As the NFL’s 107th season takes shape, 26 Stanford alumni have earned a roster or practice-squad spot across 17 of the 32 professional teams.
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz ’18 and Carolina Panthers linebacker Bobby Okereke ’18 carried the strongest early stat lines, while the offseason was headlined by Michael Wilson ’21 M.A. ’22 — who signed a $75 million extension with the Arizona Cardinals — and Drew Dalman ’21, who retired from the Chicago Bears at only 27.
Offseason
Dalman’s retirement was one of the offseason’s biggest surprises. The Bears center told the team in March that his NFL career was over just one year into his new three-year contract. Dalman made the decision to walk away from the game in favor of prioritizing his long-term health and physical well-being.
Walking away at his prime, Dalman played all 1,154 of Chicago’s offensive snaps in 2025 and was graded as the sixth-highest center by Pro Football Focus. Dalman also left amid his first Pro Bowl nod and the first time that the Bears won both the NFC North and a playoff game since the 2010 season.
Wilson’s offseason went in the opposite direction. Arizona announced on Sept. 3 that the wide receiver and the organization agreed to a three-year, $75 million extension. The contract came after his first 1,000-yard season, in which he also caught seven touchdowns in 2025. Wilson has now surpassed San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey ’18 as the highest-paid active Stanford player in the NFL.
Three recent Stanford graduates also entered the league this offseason. Tight end Sam Roush ’26 went to the Chicago Bears in the third round, No. 69 overall. Wide receiver CJ Williams ’26 went to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round, No. 203 overall. Cornerback Collin Wright ’25 M.A. ’26 signed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans and made the initial 53-man roster.
Standout performances
Bobby Okereke ’18 (LB, Carolina Panthers) – Okereke has recorded 15 tackles, an interception, a pass deflection and a forced fumble in only two weeks. While the Panthers offense allowed 59 points in Week One against Chicago, they allowed just three the next week, where Okereke posted nine tackles and returned an interception for three yards in a 34-3 win against the Falcons.
Christian McCaffrey ’18 (RB, San Francisco 49ers) – McCaffrey has 154 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in San Francisco’s strong 2-0 start. Both scores came in Week Two in a 35-13 win over the Miami Dolphins, where he rushed for 23 yards on 10 carries and totaled 43 receiving yards.
Dalton Schultz ’18 (TE, Houston Texans) – Schultz leads all Stanford alumni with 16 catches for 175 yards, which he secured mostly in Week Two. He caught 12 of 14 targets for 140 yards in a 20-6 loss to Cincinnati. While the Texans are 0-2, Schultz leads the team in targets and receiving yards, showing how much the offense is leaning on him.
Elic Ayomanor ’26 (WR, Tennessee Titans) – Ayomanor has a touchdown and 80 receiving yards on three catches. He scored on an 11-yard reception in a 23-10 loss to the Jets, then hauled in a career-long 41-yard catch in a last-second 24-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Notable Contributions
Austin Hooper ’17 (TE, Atlanta Falcons) – Hooper recorded two catches for 10 yards each in a loss against the Falcons.
Harrison Phillips ’18 (DT, New York Jets) – Phillips recovered a fumble in a 20-17 overtime loss to Green Bay in Week Two.
Justin Reid ’19 (S, New Orleans Saints) – Reid posted eight tackles across two close games against the Lions and Ravens. The Saints are 1-1.
Simi Fehoko ’22 (WR, Arizona Cardinals) – Fehoko locked a punt in a 26-14 win at the Chargers in Week One.