10 of Colorado’s best high school football players who went pro

As the NFL season kicks off, look back on these Colorado kids who made the big time

By Colton Strickler

We are approaching the most wonderful time of the year.

You might think that the holidays are the season I am talking about, but you would be mistaken. I am talking about football season. 

Nothing beats taking in a high school football game under the setting sun on a pleasant Colorado evening in early September. The beginning of high school football — the purest form of football — is the perfect way to put a period on the summer and welcome in the fall season.

While Colorado isn’t Texas or California when it comes to high school football, the state is jam-packed with talented football players who have the potential to play beyond the collegiate level. According to Pro Football Reference, 24 active NFL players attended Colorado high schools. 

In no particular order, here are 10 of the best Colorado high school football players who had successful NFL careers over the decades.

Calais Campbell - Denver South

2026 will be Calais Campbell’s 19th NFL season. The Denver South alum was one of the NFL's best defensive linemen at one point in his career, and he has the trophy case to show for it. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler, earned four All-Pro nods, was selected to the NFL’s 2010 All-Decade team, and was named the 2019 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2019 for his work in the community. He finished second in the league in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2017. Campbell’s 117 career sacks place him 25th on the NFL’s career sack leaderboard. Impressively, 23.5 of those sacks have come over the last four seasons as Campbell continues to be a productive player in the twilight years of his career.

Christian McCaffrey - Valor Christian

Christian McCaffrey is entering his 10th NFL season at a position that most players only last three years. McCaffrey is a dynamic player who is a running and receiving threat, and that’s helped make him one of the best running backs in the NFL. Since being drafted with the eighth pick in 2017, he has been named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 when he led the league in rushing with 1,449 yards, is a four-time Pro Bowler, and has earned four All-Pro honors. His 7,589 career rushing yards are by far the most of any NFL player who played high school football in Colorado. Combine that with 5,390 career receiving yards and you have a standout double threat.

Trey McBride - Fort Morgan

The Fort Morgan alum was the top tight end in the country at Colorado State and has already established himself as the NFL’s top tight end as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. Entering his fifth NFL season, McBride has already been named to two Pro Bowls and received First Team All-Pro honors. He has eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in each of the last two seasons and finished with a career-high 11 touchdowns in 2025. 

Vincent Jackson - Widefield

Vincent Jackson made the jump from Widefield High School in Colorado Springs up to the University of Northern Colorado and reset the record book for the Bears. Jackson is still the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, kick return yards, punt return yards, and receiving touchdowns for the UNC Bears, and his college success transferred to the NFL. Jackson was drafted in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers where he spent the next seven years of his NFL career. He played six more years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring in 2018. Jackson finished his NFL career with 540 catches for 9,080 yards and 57 touchdowns. His career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns are the most of any Colorado player.

Nate Solder - Buena Vista

Nate Solder had one of the most important jobs in the NFL in the 2010s: protecting Tom Brady’s blindside. Solder bounced around the offensive line and earned All-Rookie team honors after the New England Patriots drafted him with the 17th pick in 2011. He filled the team’s starting left tackle slot in 2012. He helped the Patriots win two Super Bowls and was named to the Patriots All-2010s team and All-Dynasty. After a seven-year career with the Patriots, Solder would go on to play four more seasons with the New York Giants before calling it a career. 

Phillip Lindsay - Denver South

Denver South has produced nine NFL players, which is the most of any Colorado school. It also produced two players on our list, with the addition of Phillip Lindsay. Lindsay made the jump from Denver South to the University of Colorado before beginning his NFL career with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent. He kicked off his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Broncos before injuries began to take their toll. Lindsay played for the Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, and Indianapolis Colts to end his NFL career. He finished with 637 carries for 2,848 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Daniel Graham - Thomas Jefferson

Daniel Graham is another Colorado player who helped the New England Patriots to two Super Bowl victories. The Thomas Jefferson star was the nation’s top tight end at the University of Colorado before the Patriots drafted him with the 21st pick in 2002. After a tough rookie year, Graham established himself as one of the best blocking tight ends in the game, which helped him carve out a 10-year NFL career that included stops with the Patriots, Broncos, and Tennessee Titans. He was named to the Patriots All-200s team and All-Dynasty Team.

Aaron Smith - Sierra

Aaron Smith is another Colorado Springs kid who played his college football at the University of Northern Colorado before making his mark in the NFL. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 1999 draft, Smith became a staple for the franchise at defensive end. He played in every single game for the Steelers from 2000-2006 and helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls. Smith spent his entire 13-year career with the Steelers, and his 44 career sacks rank 10th all-time in franchise history.

Byron “Whizzer” White - Wellington

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who led a more interesting life than Byron “Whizzer” White. The Wellington High School graduate played in the NFL for only three years, but he led the league in rushing for two of them. He finished his three-year career with 387 carries for 1,321 yards and two First Team All-Pro Selections. In addition to his rushing prowess, White also led the NFL in punting yardage in 1941. He is a member of the NFL’s 1940s All-Decade team, the College Football Hall of Fame, and his number 24 is retired by the University of Colorado. Following his playing days, White, an attorney, would eventually go on to serve as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mark Mullaney - George Washington

After a stellar career at Colorado State, Mark Mullaney was drafted 25th overall to the Minnesota Vikings in 1975. The first three years of his career were the final three of the Vikings' “Purple People Eaters” defensive line, and Mullaney’s ability to get after the quarterback helped him carve out space in a crowded room. He finished his 12-year career with 41.5 sacks, which places him 14th all-time in Vikings history. Mullaney is also the first player in NFL history to wear a visor on his helmet.