Every NFL journey begins somewhere.
For these players, that journey started on football fields across San Joaquin County.
Some became first-round draft picks. Others developed into Pro Bowl selections, Super Bowl champions and longtime starters. A few spent years proving themselves after hearing their names called late in the draft — or not at all.
Together, they represent nearly five decades of local football history, from George Visger’s Super Bowl-winning rookie season in 1980 to Jonah Coleman’s selection by the Denver Broncos in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Here’s a look at the San Joaquin County players who played in the NFL from 1980 to today.
Note: Players whose NFL careers ended before the 1980 season are not included. Those players will be highlighted in a separate story.
Jonah Coleman (Lincoln)
Position: RB
NFL career: 2026-present (Rookie)
Team: Broncos
Notable: Fourth-round pick (No. 108 overall) in the 2026 NFL Draft
Brandin Cooks (Lincoln)
Position: WR
NFL career: 2014-present (12 seasons)
Teams: Saints, Patriots, Rams, Texans, Cowboys, Bills
Notable: 734 receptions • 9,811 receiving yards • 60 receiving TDs • Six 1,000-yard seasons • 2014 first-round pick (No. 20 overall)
Matt Overton (Tracy)
Position: LS
NFL career: 2012-24 (11 seasons)
Teams: Colts, Jaguars, Titans, Chargers, Cowboys, Dolphins
Notable: 142 career games • 26 tackles • Pro Bowl selection (2013) • Undrafted free agent (2007)
Trumaine Johnson (Edison)
Position: CB
NFL career: 2012-19 (8 seasons)
Teams: Rams, Jets
Notable: 102 career games • 367 tackles • 23 interceptions • 4 interception return TDs • 86 passes defended • 2012 third-round pick (No. 65 overall)
Doug Martin (St. Mary’s)
Position: RB
NFL career: 2012-18 (7 seasons)
Teams: Buccaneers, Raiders
Notable: 5,356 rushing yards • 30 rushing TDs • 4,866 kickoff return yards • Two-time Pro Bowl selection (2012, 2015) • First-team All-Pro (2015) • 2012 first-round pick (No. 31 overall)
Julius Thomas (Tokay)
Position: TE
NFL career: 2011-17 (7 seasons)
Teams: Broncos, Jaguars, Dolphins
Notable: 226 receptions • 2,406 receiving yards • 36 receiving TDs • Two-time Pro Bowl selection (2013, 2014) • 2011 fourth-round pick (No. 129 overall)
Lavelle Hawkins (Edison)
Position: WR
NFL career: 2008-13 (6 seasons)
Teams: Titans, Chargers
Notable: 71 receptions • 771 receiving yards • One receiving TD • 2008 fourth-round pick (No. 126 overall)
Reagan Maui’a (Tokay)
Position: FB
NFL career: 2007-12 (5 seasons)
Teams: Dolphins, Bengals, Cardinals
Notable: 39 career games • 19 starts • 44 receiving yards • 2007 sixth-round pick (No. 181 overall)
Chris Henry (Edison)
Position: RB
NFL career: 2007-10 (4 seasons)
Teams: Titans, Seahawks
Notable: 122 rushing yards • Two rushing TDs • 2007 second-round pick (No. 50 overall)
Louis Rankin (Lincoln)
Position: RB
NFL career: 2008-09 (2 seasons)
Teams: Seahawks, Raiders
Notable: Nine career games • 466 kick return yards • 36 rushing yards • 2008 seventh-round pick (No. 240 overall)
Webster Slaughter (Franklin)
Position: WR
NFL career: 1986-98 (12 seasons)
Teams: Browns, Oilers, Chiefs, Jets, Chargers
Notable: 563 receptions • 8,111 receiving yards • 44 receiving TDs • Two-time Pro Bowl selection (1989, 1990) • 1986 second-round pick (No. 43 overall)
Derek Kennard (Edison)
Position: OL
NFL career: 1986-96 (11 seasons)
Teams: Cardinals, Saints, Cowboys
Notable: 134 career games • 122 starts • Super Bowl XXX champion • 1984 second-round supplemental draft pick (No. 45 overall)
Shante Carver (Lincoln)
Position: DE
NFL career: 1994-97 (4 seasons)
Teams: Cowboys
Notable: 52 career games • 75 tackles • 11.5 sacks • Super Bowl XXX champion • 1994 first-round pick (No. 23 overall)
Eric Michael Williams (St. Mary’s)
Position: DE/DT
NFL career: 1984-93 (10 seasons)
Teams: Lions, Washington
Notable: 121 career games • 30 sacks • Super Bowl XXVI champion • 1984 third-round pick (No. 62 overall)
Willard Harrell (Edison)
Position: RB
NFL career: 1975-84 (10 seasons)
Teams: Packers, Cardinals
Notable: 1,378 rushing yards • 10 rushing TDs • 1,248 receiving yards • Eight receiving TDs • 1975 third-round pick (No. 58 overall)
Bob Swenson (Tracy)
Position: LB
NFL career: 1975-83 (8 seasons)
Teams: Broncos
Notable: 96 career games • 11 interceptions • First-team All-Pro (1981) • Pro Bowl selection (1981) • 1975 third-round pick (No. 59 overall)
Ed Fisher (Lincoln)
Position: G
NFL career: 1974-82 (9 seasons)
Teams: Oilers
Notable: 126 career games • 101 starts • Undrafted free agent (1971)
Prentice McCray (Edison)
Position: DB
NFL career: 1974-80 (7 seasons)
Teams: Patriots, Lions
Notable: 15 interceptions • Two interception return TDs • 352 interception return yards • 1973 eighth-round pick (No. 200 overall)
George Visger (Stagg)
Position: DT
NFL career: 1980 (1 season)
Teams: 49ers
Notable: 3 career games • Super Bowl XVI champion • 1980 sixth-round pick (No. 149 overall)
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will highlight the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight local hometown heroes, including those featured in this story.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Every San Joaquin County football player to reach the NFL since 1980
Reporting by Dylan Ackermann, The Stockton Record / The Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan Ackermann, The Stockton Record | USA TODAY Network
