The NFL is full of tough guys. But some of its toughest players have stories that go well beyond football.
They’ve served in Vietnam. They’ve flown combat missions. They’ve patrolled the mountains of Afghanistan. Some put promising professional football careers on hold to fulfill military obligations. Others walked away from millions of dollars in potential earnings to enlist.
And a few came home from war, overcame extraordinary obstacles and returned to the football field.
From Hall of Fame quarterbacks to Super Bowl champions and players whose names deserve to be remembered, these NFL Veterans prove that some of the most remarkable stories in professional football don’t begin with a kickoff.
Here are some of the NFL players who served in the U.S. military.
1. Roger Staubach – U.S. Navy
NFL team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: Quarterback
Military service: U.S. Navy
If you’re putting together a list of the greatest NFL players who served in the military, Roger Staubach belongs near the top.
Before becoming one of the most recognizable quarterbacks in Dallas Cowboys history, Staubach starred at the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1963, he won the Heisman Trophy, college football’s highest individual honor.
The Cowboys selected him in the 1964 NFL Draft, but there was one significant obstacle between Staubach and his professional football career: his military commitment.
After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1965, Staubach served four years of active duty in the Navy, including a year in Vietnam as a supply corps officer. He was stationed in Chu Lai, where he supported Marine operations.
He didn’t join the Cowboys until 1969, at age 27.
That delayed start didn’t hurt his NFL career.
Staubach went on to lead Dallas to two Super Bowl championships, earn six Pro Bowl selections and win Super Bowl VI MVP honors. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Not a bad second career.
2. Rocky Bleier – U.S. Army
NFL team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Running back
Military service: U.S. Army, Vietnam War
Rocky Bleier’s story might be one of the most remarkable comeback stories in NFL history.
After helping Notre Dame win the 1966 national championship, Bleier was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 16th round of the 1968 NFL Draft.
He played his rookie season before receiving his Army draft notice in December 1968.
Bleier didn’t just complete his military obligation from a safe distance. He volunteered for combat duty and deployed to South Vietnam in May 1969.
While serving as a grenadier with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Bleier was wounded in combat. In August 1969, he was hit by enemy fire and shrapnel from a grenade explosion, suffering injuries to his legs and feet.
Doctors initially questioned whether he would ever walk normally again, much less play professional football.
Bleier returned home with serious injuries, but he wasn’t ready to give up on football.
He worked through an incredibly difficult rehabilitation process, gradually rebuilding his strength and conditioning. He eventually returned to the Steelers in 1970.
The rest is NFL history.
Bleier became an important part of Pittsburgh’s legendary dynasty, helping the Steelers win four Super Bowls in the 1970s.
His story is a reminder that a comeback doesn’t always happen in the fourth quarter. Sometimes it takes years of determination just to get back in the game.
3. Pat Tillman – U.S. Army Rangers
NFL team: Arizona Cardinals
Position: Safety
Military service: U.S. Army, 75th Ranger Regiment
Few NFL stories are as widely recognized as that of Pat Tillman.
Tillman was a standout defensive back for Arizona State before joining the Arizona Cardinals in 1998. He quickly established himself as a talented NFL safety and earned All-Pro recognition.
Then came September 11, 2001.
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, Tillman made a decision that stunned the sports world. He turned down a lucrative NFL career and enlisted in the U.S. Army alongside his brother, Kevin, in 2002.
Tillman eventually became an Army Ranger with the 75th Ranger Regiment.
He served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and deployed to Afghanistan in 2004.
On April 22, 2004, Tillman was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan. He was 27 years old.
An investigation later determined that he had been killed by friendly fire, a fact that became central to the subsequent investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death.
His story remains one of the most discussed examples of an American professional athlete choosing military service over a successful sports career.
The Pat Tillman Foundation was established in his honor. Its scholarship program supports military Veterans, active-duty servicemembers and their spouses who are pursuing higher education and opportunities to make an impact in their communities.
4. Alejandro Villanueva – U.S. Army
NFL teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens
Position: Offensive tackle
Military service: U.S. Army, including the 75th Ranger Regiment
At 6-foot-9, Alejandro Villanueva was an imposing presence on an NFL offensive line.
But before becoming a professional football player, he was an Army officer who served in Afghanistan.
Villanueva graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2010 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He served with the 10th Mountain Division before joining the 75th Ranger Regiment.
During his military career, he deployed to Afghanistan multiple times.
His service included a particularly dangerous incident in which he helped rescue wounded soldiers while under enemy fire. For his actions, he received the Bronze Star Medal with a V device for valor.
After completing several years of military service, Villanueva decided to pursue his NFL ambitions.
He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014 before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he developed into a starting offensive tackle and earned three Pro Bowl selections.
He later played for the Baltimore Ravens before retiring from professional football.
Villanueva’s journey from West Point graduate and Army Ranger to NFL starter is a pretty extraordinary career transition.
5. Chad Hennings – U.S. Air Force
NFL team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: Defensive tackle
Military service: U.S. Air Force
Chad Hennings didn’t immediately jump into the NFL after college. He had another commitment to fulfill first.
Hennings attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he became one of the best defensive linemen in college football. In 1987, he won the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top interior lineman.
The Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the 11th round in 1988, but his military obligations delayed his NFL career.
After graduating from the Academy, Hennings became an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot.
He deployed twice to the Persian Gulf and flew 45 combat missions in support of Operation Provide Comfort, a humanitarian relief mission supporting Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq.
Once he completed his Air Force commitment, Hennings joined the Cowboys in 1992.
He spent nine seasons in Dallas, helping the team win three Super Bowl championships during the 1990s.
His story is a reminder that sometimes the road to the NFL takes a few unexpected turns. In Hennings’ case, those turns included the cockpit of an A-10.
