Tag: NFL Mount Rushmore

Former Wisconsin star offensive lineman makes NFL’s Cleveland Browns Mount Rushmore

Former Wisconsin star offensive lineman makes NFL’s Cleveland Browns Mount Rushmore

Former Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas was included in the NFL’s Mount Rushmore for all-time Cleveland Browns last week.

The 11-year Cleveland Brown and 2023 NFL Hall of Fame inductee earned a spot alongside Hall of Famers Otto Graham (QB), Jim Brown (RB) and Lou Groza (OT, C, DT, K). Thomas, one of the greatest offensive tackles of all time, is cemented among three of the most respected athletes in Cleveland sports history.

With the Badgers, Thomas was a first-team All-American team member in 2005 and 2006, recognized as the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman with the 2006 Outland Trophy and was a team captain and co-MVP as a senior in 2006.

He finished his collegiate tenure as the 2007 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient and with back-to-back first-team All-Big Ten selections before declaring for the 2007 NFL draft.

Thomas played all 11 of his NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns and was named to 10 Pro Bowls, six First-Team All-Pro honors and amassed an NFL record streak of 10,363 consecutive snaps.

The Brookfield, Wisconsin native retired in 2017, was named to UW’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019 and earned a spot in the Cleveland Browns’ Ring of Honor in 2023.

Former Wisconsin legend makes NFL’s Houston Texans Mount Rushmore

Former Wisconsin legend makes NFL’s Houston Texans Mount Rushmore

Former Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt was included in the NFL’s Mount Rushmore for all-time Houston Texans last week.

The 10-year Texan earned a spot alongside former All-Pros Duane Brown (LT) and DeAndre Hopkins (WR) and 2024 Hall of Famer Andre Johnson (WR). Unlike other longstanding NFL franchises, the Texans’ first season was in 2002, which naturally invites a younger generation of players into the franchise’s upper echelon.

In three years as a Badger, Watt was a Lott IMPACT Trophy winner, team MVP and consensus first-team All-Big Ten team member at defensive end. As a senior, he also led his squad in TFLs, sacks, quarterback hurries, forced fumbles and blocked kicks.

He finished his collegiate tenure third all-time in UW history with four career blocked kicks, something he would implement well as an elite NFL defender.

 

The Houston Texans selected the Pewaukee, Wisconsin native with the 11th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. Watt made an early impression and immediately wreaked havoc on opposing offenses as an edge rusher.

The 6-foot-6, 288-pounder recorded a league-high 20.5 sacks and 39 TFLs en route to his first career AP Defensive Player of the Year Award in only his second NFL season.

Watt ultimately reeled in three Defensive Player of the Year awards, five All-Pro selections and a spot on the Hall of Fame All-2010s Team as a professional.

The former Badger hung up his cleats in 2022 after the second of his two seasons in Arizona. He and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady will be locks for Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027.

Former Wisconsin quarterback makes NFL’s Seattle Seahawks Mount Rushmore

Former Wisconsin quarterback makes NFL’s Seattle Seahawks Mount Rushmore

Former Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson was included in the NFL’s Mount Rushmore for all-time Seattle Seahawks last week.

The 10-year Seahawk earned a spot alongside future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner (ILB), and current Hall of Famers Walter Jones (LT) and Steve Largent (WR).

After four All-ACC-caliber seasons at North Carolina State University, Wilson became a Wisconsin Badger in 2011. Wilson set the school record for career completion percentage in his only season in Madison, plus captured the Big Ten Quarterback of the year award. He then entered the 2012 NFL draft.

The Seattle Seahawks selected the standout with the 75th overall pick in the 2012 draft. Wilson went on to deliver the franchise its first title with a route over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. He would make another Super Bowl appearance in 2014 and nine Pro Bowls in 10 seasons as Seattle’s starting quarterback.

Following his nine Pro Bowls and pair of Super Bowl appearances with Seattle, Wilson landed with the Denver Broncos to begin the 2022-23 campaign. Despite posting a respectable 98.0 passer rating a year ago, Broncos brass elected to trade the Virginia native to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Wilson will now battle for the starting job with former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields ahead of the Steelers’ quest for another winning season.

Nonetheless, Wilson’s career-defining moments during Seattle’s playoff runs elevate his status as one of the NFC West’s most accomplished quarterbacks of the 21st century. He will look to add another chapter to his 12-year career with a resurgence under head coach Mike Tomlin.