Top 100 Athletes for Appearances
- By Brendan Egan
- Jan 13, 2023
To perform at winning levels, athletes need sharp focus, determination, and incredible drive. They have people around the world watching their performance both on and off the field, court, etc. Their grit and tenacity make them fantastic speakers for motivational, leadership, and mental health talks, workshops, and presentations. Book any one of these top 100 athletes for your school, organization, or business.
Right after his 18th season with the NFL, Aaron Rodgers was in talks with the team to determine his goals for the future. He’s been with the Green Bay Packers since 2008 and led them to a Super Bowl win in 2010. He holds several awards with the team, but Rodgers is also the co-creator and founder of itsAaron, an organization dedicated to people who want to change the world. He also supports several other organizations including RAISE Hope For Congo and the Boys and Girls Club in Neenah, Wisconsin.
2. Kamaru Usman
He’s known as the “Nigerian Nightmare” due to his fierce skills as a professional fighter. His family moved to Texas from Nigeria, and he became a star wrestler at his high school. He went on to become an NCAAS Division II champion. Kamaru Usman became the first African to win a UFC Championship. When he’s not fighting, he’s a dad, ambassador, commentator, and actor who strives to help others find motivation through their passions.
Justin Verlander joined the Detroit Tigers in the 2004 MLB Draft. He pitched for the Tigers for more than a dozen years before being traded to the Houston Astros. He won the ALCS MVP that year and has won several other awards since. He’s a 2x Cy Young Award winner, AL Rookie of the Year, Pitching Triple Crown winner, and won the 2022 World Series. He is moving on to the New York Mets for the 2023 season.
4. April Ross
In 2003, April Ross won the Pac-10 Player of the Year and continued on a path to become an American Olympic beach volleyball player who won silver in 2012 and Bronze in 2016. Ross holds several other awards and honors including AVP Rookie of the Year in 2006, won five FIVB championships, and was named FIVB Rookie of the Year in 2007.
5. Josh Allen
Josh Allen’s professional football career started when he was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He filled the role of backup quarterback but became the starting QB pretty quickly. He proved to be an outstanding leader and helped his team secure their first 10-win season and playoff appearance.
He’s not even 30 and Bryson DeChambeau has already won six PGA Tours. He’s called the “Golf Scientist” for his knack for using physics and “The Science of Swing” to achieve greatness on the course. In his use of science to play well, he has all of his irons and wedges cut to the same length (37 ½ inches) and uses JumboMax Grips to allow him to hold the grips in the palm of his hand rather than his fingers.
She’s a point guard for the Dallas Wings, a WNBA team. Arike Ogunbowale started her career at Notre Dame where she was named Most Outstanding Player and won a 2018 National Championship. In addition to her basketball career, Ogunbowale was on the 26th season of “Dancing With the Stars,” making her the first professional athlete to compete on the show while also actively playing her sport.
Kevin De Bruyne plays professional soccer with Manchester City and the Belgian National Team. On the field, his leadership skills helped his team take third place in the 2018 World Cup, and he is a 2x League Cup winner and 2x Premier League winner. He holds Premier Playmaker of the Season, Manchester City’s Player of the Year, and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
9. Jack Eichel
He’s an NHL center for the Buffalo Sabers and the U.S. National Team. At the young age of 17, he was already being called “The new face of American Hockey.” He moved to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021.
10. Nastia Liukin
She’s a 5x medalist at the 2008 Olympic Games, and one of those medals was All-Around Gold. Nastia Liukin was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame, and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. She retired at the age of 22 and became a popular commentator and gymnastics analyst.
11. Cal Ripken Jr
One of Cal Ripken Jr’s many noted feats is being a record holder for the most consecutive games played (2,632). He’s a 19x MLB All-Star, 8x Silver Slugger, and 2x MVP. He’s part of the 3,000 Hit Club and is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. After a whopping 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, he retired in 2001 and spends his time on charitable causes.
