BYU has had 142 players get drafted by the NFL and another 193 get NFL opportunities as free agents. BYU has had 11 first round picks, with the most recent being Ziggy Ansah as the No. 5 overall pick to the Detroit Lions in 2013. Since then, Ansah was named to the Pro Football Focus All-Rookie Team in 2013 and was a Pro Bowl selection in 2015 after leading the NFC in sacks. BYU's most recent draft pick was linebacker Sione Takitaki by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Punter Lee Johnson had the longest NFL career of any Cougar, spending 18 seasons with six teams. Johnson is currently back in the BYU athletic department working in development. Andy Reid, the current head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs played offensive line for the Cougars from 1978-1980. Brian Billick, a former BYU tight end and graduate assistant, along with Mike Holmgren, a former quarterbacks coach have both won Super Bowls as NFL head coaches. Athletic director Tom Holmoe won four Super Bowls with the 49ers, three as a player and one as a coach.
Steve Young is one of BYU's most recognizable NFL players, having spent 15 years in the league, including 13 with the 49ers. Young won Super Bowl XXIX and was named the MVP after throwing six touchdown passes to beat San Diego 49-26. He was the NFL MVP in 1992 and 1994 and set an NFL-record 112.8 passer rating in 1994. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2005.
The following is a list of current NFL players, including practice squad members, from BYU.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Ty'Son Williams
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Sione Takitaki
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Jamaal Williams
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Daniel Sorensen
Aleva Hifo
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Michael Davis
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Dayan Ghanwoloku
MIAMI DOPLHINS
Kyle Van Noy
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Taysom Hill
NEW YORK JETS
Bronson Kaufusi
Corbin Kaufusi
Harvey Langi
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
Fred Warner