The Eastern Michigan University football team has been well represented in the National Football League through the years. Both John Banaszak and Ron Johnson were starters on the Pittsburgh Steelers teams that won three Super Bowls. All-American Dave Pureifory went on to enjoy several outstanding years with the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers, and Bill Dulac played for two seasons with the New England Patriots. Al Clark spent one year with the Philadelphia Eagles. Charlie Batch was a two-time champion when he helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL and XLIII. Pat O'Connor helped the Buccaneers in 2020 win Super Bowl LV.
 Currently, Eastern has several former standouts making names for themselves in the NFL. Andrew Wylie is in Washington, Pat O'Connor plays for Tampa Bay, while Maxx Crosby is in Las Vegas.
EMU's Super Bowl Champions (14)
Reggie Garrett - Steelers - 1974 (Super Bowl IX)
Reggie Garrett - Steelers - 1974 (Super Bowl X)
John Banaszak - Steelers - 1975 (Super Bowl X)
John Banaszak - Steelers - 1978 (Super Bowl XIII)
Ron Johnson - Steelers - 1978 (Super Bowl XIII)
John Banaszak - Steelers - 1979 (Super Bowl XIV)
Ron Johnson - Steelers - 1979 (Super Bowl XIV)
Lional Dalton - Ravens - 2001 (Super Bowl XXXV)
Charlie Batch - Steelers - 2005 (Super Bowl XL)
Charlie Batch - Steelers - 2008 (Super Bowl XLIII)
TJ Lang - Packers - 2010 (Super Bowl XLV)
Andrew Wylie - Chiefs - 2020 (Super Bowl LIV)
Patrick O'Connor – Buccaneers – 2021 (Super Bowl LV)
Andrew Wylie - Chiefs - 2023 (Super Bowl LVII)
EMU's Super Bowl Appearances (19)
Reggie Garrett - Steelers - 1974 (Super Bowl IX)
Reggie Garrett - Steelers - 1974 (Super Bowl X)
Dave Boone - Vikings - 1974 (Super Bowl IX)
John Banaszak - Steelers - 1975 (Super Bowl X)
John Banaszak - Steelers - 1978 (Super Bowl XIII)
Ron Johnson - Steelers - 1978 (Super Bowl XIII)
John Banaszak - Steelers - 1979 (Super Bowl XIV)
Ron Johnson - Steelers - 1979 (Super Bowl XIV)
Clarence Chapman - Bengals - 1981 (Super Bowl XVI) Â Â
Lional Dalton - Ravens - 2001 (Super Bowl XXXV)
Jason Short - Eagles - 2004 (Super Bowl XXXIX)
Charlie Batch - Steelers - 2005 (Super Bowl XL)
Charlie Batch - Steelers - 2008 (Super Bowl XLIII)
TJ Lang - Packers - 2010 (Super Bowl XLV)
Charlie Batch - Steelers - 2010 (Super Bowl XLV)
Andrew Wylie - Chiefs - 2020 (Super Bowl LIV)
Andrew Wylie - Chiefs - 2021 (Super Bowl LV)
Patrick O'Connor – Buccaneers - 2021 (Super Bowl LV)
Andrew Wylie – Chiefs – 2023 (Super Bowl LVII)
*Year represents the regular season*
EMU In the NFL - Pre-1970
Al Day (Denver, 1960)
Garry Grady (Miami, 1969)
Chuck Hanneman (Detroit, 1937-41; Cleveland, 1941)
Chuck Shonta (Boston Patriots, 1960-67)
EMU In the NFL - 1970s
John Banaszak (Pittsburgh, 1975-81)
Dave Boone (Minnesota, 1974)
Clarence Chapman (New Orleans, 1977-79)
Al Clark (Detroit, 1971; L.A. Rams, 1972-75; Philadelphia, 1976)
Bill Dulac (New England, 1974-75)
Ron Fernandes (Baltimore Colts, 1976-78)
Will Foster (New England, 1973-74)
Reggie Garrett (Pittsburgh, 1974-75)
Ron Johnson (Pittsburgh, 1978-84)
Jim Pietrzak (N.Y. Giants, 1974-79; New Orleans, 1979-84; Kansas City, 1987)
Dave Pureifory (Green Bay, 1972-77; Cincinnati, 1978; Detroit, 1979-82)
EMU In the NFL - 1980s
Anthony Fields (Detroit, 1987)
David Marshall (Cleveland, 1984; Miami, 1987)
Brett Petersmark (Houston Oilers, 1987)
EMU In the NFL - 1990s
Vashone Adams (Cleveland, 1995; Baltimore, 1996; New Orleans, 1997)