12. Aaron Donald
Originally from Pittsburgh, Aaron Donald became an NFL defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams in the 2014 Draft. He’s a 7x Pro Bowl player, 6x First-Team All-Pro, and earned a Rookie of the Year honor in his first year with the NFL. In 2019, his teammates chose him as the best player in the NFL Top 100.
13. Miguel Cabrera
Miguel was signed to the Florida Marlins in 1999 and made his first professional appearance in 2003. He was with them for four years before moving to the Detroit Tigers, with whom he’s still playing. He is a 12x All-Star, 7x Silver Slugger Award winner, 2x AL MVP and home run leader, and won a World Series in 2003. He’s an engaging speaker who can talk about addiction, sportsmanship, and the world of baseball.
14. Dara Torres
From the ages of 15 to 41, Dara Torres was a noted Olympic athlete. Her first Olympic appearance was at the 1984 games at the age of 15. She’s won four Gold, four Silver, and four Bronze in her lengthy career. In addition to her long athletic career, she also works with Princess Charlene of Monaco on a global drowning prevention initiative.
15. LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball is one of three Ball brothers who are all known for their skills on the court and in the Facebook show “Ball in the Family.” Lonzo plays for Chicago, LiAngelo is currently training with the Greensboro Swarm, and LaMelo is a point guard for the Charlotte Hornets. LaMelo followed his own path to professional basketball by playing overseas after high school instead of going to college. He played in Lithuania in 2019 and the National Basketball League in 2019 and 2020.
16. JJ Watt
JJ Watt is a 5x Pro Bowler, 5x First-Team All-Pro, 3x Defensive Player of the Year, and 2x NFL sacks leader. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the 2011 NFL Draft and was a defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals before retiring in 2023. He was the first player in the history of the NFL to have two 20-plus sack seasons.
17. TJ Watt
TJ Watt is the younger brother of JJ Watt and Derek Watt and a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was drafted by the Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft. Since joining the Steelers, Watt has made First-Team and Second-Team All-Pro and is a 2x Pro Bowler.
18. Manny Machado
Manny is a third baseman and shortstop, first for the Baltimore Orioles, then the Los Angeles Dodgers for a year, and currently for the San Diego Padres. He’s a 6x All-Star and 2x Gold Glove Award winner. He also has a career playing internationally for the World Baseball Classic and COPABE Pan Am Championship.
19. Jennie Finch
In 2001, Jennie Finch led the Arizona Wildcats to the 2001 Women’s College World Series. She went on to become a 2x Olympic softball pitcher and 2x National Pro Fastpitch All-Star. After retiring from softball, she’s become an MLB ambassador, noted speaker, and color commentator on ESPN.
20. Calvin Johnson
He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 2007 NFL Draft. Calvin Johnson spent his entire NFL career with the Lions, gaining the name “Megatron” during his rookie year. In that time, he played in six consecutive Pro Bowls, was a 3x First-Team All-Pro, and led the NFL in receiving yards for two years straight. Since retiring, he’s started a cannabis business that specializes in using THC for pain management.
21. Ronald Acuna Jr
He debuted with the Atlanta Braves in 2018, and he landed the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award that same year. Ronald Acuna Jr. is a 3x All-Star and 2x Silver Slugger Award winner. He comes from a long line of baseball players as his father and grandfather also played in the minor leagues, his uncle Jose Escobar played for the Cleveland Indians, and several of his cousins have played in the MLB.
22. Sloane Stephens
Sloane Stephens comes from an athletic family. Her mother was an All-American swimmer and her father played in the NFL. She started playing tennis at the age of nine and turned professional in 2009 when she was 16 years old. At 19, she beat Serena Williams in the Australian Open semifinals.
23. Mike Piazza
Most people recognize the name Mike Piazza. In his long MLB career, he had 396 home runs as a catcher and 427 home runs overall. Much of his career was with the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, but he also spent years with the Marlins, Padres, and Athletics. In all of that time, he never struck out more than 100 times per season and had a .300+ lifetime batting average putting him in an elite group of exceptional players that includes Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Vladimir Guerrero, Albert Pujols, and Chipper Jones.
