From Tom Brady and Charles Haley to Patrick Mahomes, The Big Game has seen some of the greatest football players of all time. But which states have produced the most players since the game’s inception?
To find out, BetMGM analyzed the birthplaces of all players who have participated in The Big Game over the past six decades, starting with the inaugural game in 1967, to identify the states that have produced the most NFL talent.
The results reveal California as the No. 1 state to produce the most Big Game players, contributing an impressive 507 players over the years. Trailing closely behind in second is Texas with 457 players and Florida third with 339. Take a look at the rest of the states that make up the top 10 below.
Top States For Producing Big Game Players Since 1967
Key Highlights:
- California had the most players represented in last year’s big game, with 17.
- California also has the best player in the history of the Big Game, Tom Brady. The legendary quarterback has won seven titles.
- Texas-born Patrick Mahomes has won three titles.
- Ohio, with 227 players, and Georgia, with 223, round out the top 5.
- Vermont and New Hampshire came in last, with one player each. Maine and Alaska were also low, coming in with four each.
Top 10 States for Producing The Big Game Players
1. California (507 players)
Given its location, climate, and size, it is no surprise that The Golden State has produced the most players. California, Southern California in particular, has long been one of the major hotbeds for college football recruiting, with UCLA and USC renowned for producing talented players ready to take the NFL by storm.
Tom Brady is undoubtedly the most successful player to hail from California. He has won the most Big Game titles in NFL history (7) and the MVP four times.
2. Texas (457 players)
Like California, Texas benefits from its size and location to produce the second-most players to take part in The Big Game. Texas A&M and the University of Texas serve as an NFL talent factory and are two of the country’s most successful college football programs.
Patrick Mahomes, a product of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, may be the greatest player from the state. He’s won three titles, and his Chiefs are in a good position to win even more.
3. Florida (339 players)
Florida isn’t the same size as California and Texas, but it is one of the warmest states year-round in the entire country, allowing prospects to practice 12 months during the year. The talent-rich state is one of the best areas for high school football, as well.
St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale has produced several players, including James White, Nick Bosa, and Phillip Dorsett.
4. Ohio (227 players)
Ohio is an interesting state. It’s smaller than the other top states and has a relatively colder climate. However, the Ohio State Buckeyes are ever-constant college football contenders and have produced some of the strongest NFL players, such as Archie Griffin and Orlando Pace.
Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and longtime cornerback/safety Charles Woodson all come from Ohio.
5. Georgia (223 players)
Georgia is a smaller state, but like Florida, it has good weather on its side.
The state’s best player might be Jim Brown, but he did not play in any of The Big Games in his career. He retired in 1965 but was a terrific running back for the Browns.
6. Pennsylvania (210 players)
Located in the northeast, the weather isn’t great year-round, so seeing it this high on the list is somewhat surprising.
Joe Montana is the state’s most successful player. He won four titles and three MVPs with the 49ers.
7. Louisiana (182 players)
Although it’s a relatively small state, Louisiana has a warm climate, allowing players to train all year. The Bayou State has several Division I programs and has produced some of the world’s best quarterbacks.
Peyton Manning and Eli Manning are arguably the two best players from the state. Each quarterback won two titles, as Eli won two with the Giants, while Peyton won one with the Colts and one with the Broncos.
Terry Bradshaw is another notable quarterback from Louisiana. Drafted in 1970 by the Steelers, Bradshaw went on to win four titles in a six-year period.
8. Virginia (140 players)
Virginia is a small state, but it is home to one of the best defensive players in NFL history: Lawrence Taylor. The linebacker won two titles with the Giants.
9. New Jersey (135 players)
Perhaps the most surprising state to be in the top 10 is New Jersey, given its size and being in the northeast.
Franco Harris is one of the state’s best players, winning four titles with the Steelers.
10. New York (130)
New York is one of the more populated states, but its inclusion in the top 10 of this list is surprising given the northeast weather.
The state is home to Rob Gronkowski, one of the best tight ends in NFL history. He won four titles – three with the Patriots and one with the Buccaneers.
10. Alabama (130)
This isn’t a major surprise, as Alabama is next to Florida and Georgia, and both states are in the top five.
Quarterback Bart Starr, who won the first-ever Big Game title with the Packers, is the most renowned Alabama-produced football player.
| Ranking | State | No. of players |
| 1 | California | 507 |
| 2 | Texas | 457 |
| 3 | Florida | 339 |
| 4 | Ohio | 227 |
| 5 | Georgia | 223 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 210 |
| 7 | Louisiana | 182 |
| 8 | Virginia | 140 |
| 9 | New Jersey | 135 |
| 10 | New York | 130 |
| 10 | Alabama | 130 |
| 11 | Michigan | 129 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 129 |
| 12 | Illinois | 125 |
| 13 | Mississippi | 123 |
| 14 | South Carolina | 113 |
| 15 | Tennessee | 80 |
| 16 | Maryland | 62 |
| 17 | Missouri | 61 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 58 |
| 19 | Iowa | 57 |
| 20 | Washington | 56 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | 55 |
| 22 | Minnesota | 48 |
| 23 | Indiana | 45 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | 45 |
| 25 | Arkansas | 41 |
| 26 | Kentucky | 40 |
| 27 | Arizona | 37 |
| 28 | Colorado | 36 |
| 29 | Kansas | 31 |
| 30 | Nebraska | 30 |
| 31 | Connecticut | 29 |
| 31 | Oregon | 29 |
| 32 | Utah | 27 |
| 33 | Hawaii | 19 |
| 34 | West Virginia | 17 |
| 35 | Nevada | 16 |
| 36 | Idaho | 15 |
| 37 | Montana | 14 |
| 38 | New Mexico | 11 |
| 39 | South Dakota | 10 |
| 40 | Delaware | 9 |
| 41 | Wyoming | 8 |
| 42 | North Dakota | 7 |
| 43 | Rhode Island | 6 |
| 44 | Maine | 4 |
| 45 | Alaska | 4 |
| 46 | Vermont | 1 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | 1 |
Methodology
BetMGM used existing sports statistics and facts sources to analyze more than 4,300 players’ birthplaces who have played in The Big Game from the first game in 1967 to 2024 to determine the states that have produced the most players.
Sources:
Statscrew.com, Pro-football-reference.com
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