Charlie Batch (Detroit, 1998-2001; Pittsburgh, 2002-12)
Lional Dalton (Baltimore Ravens, 1998-01; Denver, 2002; Washington, 2003; Kansas City, 2004-05; Houston Texans, 2006)
Ron Rice (Detroit, 1995-2001)
L.J. Shelton (Arizona, 1999-04; Cleveland, 2005; Miami, 2006)
Barry Stokes (Miami, 1998; L.A. Raiders, 2000-01; Cleveland, 2002-03; N.Y. Giants, 2004; Atlanta, 2005; Detroit, 2006-08)
EMU In the NFL - 2000s
Carson Dach (N.Y. Giants, 2003)
Jason Jones (Tennessee, 2008-11; Seattle, 2012; Detroit, 2013-15; Miami, 2016)
Kevin Harrison (Buffalo 2006-07)
TJ Lang (Green Bay, 2009-16; Detroit, 2017-18)
Jereme Perry (Cleveland, 2006-07)
Chris Roberson (Jacksonville, 2005-06; Detroit, 2008)
Jason Short (Philadelphia, 2004-06; Cleveland, 2007)
Kevin Walter (Cincinnati, 2003-05; Houston Texans, 2006-12; Tennessee, 2013)
EMU In the NFL - 2010s
Sergio Bailey II (Tampa Bay, 2018-19)
Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas, 2019-Present)
Alex Gillett (Green Bay, 2013-14)
Cole Gardner (Tampa Bay, 2017-18)
Bronson Hill (Jacksonville, 2016; Arizona, 2017)
Andy Mulumba (Green Bay, 2013-15; Kansas City, 2016)
Darius Jackson (Dallas, 2016, 2018; Cleveland, 2017; Indianapolis 2019)
Pat O'Connor (Detroit, 2017; Tampa Bay 2017-2022)
Andrew Wylie (Kansas City, 2018-23; Washington 2023-Present)
Sidy Sow (New England, 2023-Present)
Chad Ryland (New England, 2023-Present)
EMU's National Football League Draft Choices
| 1955 |
21 |
2 |
243 |
Nick Manych |
Baltimore Colts |
E |
| 1967 |
13 |
13 |
328 |
Robert Rodwell |
Washington Redskins |
LB |
| 1970 |
14 |
15 |
353 |
Bob Lints |
Green Bay Packers |
G |
| 1971 |
3 |
20 |
72 |
Al Clark |
Detroit Lions |
DB |
| 1972 |
6 |
12 |
142 |
Dave Pureifory |
Green Bay Packers |
LB |
| 7 |
14 |
170 |
Will Foster |
Philadelphia Eagles |
LB |
| 8 |
14 |
196 |
Larry Ratcliff |
Philadelphia Eagles |
RB |
| 13 |
13 |
325 |
Sam Elmore |
New England Patriots |
DB |
| 1973 |
7 |
11 |
167 |
Bill DuLac |
Los Angeles Rams |
G |
| 10 |
26 |
260 |
Ron Fernandez |
Miami Dolphins |
DE |
| 1974 |
6 |
2 |
132 |
Jim Pietrzak |
New York Giants |
T |
| 11 |
25 |
285 |
Dave Boone |
Minnesota Vikings |
DE |
| 13 |
21 |
333 |
Frank Kolch |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
QB |
| 1975 |
14 |
25 |
363 |
Mike Strickland |
Minnesota Vikings |
RB |
| 1976 |
7 |
22 |
204 |
Clarence Chapman |
Oakland Raiders |
WR |
| 1977 |
10 |
13 |
264 |
Mark Carter |
Miami Dolphins |
TE |
| 12 |
12 |
319 |
Jim Stansik |
San Diego Chargers |
TE |
| 1978 |
1 |
22 |
22 |
Ron Johnson |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
DB |
| 1981 |
7 |
25 |
191 |
Ken Miller |
Dallas Cowboys |
DB |
| 1988 |
7 |
7 |
172 |
Gary Patton |
New York Jets |
RB |
| 1998 |
2 |
30 |
60 |
Charlie Batch |
Detroit Lions |
QB |
| 1999 |
1 |
21 |
21 |
L. J. Shelton |
Arizona Cardinals |
T |
| 2003 |
7 |
41 |
255 |
Kevin Walter |
New York Giants |
WR |
| 2005 |
7 |
23 |
237 |
Chris R. Roberson |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
DB |
| 2008 |
2 |
23 |
54 |
Jason Jones |
Tennessee Titans |
DE |
| 2009 |
4 |
9 |
109 |
T. J. Lang |
Green Bay Packers |
T |
| 2016 |
6 |
41 |
216 |
Darius Jackson |
Dallas Cowboys |
RB |
| 2017 |
7 |
32 |
250 |
Pat O'Connor |
Detroit Lions |
DE |
| 2019 |
4 |
4 |
106 |
Maxx Crosby |
Oakland Raiders |
DE |
| 2023 |
4 |
15 |
115 |
Sidy Sow |
New England Patriots |
G |
|
6 |
19 |
196 |
Jose Ramirez |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
E |