24. Taylor Hall
He plays for the Boston Bruins after six seasons with the Edmonton Oilers and several seasons with the New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, and Buffalo Sabres. During that time, he made two All-Stars with the Oilers and three All-Stars with the Devils. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2018.
Elena Delle Donne is a 2x WNBA Most Valuable Player for the Washington Mystics. She’s also a 6x All-Star and the first WNBA player to join the 50-40-90 Club. In addition to her professional basketball career, she’s an ambassador for the Special Olympics and Lyme Research Alliance. Through Delle Donne Academy, she also mentors and coaches adolescent and teen girls who enjoy basketball.
26. Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh was an NBA power forward for the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat. During 13 seasons with these teams, he was an 11x All-Star and 2x NBA Champion. He played for the U.S. National Team and won a 2008 Olympic Gold medal with them. With the Miami Heat, he became part of the Big Three with Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. His career came to a sudden end due to a blood clotting condition. He established the Chris Bosh Foundation and promotes reading to today’s youth.
27. Felix Hernandez
Felix Hernandez left Venezuela after the Seattle Mariners signed him. During his time with Seattle, he became a 6x All-Star and won a Cy Young Award. He also pitched the 23rd Perfect Game in history and the first Perfect Game in the Mariners franchise history. Off-field, he’s a spokesperson for the Seattle King County Humane Society and a Pepsi Refresh Project ambassador.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee is a recognizable name as the first woman in the U.S. to win Olympic Gold in the long jump and to gain more than 7,000 points in a seven-event heptathlon. That was just the beginning. Her career would lead to three golds, two bronzes, and one silver in four Olympics. Sports Illustrated named her a “Women’s Top Female Athlete of the 20th Century.”
29. Demarcus Ware
Demarcus Ware was a 2005 NFL Draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys and would go on to be a Super Bowl Champion and Pro Bowl selection. He left the Cowboys after nine seasons to play for the Denver Broncos, where he won Super Bowl L. He retired after the 2016 season but signed a one-day contract with the Cowboys in 2017 to ensure he officially retired as a Cowboy.
30. Janet Evans
Janet Evans is a 5x Olympic medalist with four gold and one silver to her name. During her swimming career, she broke seven world records and became a member of the International Hall of Fame and Olympic Hall of Fame. She’s been a key figure in bringing the Olympics to Los Angeles in 2028.
31. Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving is a 6x NBA All-Star who plays for the Boston Celtics. In his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he averaged 18.5 points and 5.4 assists per game. He was unanimously chosen to be on the NBA All-Rookie Team and 2011-2012 Rookie of the Year. He played on Team USA in the 2016 Olympics and won gold, all in the same year he also won an NBA Championship.
32. Rod Carew
Rod Carew was a first and second baseman in the MLB and is a Hall of Famer. He won the 1967 Rookie of the Year with the Minnesota Twins and the 1977 AL Most Valuable Player Award winner. He was a starting player for 18 straight All-Star games, won 7x AL batting titles, and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame the same year he became eligible. Carew holds the second most AL batting titles behind Ty Cobb, a title that would be renamed “The Rod Carew American League Battle Title.”
33. JD Martinez
JD Martinez has played for several MLB teams, including the Boston Red Sox where he was part of the 2018 World Series Championship team. He’s a 5x All-Star and currently plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, having signed a one-year contract at the end of 2022. In his professional baseball career, he’s a 3x Silver Slugger Award winner, an AL Hank Aaron Award winner, and an AL RBI leader.
34. Lexi Thompson
At the age of 12, Lexi Thompson was the youngest player ever to play in the U.S. Women’s Open. She turned professional at the age of 15 and set a record as the youngest winner of an LPGA tournament a year later. She continued to set records as the youngest winner of the Navistar LPGA Classic and the second-youngest winner of a Ladies European Tour event when she won the Dubai Ladies Masters in 2011. After winning the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship at the age of 19, she became the second-youngest LPGA golfer to win a major tournament.
