NFL and partners celebrate football thriving across all levels as
growth, participation and opportunities in football surge nationwide
NEW YORK — Sept. 18, 2026 — The state of Texas, with 192 players, produced the most players of any state on NFL Kickoff Weekend Rosters, followed by Florida (185), California (159) and Georgia (148).
There were 22 players from Bradenton (Fla.) high schools on Kickoff Weekend rosters, the most of any city. Rounding out the top five cities with the most NFL players on Kickoff Weekend rosters in 2026 were Miami (Fla.) with 21 players, Atlanta (Ga.) with 17 players and Detroit (Mich.) and Las Vegas (Nev.) each with 14 players. IMG Academy in Bradenton (Fla.) produced the most NFL players on 2026 NFL Kickoff Weekend rosters. South Florida continues to produce a plethora of NFL talent, as the top three high schools with the most NFL players hail from the region.
Overall, NFL players represent high schools in 45 states and the District of Columbia, four countries – Australia, Canada, Nigeria and the United States – and a U.S. territory (American Samoa). The totals are based on the 1,735 players on Kickoff Weekend rosters (charts available at the bottom of this release).
Additionally, the National Football League today celebrated record-breaking growth in football participation at every level of the game. From youth tackle to high school and college programs, the sport is thriving in the United States, fueled by collaboration between the NFL, its 32 clubs, and leading partners.
“It’s exciting to see partners across every level of football working together to strengthen and grow the game, from youth and high school programs to the college ranks,” said Terry Fontenot, NFL Vice President of Football Development.
Youth Football
According to Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) participation data, youth tackle football participation continued to grow in 2025, with more than 3.47 million youth participating in tackle football.
Growth was notably strong among the sport’s most consistent participants. CORE participation — those who report playing 26 or more times during the year — increased 3.9% among youth, reaching more than 2.2 million participants in 2025. The increase was strongest among teens ages 13–17, where CORE participation grew 7.3% year-over-year to more than 1.46 million participants.
That momentum has continued into 2026. SFIA’s First Half Game Plan, representing the trailing 12 months ending June 2026, shows overall tackle football participation increasing 4.1% year-over-year.
“SFIA’s latest data shows encouraging growth in tackle football,” said Todd Smith, President & CEO of SFIA. “CORE participation among youth continues to strengthen, with particularly strong growth among teens, and our first-half 2026 data shows that momentum continuing. These trends demonstrate sustained engagement with tackle football and provide an encouraging foundation for the sport’s continued growth.”
High School Football
Eleven-player football has 1,043,716 participants – by far the most popular high school sport for boys or girls. The sport has increased 7.1 percent since the first survey after the pandemic in 2021-22 and posted its highest mark since the 2016-17 season.
High school football continues to be the most popular sport for fans as well – at any level. With approximately 7,000 high school football games on an average Friday night, about 7-10 million fans are in attendance on a weekly basis.
“This year’s sports participation survey conducted by the NFHS indicated yet another increase in the most popular high school sport – 11-player tackle football,” said Davis Whitfield, NFHS executive director. “Since the return from the pandemic, the sport has grown by another 70,000 participants and continues to be the focus of towns and cities every Friday night in the fall across the country. The NFHS salutes coaches, administrators, parents and other fans who have helped to make high school football the most popular sport in our nation.”
College Football
The National Football Foundation (NFF) annual report on the growth of college football highlighted the continued expansion of the sport on campuses nationwide, with 778 colleges and universities nationwide now offering football programs. The growth continues with 17 institutions across all NCAA divisions, the NAIA and independent schools launching programs in 2026 or announcing plans to take the field in the coming years.
“The continued growth of college football is a tremendous testament to the enduring appeal of our game,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “Ten programs are taking the field this fall, with seven more on the way, creating hundreds of new opportunities for young people to pursue a college education while continuing to play the game they love. Every new program means more student-athletes experiencing the lessons, friendships and opportunities that make college football so special.”
The 2026 season marks a banner year for college football growth, with 10 institutions taking the field with new or reinstated programs, the most in a single year since 2013. The expansion of college football is not a recent phenomenon but a continuation of a long-standing trend.
Since 1978, when the NCAA began tracking attendance figures, the number of schools playing NCAA football has increased by 194, growing from 484 to 678 institutions by 2026. Including NAIA and independent schools, and accounting for upcoming programs, the total now stands at 778 colleges and universities offering football.
This surge in football programs is a clear reflection of the sport’s enduring popularity and its capacity to drive significant benefits for colleges. In the last decade alone, 62 football programs have been added by NCAA, NAIA, or independent institutions, illustrating the continued demand for the sport at all levels.
