From some obvious (like T.J. Watt, Zack Baun and Jonathan Taylor) to some surprises (Joe Huber, Graham Mertz), former Wisconsin Badgers football players heavily populated NFL rosters after 53-man rosters were announced Aug. 26.
Here’s a look at who made that all-important cut, along with some other Wisconsin high-school alumni.
T.J. Watt, linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers
The perennial defensive player of the year candidate from Pewaukee is back for a ninth season, having been selected to the last seven Pro Bowls and making five All-Pro teams. He has a new three-year contract in tow, a $123 million extension that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in football.
Zack Baun, linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles
The Brown Deer High School alumnus enjoyed a massive breakout season with the Eagles in 2024, on his way to a first-team All-Pro nod and Super Bowl ring. He also got a three-year, $51 million offseason deal.
Jonathan Taylor, running back, Indianapolis Colts
He was back in the Pro Bowl last year after an excellent season in which he carried the ball 303 times for 1,431 yards. This will be a sixth NFL season for the former Badgers rushing phenom.
Andrew Van Ginkel, linebacker, Minnesota Vikings
In his sixth NFL season, the UW alumnus Van Ginkel had a breakout performance that garnered him second-team All-Pro. Now he’s back with a two-year, $23 million extension.
Russell Wilson, quarterback, New York Giants
Wilson, who turns 37 in November, made the Pro Bowl last year with the Steelers but will now be quarterbacking his third NFL team in as many years (and fourth in five years).
Kevin Zeitler, guard, Tennessee Titans
The veteran from Wisconsin Lutheran High School enters his 14th season with a remarkable record of durability. The 35-year-old has started in 15 or more games every season since 2015, with stops in Cincinnati, Cleveland, New York Giants, Baltimore and Detroit. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2023.
T.J. Edwards, linebacker, Chicago Bears
The undrafted player now heads into his seventh season, and he’s played in every game the past three seasons (two in Chicago, 2022 in the last of four years with Philly). Last year, he had a career-high four sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
Alec Ingold, fullback, Miami Dolphins
The Bay Port alumnus made the Pro Bowl in 2023 and enters his seventh NFL season and fourth in Miami. He carried the ball 11 times last year for 96 yards.
Tyler Biadasz, center, Wisconsin
The 2022 Pro Bowler with Dallas enters his second season with Washington, where he started 15 games last year. This will be the Amherst High School product’s sixth NFL season.
Joe Tippmann, center, New York Jets
The former Badgers standout will likely start, just as he did for 31 games over the past two years with the Jets, with ex-Packers center Josh Myers as his backup.
Jake Ferguson, tight end, Dallas Cowboys
The Madison Memorial alumnus and UW product made the Pro Bowl in 2023 and played in 14 games last year, catching 59 passes.
Braelon Allen, running back, New York Jets
The Fond du Lac native and UW alumnus served capably as a backup in his rookie season last year, and he’ll again be backing up Breece Hall.
Dare Ogunbowale, running back, Houston Texans
The Marquette University High School and Wisconsin alumnus is set for a ninth NFL season (fourth with the Texans). The jack-of-all-trades has been a special-teams ace and also racked up 569 career rushing yards and four touchdowns, plus another 774 receiving yards and two scores. He’s also made a field goal in his NFL career, back in 2023.
Graham Mertz, quarterback, Houston Texans
A four-year player at Wisconsin, Mertz went from one of the highest-profile recruits in recent history to what was seen as a disappointment, prompting his transfer to Florida when the new coaching staff arrived at UW. Mertz played two more years for the Gators and has made the Texans roster as a backup quarterback after getting taken in the sixth round of the draft.
Leo Chenal, linebacker, Kansas City Chiefs
The Grantsburg native has known nothing but seasons ending in the Super Bowl (two rings) during his three-year career with Kansas City. He started 14 games last year.
Rob Havenstein, offensive line, Los Angeles Rams
Entering his 11th season, he’s been a Ram for life, appearing in 141 games over his time (and starting them all). He started in 2015 when the Rams were still in St. Louis.
Keeanu Benton, defensive lineman, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Janesville Craig High School alumnus had a strong second NFL season last year, starting 14 games.
Tanor Bortolini, center, Indianapolis Colts
The team’s likely starting center hails from Kewaunee. He appeared in 12 games last year (five starts) after the Colts drafted him in the fourth round.
Joe Huber, guard, Minnesota Vikings
The 2024 Badger didn’t get drafted but made the Vikings’ roster as an undrafted backup offensive lineman.
Jack Nelson, offensive line, Atlanta Falcons
The seventh-round pick in 2025 from Waunakee spent five seasons in the UW program, making 49 starts, and now he’ll begin his NFL career in Atlanta.
Nick Herbig, linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Badgers star played in 30 NFL games, with five starts. He’s forced six fumbles and recorded 8.5 sacks, with 10 tackles for loss.
David Edwards, guard, Buffalo Bills
The starting left guard played 16 games last year for the Bills in his second season with the AFC powerhouse. He spent his first four seasons with the Rams.
Isaiahh Loudermilk, defensive tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers
He already has 58 NFL games under his belt since leaving Wisconsin, all with Pittsburgh.
Isaac Guerendo, running back, San Francisco 49ers
He spent four years at Wisconsin before finishing his career at Louisville, and the speedster got pretty good opportunity as a rookie last year, with 84 carries for 420 yards and four touchdowns. He’s the backup to Christian McCaffrey.
Jack Sanborn, middle linebacker, Dallas Cowboys
An undrafted success story, he’s played the last three years with the Bears and now has a new home.
Cole Van Lanen, offensive line, Jacksonville Jaguars
The University of Wisconsin alumnus and Bay Port graduate was selected in the sixth round by the Packers in the 2021 draft and traded to the Jaguars, where he’s been the past three years. He’s seen action in 35 career games.
Chimere Dike, wide receiver, Tennessee Titans
The Waukesha North alumnus spent his final year at Florida after a long career with UW, and now he’s a backup receiver in Tennessee taken in the fourth round of the 2025 draft.
Hunter Wohler, safety, Indianapolis Colts
The seventh-round pick from Muskego and UW was injured in the preseason and is lost for the year to injured reserve.
Matt Henningsen, defensive end, Denver Broncos
The fourth-year lineman from Menomonee Falls is on injured reserve after appearing in 34 games from 2022-23.
Jason Maitre, cornerback, Miami Dolphins
After a brief stint with UW, he’s now on injured reserve. He was added last year to the Dolphins practice squad.
Other Wisconsin high-school alumni
Ex-Badgers and Wisconsinites cut by NFL teams
(This post was updated to add new information).
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Wisconsin Badgers pop up on NFL 53-man rosters after cutdown day, including Graham Mertz
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