35. Saquon Barkley
He’s a running back for the New York Giants. While he first committed to Rutgers, he switched to Penn State where he was a 2x Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and First-team All-Big Ten. He finished fourth for the Heisman Trophy and was a second pick in the 2018 NFL Draft for the Giants where he went on to get the 2018 Rookie of the Year and a chance in the Pro Bowl.
36. Steve Smith Sr
Steve Smith Sr played for the Carolina Panthers and the Baltimore Ravens where he set more than 15 Panthers franchise records, participated in several Pro Bowls, and made a Super Bowl appearance. After retiring in 2016 after a final year with the Ravens where he reached the 1,000-reception mark and beat Andre Johnson’s receiving yards record. Some people knew him for his pre-game tradition of giving a pair of shoes to a homeless person and washing their feet.
38. Andre Ward
He was named the 2011 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America, ESPN, Ring Magazine, and Sports Illustrated. Andre Ward’s history of fighting goes back to the young age of nine when his father brought him to the local boxing gym and asked the trainer to “teach him to hit and not get hit.” He won gold at the 2004 Olympics and fights and is an expert analyst on HBO and shared his expertise with actor Michael B. Jordan for his role as Apollo Creed’s son in “Creed.”
39. Andrew Wiggins
Andrew Wiggins was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 but quickly traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was named Rookie of the Year and spent six years with Minnesota before going to the Golden State Warriors where he made the All-Star and reached the NBA finals.
40. Kris Letang
Kris Letang debuted with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006 and is a 6x All-Star and 3x Stanley Cup Champion. In 2014, he suffered a stroke but he was back on the ice in just six weeks. He had a second stroke on November 30, 2022, and returned to the ice on December 10, 2022, helping his team secure the win against the Buffalo Sabres.
41. Micah Parsons
He’s a pass rusher and linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys. Drafted in 2021, Micah Parsons is a newer name in this sport, but he’s already proving his value. He’s a 2x Pro Bowler, 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, First-Team All-Pro, and Butkus Award winner.
42. Mark Mulder
Mark Mulder pitched for both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Oakland A’s. In 2001, he came in second for the Cy Young Award, losing to Roger Clemens, but he did achieve a starting role in the 2003 All-Star and made it to the NLCS in 2005. After retiring in 2010, he switched to golf and won the 2015, 2016, and 2017 American Century Championships. He played in his first PGA Golf Tour event in 2018.
43. Rowdy Gaines
He’s won three Olympic gold medals and broke 14 World Records during his professional swimming career. With inductions in both the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Rowdy Gaines took on a role in broadcasting where he covered seven Summer Olympics. He’s also the VP of Aquatics at the Central Florida YMCA.
44. Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard was the 2005 MLB Rookie of the Year, the National MVP in 2006, and a World Series Champion in 2008. He’s known as the fastest player in history to complete both 100 and 200 home run milestones in the MLB. After his baseball career, he joined SeventySix, a venture capital fund that aids tech startups related to sports, health, and retail, and won SportTechie’s “Outstanding Investor.” He’s the chairman of SeventySix’s Athlete Venture Group and founder of The Big Piece Foundation.
45. Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs's dedication to baseball started in 1981 when he played with the Pawtucket Red Sox, a team where he would play in a 33-inning game against Cal Ripken Jr. and the Rochester Red Wings. In just two years, he’d join the Red DSox where he had a .349 batting average in his rookie year. He’d move to the Yankees and Devil Rays before retiring in 1999. In his long career, he was a 12x All-Star, 8x Silver Slugger Award winner, 5x AL batting champion, 2x Golden Glove Award winner, and World Series champion.
46. DeAndre Yedlin
He’s a right-back for Inter Miami CF and the U.S. Men’s National Team. In his professional soccer history, DeAndre Yedlin has gained a lot of experience playing both in Europe and the U.S. He boasts a World Cup appearance in that time.
47. Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones played third base or left field for the Atlanta Braves from 1995 to 2012. In that time, he won the NL MVP Award, a National League Silver Slugger Award, and was an All-Star eight times. After a 19-year MLB career, he retired and took a position as a color analyst for ESPN. He’s also an author and inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
48. Al Horford
He’s a power forward for the Boston Celtics. Al Horford’s first nine seasons in the NBA were with the Atlanta Hawks and then he moved to the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Oklahoma City Thunder before returning to the Celtics in 2021. In his lengthy career, he was a 5x NBA All-Star, 2x NCAA champion, and won bronze in the FIBA Americas Championship in 2011.
49. Chase Utley
In his 16 seasons with the MLB, Chase Utley was a 6x All-Star, 4x Silver Slugger, and World Series champion. He played for both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers during that time. Since retiring in 2018, he moved to London in 2022 to become an ambassador for the MLB and he loves to talk about baseball and his passion for the sport.
50. Terrell Owens
During his 15-year football career, Terrell Owens had 153 touchdowns, 1,078 receptions, and 15,934 yards completed. After a successful college football career, he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and spent eight years with them. He moved to the Philadelphia Eagles and led his team to Super Bowl XXXIX, which they lost to the Patriots. After the Dallas Cowboys signed him, he injured the tendon in his finger, but still went on to finish the season with 13 touchdowns. He’s been in six Pro Bowls and is a 5x AP All-Pro. He continues to play with the Knights of Degen, a Fan Controlled Football indoor football team.
51. Jim Furyk
Jim Furyk is a PGA golfer who joined the PGA Tour in 1994 and won at least one tournament each year from 1998 to 2003. After healing from a cartilage tear in 2004, he won three tournaments in 2010, including the 2010 FedEx Cup. It was that same year that he landed PGA Player of the Year and PGA Tour Player of the Year.
Vlad Guerrero is a 9x All-Star, 8x Silver Slugger Award winner, and AL Most Valuable Player (2004), and led his team to five AL West championships from 2004 to 2009. He retired in 2014 using a one-day contract to return to the team where he spent many years, the Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels. He was inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018 and is also inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame.
53. Nick Foles
He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012 and won a Super Bowl with that team and was named Super Bowl MVP. He played for the Chicago Bears until 2022 when he was traded to the Colts. In addition to his Super Bowl honors, he’s a 1x Pro Bowler and founder of the Foles Believe Foundation.
54. Starling Marte
Starling Marte is an outfielder for the New York Mets. His rookie year was with the Pirates in 2012. But, he’s gone on to play for the Diamondbacks, Marlins, and A’s. In his career, he’s a 2x Gold Glove winner and 2x All-Star.
55. Jack Sock
Jack Sock is a professional tennis player having turned pro in 2011. He’s known for his 2014 Wimbledon championship, won with his doubles partner Vasek Pospisil. He also won the 2018 Wimbledon, US Open, and ATP Finals Men’s Doubles with Mike Bryan. After that US Open win, he gained a career-high doubles ranking of second in the world. He’s won gold and bronze in the Olympics, four ATP singles titles, and 14 doubles titles.
56. Patrick Reed
Patrick Reed entered his first junior golf tournament at the age of 16 and won that tournament. In college, he won two Division 1 titles and turned pro at the age of 20. He won his first professional tournament at the Frys.com Open. This set him on the path to winning the Masters tournament in 2018. In addition, he’s a 3x European Tour winner and 9x PGA Tour winner.
57. Reggie Wayne
Reggie Wayne played for the Indianapolis Colts from 2001 to 2014 and was a practice squad member for the New England Patriots in 2015. In 2022, he became a wide receiver coach for the Indianapolis Colts. He’s a 6x Pro Bowler, 2x Second-Team All-Pro, 1x First-Team All-Pro, and Super Bowl Champion.
58. Marcus Smart
He’s a 2014 NBA draft pick by the Boston Celtics, and Marcus Smart has continued to play for Boston that entire time. During his career, he amassed NBA Defensive Player of the Year, 3x NBA All-Defensive First Team, and NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
59. Jim Thome
He played 22 seasons of professional baseball, both as a designated hitter and infielder. During that time, Jim Thome played for six teams, including the Cleveland Indians. He hit 612 home runs in his career, was on five All-Star teams, and won a Silver Slugger in 1996. He was the 2006 AL Comeback Player of the Year and 2002 Roberto Clemente Award winner. Thome was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018 and won two Marvin Miller Man of the Year Awards and a Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for his dedication to his community.
