Texas tops the list for active NFL players in 2026

The odds of playing high school football and making it to the NFL are slim, but some states produce more professional players than others.

Official response and confirmed impact

For the 2026 NFL season, Texas produced the most players in the country, with 192 active players having attended high school in the Lone Star State, according to the NFL.

The Get the Facts Data Team analyzed NFL data for more than 1,700 players to determine which high school and state have the most active players.

Twenty-one active players attended high school outside the U.S. and were excluded from the analysis. Which state produced the most active NFL players?

Georgia had the highest number of active NFL players per 100,000 residents this season, with 148 players who attended high school in the state.

Players such as Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis attended high school in the Peach State.

Louisiana had the second-highest rate, with nearly 1.3 active players per 100,000 residents, a total of 60 players.

The state with the most active players, Texas, has notable alumni including Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.