States With Most NFL Players
| State | NFL Players | State | NFL Players |
| Texas | 192 | Maryland | 47 |
| Florida | 185 | Virginia | 43 |
| California | 159 | New Jersey | 42 |
| Georgia | 148 | Tennessee | 35 |
| North Carolina | 62 | Missouri | 33 |
| Alabama | 60 | Arizona | 31 |
| Louisiana | 60 | Mississippi | 30 |
| Ohio | 59 | South Carolina | 30 |
| Illinois | 52 | Utah | 27 |
| Michigan | 48 | Wisconsin | 27 |
| Pennsylvania | 48 | Iowa | 26 |
High School Cities with Most NFL Players
| Hometown | NFL Players | Hometown | NFL Players |
| Bradenton, Fla. | 22 | St. Louis, Mo. | 11 |
| Miami, Fla. | 21 | Cincinnati, Ohio | 10 |
| Atlanta, Ga. | 17 | Indianapolis, Ind. | 10 |
| Detroit, Mich. | 14 | Jacksonville, Fla. | 10 |
| Las Vegas, Nev. | 14 | Salt Lake City, Utah | 10 |
| Philadelphia, Pa. | 13 | Suwanee, Ga. | 10 |
| Austin, Texas | 12 | Tampa, Fla. | 10 |
| Charlotte, N.C. | 11 | Honolulu, Hawaii | 9 |
| Birmingham, Ala. | 11 | Houston, Texas | 9 |
| Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | 11 |
High Schools with the Most NFL Players
| High School, City, State | Number | NFL Players |
| IMG Academy Bradenton, Fla. | 19 | Kaytron Allen, WAS; Tyler Booker, DAL; Warren Brinson, GB; Jihaad Campbell, PHI; DeMonte Capehart, TB; Andre Cisco, NYJ; Grant Delpit, CLE; Daylen Everette, PIT; Daniel Faalele, JAX; Hjalte Froholdt, ARI; Robert Hainsey; JAX; J.C. Latham, TEN; Francis Mauigoa, NYG; J.J. McCarthy, MIN; Greg Newsome, NYG; Cesar Ruiz, NO; Nolan Smith, PHI; Carnell Tate, TEN; D.J. Turner, CIN. |
| Saint Thomas Aquinas Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | 9 | Jordan Battle, CIN; Nik Bonitto, DEN; Nick Bosa, SF; Camden Brown, DAL; Elijah Moore, PHI; Josh Palmer, BUF; Tyler Steen, PHI; Mason Taylor, NYJ; Dallas Turner, MIN. |
| American Heritage Plantation, Fla. | 8 | Brian Burns, NYG; Tyson Campbell, CLE; Oronde Gadsden, LAC; James Houston, DAL; Mike Morris, SEA; Tedarrell Slaton, CIN; Pat Surtain II, DEN; James Williams, TEN. |
| Bishop Gorman Las Vegas, Nev. | 7 | Zachariah Branch, ATL; D.J. Herman, MIA; Jaden Hicks, KC; Brevin Jordan, HOU; Jalen Nailor, LV; Rome Odunze, CHI; Ronnie Stanley, BAL. |
| Dematha Catholic Hyattsville, Md. | 7 | Nick Cross, WAS; Demarcco Hellams, ATL; Marshawn Lloyd, GB; Olusegun Oluwatimi, SEA; Josh Wallace, LAR; Kevin Winston, TEN; Chase Young, NO. |
| St. Joseph’s Prep Philadelphia, Pa. | 7 | Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI; Kyle McCord, MIA; Jon Runyan, NYG; D’Andre Swift, CHI; Jeremiah Trotter, PHI; Josiah Trotter, TB; Olamide Zaccheus, ATL. |
| Hillgrove Powder Springs, Ga. | 6 | Bradley Chubb, BUF; Evan Engram, DEN; Jaylen McCollough, LAR; Myles Murphy, CIN; Chig Okonkwo, WAS; Jalen Royals, KC. |
| Mater Dei Santa Ana, Calif. | 6 | David Bailey, NYJ; Quentin Lake, LAR; Nikko Remigio, KC; Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET; C.J. Williams, JAX; Bryce Young, CAR. |
Nine high schools had five players on NFL Kickoff Weekend rosters this year:
| High School; City, State | High School; City, State |
| Cass Technical; Detroit, Mich. | Saint Louis; Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Deerfield Beach; Deerfield, Fla. | Saguaro; Scottsdale, Ariz. |
| Peachtree Ridge; Suwanee, Ga. | Westlake; Atlanta, Ga. |
| Pickerington Central; Pickerington, Ohio | Westlake; Austin, Texas |
| Roswell; Roswell, Ga. |
NFL Players Per Capita: Georgia, with one NFL player for every 72,378 residents, leads the list of NFL players per capita. Louisiana (one in 77,629) and Alabama (one in 85,157) round out the top three. The national average is one NFL player per 193,265 U.S. residents.
States with Most NFL Players Per Capita
| State | Population * | NFL Players | NFL Players Per Capita |
| Georgia | 10,711,908 | 148 | 1 NFL player per 72,378 people |
| Louisiana | 4,657,757 | 60 | 1 NFL player per 77,629 people |
| Alabama | 5,024,279 | 60 | 1 NFL player per 83,738 people |
| Mississippi | 2,961,279 | 30 | 1 NFL player per 98,709 people |
| Florida | 21,538,187 | 185 | 1 NFL player per 116,432 people |
| Utah | 3,271,616 | 27 | 1 NFL player per 121,171 people |
| Hawaii | 1,455,271 | 12 | 1 NFL player per 121,273 people |
| Iowa | 3,190,369 | 26 | 1 NFL player per 122,707 people |
| Maryland | 6,177,224 | 47 | 1 NFL player per 131,430 people |
| District of Columbia | 689,545 | 5 | 1 NFL player per 137,909 people |
| United States | 331,449,281 | 1,715 | 1 NFL player per 193,265 people |
*Based on most recent published U.S. Census Data (2020)
NOTE: To obtain a complete list of NFL players’ high schools, states and hometowns, click here.
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