1968 2 0 0 2 Lam Jones New York Jets Athletics 1976 1 0 0 1 Jess Lewis Houston Oilers Wrestling 1968 0 0 0 0 Glenn Morris Detroit Lions Athletics 1936 1 0 0 1 Ray Norton San Francisco 49ers Athletics 1960 0 0 0 0 James Owens San Francisco 49ers Athletics 1976 0 0 0 0 Bob Pickens Chicago Bears Wrestling 1964 0 0 0 0 Colin Ridgway Dallas Cowboys Athletics 1956 0 0 0 0 Bo Roberson San Diego ChargersThese teams were part of the American Football League at the time Athletics 1960 0 1 0 1 Clyde Scott Philadelphia Eagles Athletics 1948 0 1 0 1 Tommie Smith Cincinnati Bengals Athletics 1968 1 0 0 1 Gerald Tinker Atlanta Falcons Athletics 1972 1 0 0 1 T.J. Jackson Philadelphia Eagles Athletics 1964 0 0 0 0 James Jett Los Angeles Raiders Athletics 1992 1 0 0 1 Jeff Demps Tampa Bay Buccaneers Athletics 2012 0 0 0 0 John Spellman Providence Steam Roller Wrestling 1924 1 0 0 1 Jim Bausch Chicago Cardinals Athletics 1932 1 0 0 1 Gene Vidal Washington SenatorsAs part of the American Professional Football Association Athletics 1920/1924 0 0 0 0 Harold Muller Los Angeles Buccaneers Athletics 1920 0 1 0 1 Marquise Goodwin Buffalo Bills Athletics 2012 0 0 0 0 Nate Ebner New England Patriots Rugby sevens 2016 0 0 0 0 Jahvid Best Detroit Lions Athletics 2016 0 0 0 0 Randy Dean New York Giants Handball 1976 0 0 0 0 Marvin Bracy Seattle Seahawks Athletics 2016 0 0 0 0 Devon Allen Philadelphia Eagles Athletics 2016/2020 0 0 0 0
Winter Olympics PlayerNFL teamSportOlympic year GoldSilverBronzeTotal Herschel Walker Philadelphia Eagles Bobsledding 1992 0 0 0 0 Johnny Quinn Green Bay Packers Bobsledding 2014 0 0 0 0 Jeremy Bloom Philadelphia Eagles Freestyle Skiing 2002/2006 0 0 0 0
References
"Olympians who played in the NFL". Pro-Football-Reference. Retrieved 2 August 2012. "Olympians in the NFL". NFL.com. Retrieved 3 August 2012. "Olympians in the NFL: Hayes, Thorpe And More. ThePostGame. Retrieved 19 September 2012. "Dropping Back In NFL History: The NFL's Olympians. Football Nation. Retrieved 19 September 2012.