No doubt, with a 5-7 season, the Mizzou Tigers had a disappointing launch in the Southeast Conference (SEC). The inability to get six wins and earn a birth in a bowl game was painful.
Still, the Tigers have had rich and proud heritage, especially when earning post-season recognition and putting players into the National Football League.
Presently, the Tigers have three quarterbacks on active rosters: Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville; Brad Smith, Buffalo (QB and wide receiver); and Chase Daniel, New Orleans.
Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia, and Denario Alexander, San Diego, have become two premier receivers in the NFL. Sean Weatherspoon, linebacker for Atlanta, is a key member of the Falcons playoff-team defense.
Two Tigers are enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame, the Chargers Kellen Winslow (1995) and the St. Louis Cardinals Roger Wehrli (2007).
Presently on NFL Rosters
- Danario Alexander - wide receiver, for the San Diego Chargers
- Tim Barnes - center for the St. Louis Rams
- Beau Brinkley - long snapper for the Tennessee Titans
- Colin Brown - offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills
- Chase Coffman - tight end for the Atlanta Falcons
- Chase Daniel - quarterback for the New Orleans Saints
- Michael Egnew - tight end for the Miami Dolphins
- Blaine Gabbert - quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Andrew Gachkar - linebacker for the San Diego Chargers
- Ziggy Hood - defensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jeremy Maclin - wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles
- William Moore - defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons
- C.J. Mosley - defensive tackle for Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kevin Rutland - defensive back for Jacksonville Jaguars
- Aldon Smith - defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers
- Brad Smith - Quarterback/Return Specialist/Wide Receiver for Buffalo Bills
- Justin Smith - defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers
- Sean Weatherspoon - Linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons
- Martin Rucker - tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs
Former Tigers in the NFL
- Victor Bailey — former wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs
- Brandon Barnes - former linebacker for the Washington Redskins
- Ed Blaine - former offensive guard for the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles
- Dwayne Blakley — former tight end for the Atlanta Falcons
- Paul Christman — former quarterback for the Chicago Cardinals
- Gerry Ellis - former running back for the Green Bay Packers
- Mike Fink - former defensive back for the New Orleans Saints
- Justin Gage - former wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans
- Tony Galbreath - former running back for the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants
- Mel Gray - former wide receiver for the St. Louis Cardinals
- Jim Harrison - former fullback for the Chicago Bears
- Gary Lane - former quarterback for the Cleveland Browns
- Leo Lewis - former wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings
- Erik McMillan - former safety for the New York Jets
- Joe Moore - former running back for the Chicago Bears
- Damien Nash — former running back for the Denver Broncos
- Brock Olivo — former running back & special teams player, Detroit Lions
- Gus Otto — former linebacker for the Oakland Raiders
- Tony Palmer — former offensive guard for the Green Bay Packers
- Francis Peay - former offensive tackle of the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, and the Kansas City Chiefs
- Johnnie Poe — former cornerback for the New Orleans Saints
- Tommy Reamon - former running back for the Kansas City Chiefs
- Johnny Roland — former running back for the St. Louis Cardinals
- Andy Russell — former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- George Seals - former lineman for the Chicago Bears
- Mike Jones - former linebacker for the L.A./Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, and Pittsburgh Steelers
- Brian Smith — former linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Gordon Smith — former tight end for the Minnesota Vikings
- Jon Staggers - former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers
- Bruce Van Dyke - former offensive guard for the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Green Bay Packers.
- Russ Washington - former offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers
- Roger Wehrli — former cornerback for the St. Louis Cardinals — Pro Football Hall of Famer
- Kellen Winslow — former tight end for the San Diego Chargers — Pro Football Hall of Famer
- James Wilder — former running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Eric Wright - former cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers
College Football Hall of Fame
Missouri boasts 12 inductees into the College Football Hall of Fame:
- Bill Roper, Coach (1951)
- Paul Christman, Quarterback (1956)
- Don Faurot, Coach (1961)
- Bob Steuber, Halfback (1971)
- Jim Phelan, Coach (1973)
- Ed Travis, Offensive Tackle (1974)
- Darold Jenkins, Center (1976)
- Frank Broyles, Coach (1983)
- Dan Devine, Coach (1985)
- Johnny Roland, Halfback (1998)
- Kellen Winslow, Tight End (2002)
- Roger Wehrli, Cornerback (2003)
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Two Missouri players have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
- Kellen Winslow, Tight End (1995)
- Roger Wehrli, Cornerback (2007)
Spring football is just around the corner for faithful Tiger fans.