60. David Bakhtiari
David Bakhtiari was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2013 and started every game in his rookie season, which was an honor in itself as no rookie had started that many NFL games since 1978. Since his debut, he’s been a 2x Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro.
61. Jalen Ramsey
Jalen Ramsey is a defensive back for the Los Angeles Rams. He was drafted in 2016 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Since that time, he’s been a Super Bowl Champion, 3x First-Team All-Pro selection, and 5x Pro Bowler. Fellow players rank him 9th on the list of NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.
62. Phillip Rivers
When it comes to sports speakers, Philip Rivers is always a popular choice as he was drafted by the New York Giants in 2004 but immediately exchanged to the Chargers for Eli Manning. He proved his worth by being an 8x Pro Bowler, NFL Comeback Player of the Year, and NFL record holder for consecutive completions.
63. Justin Morneau
He debuted with the Minnesota Twins in 2003 and played first base for that team for several years. In that time he was a 4x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger, 2006 AL Most Valuable Player, and 2015 NL Batting Champion. After his retirement in 2017, he became the Twins' Special Assistant and is a color commentator for Fox Sports.
64. Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku is a professional soccer player for Inter Milan and the Belgian National Team. He’s considered one of the world’s best strikers and holds several honors related to his soccer skills. He was voted to the PFA Team of the Year in 2017, Everton FC’s Player of the Season in 2016 and 2017, and broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s record for the “most goals in nine appearances” with ten goals.
65. John Wall
John Wall played for the Kentucky Wildcats in college and was SEC Player of the Year and Consensus First-Team All-American. He was drafted in 2010 by the Washington Wizards, where he was a 5x All-Star and won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2014. He was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2020, the team he currently plays for.
66. Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher was a first baseman and outfielder for several MLB teams. With the Yankees, he won the 2009 World Series. He was an All-Star in 2010 and hit 20+ home runs yearly in nine consecutive seasons. Since retirement, he’s worked as a Fox Sports baseball analyst and as a Special Assistant to the GM for the Yankees.
67. Seth Curry
Seth Curry went to both Liberty and Duke for college and went undrafted his senior year. That didn’t stop him from getting picked up by the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s currently with the Brooklyn Nets. In his NBA career, he’s a 2x D-League All-Star and is a FIBA Under-19 World Championship winner.
68. Brianna Decker
Brianna Decker is a professional hockey player for the Calgary Inferno. She’s also a member of the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team and a 2018 Winter Olympics medalist.
69. Fred Warner
At BYU, Fred Warner was a three-year starter and was drafted by the 49ers in 2018. He started every game in his rookie season and finished that year with 124 tackles, putting him in 12th place league-wise. He’s been in two Pro Bowls and was First-Team All-Pro in 2020. In 2021, his impressive performance landed him a five-year contract with the 49ers.
70. Tyler Lockett
Tyler Lockett is a wide receiver and a return specialist for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. After being drafted by the Seahawks in 2015, he became the second rookie in the team’s history to win Special Teams Player of the Month. He’s the only rookie in 2015 to be named to the First-Team All-Pro. Off the field, he hosts youth football camps in the Seattle/Vancouver area.
71. Ben Zobrist
Only seven players in MLB history have won back-to-back World Series, and Ben Zobrist is on that list. He was a utility player from four MLB teams. With the Royals and Cubs, he won two World Series Championships. It was with the Chicago Cubs that he earned the 2016 World Series Most Valuable Player.
72. Hunter Pence
Hunter Pence is a retired professional baseball player who played with the Astros, Phillies, Giants, and Rangers. During his 14-year MLB career, he was in two World Series Championships, 4x All-Stars, and won the Heart and Hustle Award four times. After retirement, he’s broadcasted for Fox Sports and NBC Sports Bay Area. He’s also an active gamer who hosts Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons tournaments.
