FishDuck’s Top Five Oregon Ducks In NFL History

Last spring, the Denver Broncos selected Bo Nix, who was the twelfth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, as their quarterback for the future. Posting a surprising 10-7 record, Nix guided the Broncos to a Wild Card appearance, their first playoff berth since winning the Super Bowl in 2015.

As an Oregon Ducks alumnus, Nix was part of a football school with a legendary résumé filled with great teams and great players. While he still has a ways to go before being included in the conversation for the greatest Duck in the NFL, Nix’s professional career is off to an impressive start. Although there isn’t a definitive answer as to who is the best, the following five players have found a way to stand out from the rest of the flock.

Mel Renfro: Running Back / Defensive Back, 1961-1963

One of, if not the best, two-way star players for the Ducks, Renfro was a standout on both sides of the field. A two-time All-American, Renfro played a pivotal role in the Ducks’ success during the early 1960s.

Tagged with the seventeenth pick in the 1964 NFL Draft, Renfro continued his dominating ways with the Dallas Cowboys. Despite being asked to play various positions during his fourteen seasons with the team, Renfro continued to find a way to dominate the game. A two-time Super Bowl champion and ten-time Pro Bowl honoree, Renfro entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996. Had Renfro played in a modern day era, especially one where fans wager on betting apps with sign up bonus, he would have been an even bigger fan favorite.

Gary Zimmerman: Tackle, 1980-1983

It’s rare to include an offensive lineman among football’s greatest players, but Gary Zimmerman was far from an ordinary 6’6”, 294-lb powerhouse. A seven-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl champion with the Denver Broncos helped to pave Zimmerman’s way to the Hall of Fame.

Dan Fouts made a ton of great plays at Oregon. (Photo by Bend Bulletin)

Initially joining the Ducks as a middle linebacker, Zimmerman’s role was quickly changed to that of an offensive lineman. Following his award-winning senior season with the Ducks, Zimmerman joined the short-lived USFL with the Los Angeles Express. After one season, he entered the NFL via the supplemental draft when the USFL folded.

Dan Fouts: Quarterback, 1970-1972

One of the most prolific passers of his generation, both at the college and professional levels, Fouts set 19 school records before embarking on a fifteen-year career in the NFL. Drafted by the San Diego Chargers with the 64th pick in 1973, Fouts teamed with head coach Don Coryell to revolutionize the passing game.

The Offensive Player of the Year in 1982, Fouts finished his career with four All-Pro honors and six Pro Bowl appearances. Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1993, Fouts led the NFL in passing yards for four straight years.

Haloti Ngata: Defensive Tackle, 2003-2005

Standing 6’4”, 340lbs, Haloti Ngata proved to be a dominant force on the gridiron at each level he played. With a choice of big name programs to choose from, Ngata, then a five-star recruit, took his talents to Oregon. Despite missing most of his sophomore season with an ACL injury, Ngata put together an impressive NCAA career, including an All-American season in 2005, leaving school early to be part of the 2006 NFL Draft class.

Haloti Ngata, No. 96, was un-blockable! (Photo by John Giustina)

Selected twelfth overall by the Baltimore Ravens, Ngata helped the team capture the Super Bowl XLVII championship. Finishing his career with stops in Detroit and Philadelphia, Ngata earned five All-Pro and five Pro Bowl honors during his illustrious career.

Dave Wilcox: Linebacker, 1962-1963

The ‘Intimidator’ may have spent only two seasons with the Ducks after transferring from Boise Junior College, but that didn’t stop Dave Wilcox from making a significant impact on Len Casanova’s teams, displaying a rare blend of speed, strength, and intelligence. With the ability to play both sides of the ball, Wilcox helped the Ducks capture the 1963 Sun Bowl.

Picked by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 1964 NFL Draft, Wilcox quickly became a star defender. Known for putting up a defensive wall and delivering bone crushing tackles, Wilcox earned seven trips to the Pro Bowl and four All-Pro honors and ultimately a spot in the Hall of Fame after eleven seasons.

Do you agree with these five, or is there another Pro Duck you would want to see on the list? Let us know in the only free, civilized, Oregon Message Board out there, the Our Beloved Ducks forum!

OregonReigns
Lakeside, Oregon
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OregonReigns

OregonReigns is an occasional contributor to FishDuck and loves his Ducks!