6. Mike Anderson – U.S. Marine Corps
NFL teams: Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens
Position: Running back
Military service: U.S. Marine Corps
Mike Anderson took a different route to the NFL than most professional football players.
After graduating from high school, Anderson enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving four years before beginning his college football career.
He served overseas, including a peacekeeping deployment to Somalia in 1994.
Interestingly, Anderson’s organized football experience developed while he was in the Marines. He played football with the 11th Marines at Camp Pendleton, California.
After leaving the military, he attended junior college before transferring to the University of Utah.
The Denver Broncos selected Anderson in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.
He made an immediate impact.
Anderson rushed for 1,487 yards and 15 touchdowns during his rookie season, earning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
He played seven NFL seasons, including time with the Baltimore Ravens.
His path is especially interesting because his military experience came before he even began his college football career. The Marines helped provide the foundation for a second career he might never have imagined when he first enlisted.
7. Glen Coffee – U.S. Army
NFL team: San Francisco 49ers
Position: Running back
Military service: U.S. Army
Glen Coffee’s story is proof that military service doesn’t always come before professional sports. Sometimes, it comes afterward.
Coffee was a standout running back at the University of Alabama and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
He played one NFL season before making a surprising decision: He retired from football in 2010.
Three years later, in 2013, Coffee enlisted in the U.S. Army.
He completed Army Airborne School, became a paratrooper and served as an infantryman. He was eventually assigned to the Army’s 6th Ranger Training Battalion, where he worked in support of Ranger training.
Coffee’s decision wasn’t about getting another NFL contract or building a sports career. He told The Washington Post that he felt drawn toward a different kind of purpose and wanted to serve his country.
His story is a good reminder that success doesn’t look the same for everyone. Walking away from professional sports to pursue military service was the right next step for him.
8. Joe Cardona – U.S. Navy
NFL teams: New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins
Position: Long snapper
Military service: U.S. Navy
Joe Cardona has managed something very few people can claim: maintaining an NFL career while also serving as a commissioned military officer.
Cardona attended the U.S. Naval Academy, where he played long snapper for the Midshipmen. The New England Patriots selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
But becoming an NFL player didn’t mean walking away from his military responsibilities.
Cardona was commissioned as a Navy officer and balanced his duties with the demands of professional football.
During his early NFL seasons, he worked at the Naval Academy Preparatory School, managing military responsibilities alongside practices, games and travel.
He eventually attained the rank of lieutenant and continued serving while playing professional football.
Cardona also became a prominent supporter of military families and Veterans, organizing military appreciation events, re-enlistment ceremonies and football clinics for military children.
His career offers a unique example of what balancing two demanding professions can look like.
Before Them: NFL Players Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice
The connection between professional football and military service goes back generations.
During World War II, numerous NFL players stepped away from the game to serve. Some never returned.
Two former New York Giants players deserve particular recognition.
Jack Lummus – U.S. Marine Corps
Jack Lummus played nine games for the New York Giants in 1941 before enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve in January 1942.
He eventually became a Marine Corps officer and deployed to the Pacific.
On February 19, 1945, Lummus was among the first Marines to land on Iwo Jima.
During the battle, he led his platoon through intense enemy fire. On March 8, 1945, he was killed in action.
For his extraordinary courage and leadership, Lummus was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
His name remains part of Giants history, but his legacy extends far beyond the football field.
Al Blozis – U.S. Army
Al Blozis was an All-Pro offensive tackle for the New York Giants and one of the most impressive athletes of his era.
He was also an accomplished track and field athlete, winning multiple national shot-put titles.
Initially, Blozis was considered too tall for military service under the standards of the time. But when those standards changed, he received an Army commission and deployed to France with the 28th Infantry Division.
On January 31, 1945, while attempting to locate and help a wounded soldier near the front lines in the Vosges Mountains, Blozis was killed by enemy fire.
He was 26 years old.
His story is another reminder of the sacrifices made by professional athletes during World War II.
Bob Kalsu: The Only NFL Player Killed in Vietnam
One more name deserves a place in this history: Bob Kalsu.
Kalsu was an offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills and the team’s 1968 Rookie of the Year. He had been an All-American at the University of Oklahoma and participated in the Army ROTC program.
After his rookie season, Kalsu fulfilled his military obligation and received his Army commission.
He deployed to Vietnam in 1969 as a first lieutenant with the 101st Airborne Division.
On July 21, 1970, Kalsu was killed by enemy mortar fire while serving at Fire Support Base Ripcord.
He was 25 years old.
Kalsu is remembered as the only professional football player killed in the Vietnam War.
His wife was pregnant with their second child when he died. Their son was born on the same day she learned of his death.
The Buffalo Bills later honored Kalsu by inducting him into the team’s Wall of Fame. His name is also remembered through the Bob Kalsu Award at the University of Oklahoma, which recognizes leadership and character.
His story deserves to be remembered not just by football fans, but by anyone who understands the sacrifices made by military families.
More Than Football: The Connection Between the NFL and Military Service
These players came from different generations, different branches of service and very different football backgrounds.
Some were drafted into the NFL before completing their military obligations. Others enlisted after achieving professional success. Some returned to the game after combat injuries, while others never made it home.
But their stories share something important: a willingness to put something bigger than themselves ahead of personal opportunity.
Military service doesn’t guarantee success in the civilian workforce, and an NFL career certainly isn’t a typical transition path. But these players demonstrate qualities that Veterans bring to their next careers every day: leadership, discipline, adaptability, teamwork and the ability to perform under pressure.
Whether you’re a football fan, a Veteran or someone who appreciates an extraordinary career journey, these stories are worth knowing.
The next time you see a player take the field, remember that some of the game’s greatest competitors have answered a different kind of call to duty.