73. Kam Chancellor
Kam Chancellor is a former safety for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. In his football career, he led his team to a Super Bowl victory and was on four Pro Bowl teams. After a severe neck injury, he had to retire from football. Since then, he’s created his own fashion line, The Chancellor Collections.
74. Steve Sax
While he retired from professional baseball in 1994, Steve Sax has continued to be part of the sport through commentary work on Fox Sports and ESPN. In his 18-year MLB career, he was a 5x All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year. He’s also the creator and host of Sax in the Morning, a sports, TV, and finance podcast.
75. Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa is a quarterback for the Miami Dolphins having been drafted in 2020. In just two years, he’s become the NFL passer rating leader, but he’s also suffered a few concussions and has had to sit out several games for that reason.
76. Jozy Altidore
From a young age, Jozy Altidore started playing soccer, so it’s not surprising he ended up playing soccer internationally. He’s a U.S. Men’s National Team striker and also plays for Toronto FC. He debuted in the MLS at the young age of 16 and has gone on to win the ESPN Next Award and has competed in the Olympics, World Championships, and FIFA.
JVR is a left winger for the Philadelphia Flyers, a team that drafted him in 2007 before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He rejoined the Flyers in 2018. He’s also a U.S. Men’s National Team playing professional hockey internationally.
Andrelton Simmons played baseball with the Atlanta Braves until 2015, at which point he switched to the Los Angeles Angels until 2020. He moved to the Minnesota Twins and then his current team, the Chicago Cubs before becoming a free agent in August 2022. In his career as a shortstop, he’s won four Gold Gloves.
Stephen Gostkowski was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 2006 NFL Draft and was their kicker for 14 years. In that time, he won three Super Bowls, had four Pro Bowl appearances, and was a First-Team All-Pro player twice. He moved to the Tennessee Titans in 2020 and retired as a free agent in 2022.
80. Jose Ramirez
Jose Ramirez debuted with the Cleveland Indians in 2013. Within a few years, he’d be selected for the MLB All-Star Game (2017), Bob Feller Man of the Year (2016 and 2021), and win two Silver Slugger Awards (2017 and 2018). His professional baseball career is still going strong as he’s won two more Silver Slugger Awards since then (2021 and 2022) and has appeared in a total of four All-Star games.
81. Jordan Poole
He was a top 100 recruit in high school and went to the University of Michigan. He scored the winning points just before the buzzer sounded, leading his team to the Sweet 16. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors in 2019 and helped his team make it to the NBA finals in 2022.
82. Chris Long
Chris Long was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2008. He spent eight seasons with that team before moving to the New England Patriots in 2016 where he won his first Super Bowl. He won back-to-back titles with a move to the Eagles where he played for two years before retiring. He was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year shortly after his retirement due to the donation of his entire 2017 salary to charity.
83. Matt Olson
Matt Olson is a first baseman and right fielder for the Oakland A’s. Since his debut, he’s won two Gold Gloves. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2022 and signed an eight-year contract that was the largest contract in that team’s history.
84. Joey Bosa
After a successful college football career where he was a 2x Consensus All-American, Joey Bosa was drafted by the Chargers in 2016. He became the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year that same year. He is a 4x Pro Bowl participant and Bill Willis Trophy winner. He’s been with the Chargers since they drafted him.
85. Nancy Lieberman
She’s a 2x Olympian, a Basketball Hall of Fame member, and the first-ever female BIG3 head coach. Nancy Lieberman is known as “Lady Magic,” and a pioneer in the world of women’s basketball.
86. Kerri Strug
Kerri Strug was on the Magnificent Seven, the women’s gymnastics team that represented the U.S. in the 1996 Olympics. People often remember her best as the gymnast who completed her vault performance despite a severe ankle injury.
87. Rebecca Johnston
She plays hockey for the Calgary Inferno and is a member of the Canada Women’s National Ice Hockey team. On the national team, Rebecca Johnston won two gold medals in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
88. Kahleah Copper
Kahleah Copper is a guard/forward for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. She was a WNBA Finals MVP in 2021 and helped her team land the WNBA Championship, the team’s first. In her rookie year with the Washington Mystics, she had a 46.7% three-point percentage and has only improved from there.
