By Werner Ramos
Oklahoma has long been a productive breeding ground for NFL talent. Players have emerged from the state’s college programs and local communities before establishing themselves at football’s highest professional level.
Oklahoma football connections stretch deep into the 2026 NFL season, giving local fans plenty of familiar names to follow throughout the fall. Some players became stars with the Oklahoma Sooners, while another standout built his reputation with the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Those Oklahoma connections now show up in very different ways across the NFL. Some of these players lead nationally prominent offenses, while others make their impact at receiver, along the offensive line or on defense. Together, the following five players offer a broad look at how Oklahoma talent is shaping the 2026 season.
1. Jalen Hurts Commands Philadelphia’s Offense
Former Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts remains compelling because Philadelphia can challenge defenses in multiple ways when he controls the offense. Through his opening two games of 2026, he produced 467 passing yards, five touchdown passes, and a 100.7 passer rating.
Those numbers only capture part of his influence. Fans tracking weekly performances or NFL prop bets will also encounter his rushing dimension, which forces defenses to account for another potential ball carrier. Even when his impact comes primarily through the air, the production can be substantial: against Tennessee, Hurts threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns.
That dual-threat ability was already a defining part of his game at Oklahoma. Hurts transferred from Alabama to the Sooners for his final college season in 2019 and immediately delivered one of the most productive quarterback campaigns in school history.
He threw for 3,851 yards and 32 touchdowns while adding 1,298 rushing yards and 20 scores. Hurts finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, while his 1,298 rushing yards established an Oklahoma single-season quarterback record.
Another former Sooners quarterback subsequently built an equally memorable Oklahoma legacy.
2. Baker Mayfield Brings Bucs-Sized Drama
Baker Mayfield’s 2026 season has already produced an unwelcome interruption. A dislocated thumb is expected to sideline Tampa Bay’s quarterback for at least three weeks, temporarily halting another chapter of his eventful NFL career.
His eventual return will be worth following. Mayfield’s willingness to attack tight passing windows and extend plays has long defined his style. Tampa Bay reinforced its commitment to him with a three-year, $165 million extension that keeps him under contract through 2029. Following broader NFL insights can help fans assess how Mayfield’s return fits into the wider league picture as the season develops.
Before Tampa, Cleveland, or the NFL, there were the Oklahoma Sooners. Mayfield arrived after beginning his college career at Texas Tech and became Oklahoma’s sixth Heisman Trophy winner in 2017.
That season included 4,627 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, and a 198.9 passing efficiency rating. Mayfield also won the Maxwell, Walter Camp, and Davey O’Brien awards.
Oklahoma’s quarterback tradition receives plenty of attention, but another former Sooner demonstrates that influential NFL play starts well before a pass leaves the quarterback’s hand.
3. Creed Humphrey Anchors Kansas City’s Line
Center play rarely generates the attention afforded to quarterbacks, yet Creed Humphrey provides Oklahoma fans with a reason to watch closely. His leverage, positioning, hand placement, and ability to diagnose defensive fronts remain central to Kansas City’s protection.
Humphrey entered 2026 following consecutive first-team All-Pro selections. His work in the middle gives Kansas City’s offense stability at a position responsible for handling interior rushers while helping establish protection assignments before the snap.
The connection returns to the Oklahoma Sooners, where Humphrey became a fixture up front. He started 37 games across three seasons and twice earned Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year honors.
Humphrey protected Kyler Murray during his 2018 Heisman campaign before working with Hurts the following year. His Oklahoma career demonstrated how influential an interior lineman can become without dominating conventional statistics.
That contrasts sharply with another Sooners standout whose NFL impact is far easier to find in the box score.
4. CeeDee Lamb Elevates Dallas’ Passing Attack
CeeDee Lamb continues to demonstrate why polished receiver play involves much more than straight-line speed. His routes, changes of direction, positioning, and contested-catch ability give Dallas options across the field.
Through three games in 2026, Lamb recorded 20 receptions for 309 yards and three touchdowns. That stretch included consecutive 100-yard performances, with seven catches for 112 yards against Baltimore highlighting his early-season consistency.
Lamb developed those traits with the Oklahoma Sooners. Across three seasons in Norman, he recorded 173 receptions for 3,292 yards and 32 touchdowns while averaging 19 yards per catch.
His final college campaign was particularly productive. Lamb amassed 1,327 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 2019, earning first-team All-America recognition before becoming a first-round NFL Draft selection.
Yet Oklahoma’s NFL connections extend beyond Norman. One Detroit defender offers Oklahoma State Cowboys fans a familiar name.
5. Malcolm Rodriguez Embodies Detroit’s Defensive Grit
Malcolm Rodriguez followed a different route to the NFL spotlight. A sixth-round selection in 2022, the linebacker earned playing time through tackling, positioning, and consistent effort before a torn ACL disrupted his career.
His return gives Detroit another option alongside its other linebackers. At 5-foot-11 and around 230 pounds, Rodriguez has built his game around quickly identifying plays, attacking gaps, and remaining involved against both rushing and passing concepts.
Rodriguez represents Oklahoma’s other major college football tradition. The Tahlequah native attended Wagoner High School before building his college career with the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater.
Rodriguez finished his Oklahoma State career with 409 total tackles and 7.5 sacks. He also played a school-record 60 consecutive games and forced eight career fumbles. His journey gives Oklahoma fans another connection built not only through college football, but through the state itself.
Oklahoma Connections Across the NFL
Hurts, Mayfield, Humphrey, and Lamb give Sooners fans four established NFL careers to track, each reflecting a different position and route to professional prominence. Rodriguez provides the Oklahoma State Cowboys perspective while carrying deeper ties as an Oklahoma native.
Together, their stories demonstrate the state’s continuing influence on professional football. From quarterbacks and receivers to offensive linemen and linebackers, Oklahoma’s football connections remain visible across the NFL throughout the 2026 season.
Content reflects information available as of 2026/09/29; subject to change.
Werner Ramos is a freelance writer specializing in delivering insightful and engaging content on current events, culture, and trends. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Werner brings complex topics to life for readers worldwide. His work combines accuracy with a fresh perspective, making him a trusted voice in today’s fast-moving news landscape.
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