89. Tyrann Mathieu
He’s known as “The Honey Badger” on the Kansas City Chiefs. Tyrann Mathieu is a safety who’s earned two First-Team All-Pro spots, was voted to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 2010s, and won the Super Bowl LIV. He’s the founder of the Tyrann Mathieu Foundation to help disadvantaged children and youth in New Orleans and Kansas City.
90. Jason Williams
Jason Williams retired from the NBA after 12 seasons with four teams. Nicknamed “White Chocolate,” he gained that nickname from his unique style of play. He was a 1x All-Star and helped the Miami Heat land a title.
91. Zach Randolph
Better known as Z-Bo, Zach Randolph played in the NBA for 17 seasons. While with the Memphis Grizzlies, he was a 2x All-Star. He finished his career with the Sacramento Kings, averaging 14.5 points over 59 games, often getting a double-double with 16 points and 9 rebounds per game.
92. Danny Green
He’s a 3x champion NBA player who is currently with the Philadelphia 76ers. Danny Green is the top 20th player in NBA history. In college, he became the only player in the ACC’s history to get 1,000 points. Among his many awards and accomplishments is the fact that he passed Larry Bird in career three-pointers and the second-highest number of three-pointers made in a single NBA Finals – Stephen Curry holds first place.
93. DJ Swearinger
Dayarlo Jamal, DJ for short, is a strong safety for the New Orleans Saints. He began his NFL career after being drafted by the Houston Texans in 2013 and moved to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, and Oakland Raiders. Off the field, he’s the founder of the 2 Spoonz Foundation, an organization that helps the youth in underserved communities develop academic, leadership, and athletic skills.
94. Tyson Gay
Tyson Gay holds an American record of 9.69 seconds for a 100-meter. He’s medaled in many international races, including three Gold medals at the 2007 Osaka World Championships. He’s the second man to win all three events in the same championship.
95. Franchy Cordero
Franchy Cordero started his professional baseball career in 2017 with the San Diego Padres where he got 19 hits in his first 17 games. He ended up on the injured list and was traded to the Kansas City Royals in 2020 and the Boston Red Sox in 2021. He’s currently under a minor-league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.
96. Tim Ream
Tim Ream played for the New York Red Bulls and was a Rookie of the Year finalist before moving to the English Premier League and playing for the Bolton Wanderers. He’s currently a center-back and captain for Fulham FC. Under his leadership, the team was promoted from the English Championship to English Premier League.
97. John Naber
John Naber is a 4x Gold and 1x Silver Olympic medalist. He holds six world records, ten NCAA individual titles, four NCAA team titles, and a James E. Sullivan Award. He’s in the US Olympic Hall of Fame and International Swimming Hall of Fame. His experience in the field of swimming goes back decades, and he’s spoken to well over 1,000 audiences on topics like “Gold Medal Performance.”
98. Jason Witten
He’s currently a tight end for the Las Vegas Raiders, but he played for the Dallas Cowboys before that. He’s a 6x NFL All-Pro and 10x Pro Bowl selection. He’s won the Pro Football Humanitarian of the Year award and Home Depot Neighborhood MVP. Off the field, he’s the founder of SCORE Foundation, an organization designed to stop domestic violence and abuse. SCORE Foundation arranges to have male mentors in family abuse shelters throughout Texas.
99. Walker Zimmerman
Walker Zimmerman is a professional soccer player for the Nashville SC. His career started in 2017 with FC Dallas, and he’s also played on the USA Men’s National Team. Since starting his professional soccer career, he’s won Defender of the Year and played on the 2021 US Men’s CONCACAF Championship team.
100. Kristi Toliver
She’s a professional basketball player with the Los Angeles Sparks. Kristi Toliver is a 3x All-Star and 2x WNBA champion who also played for the Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics, where she is an assistant coach (the first active WNBA player to also coach an NBA team). Toliver led the Mystics to their first title in 2019.
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