One of the best offensive players that East Carolina ever produced, Chris Johnson was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the First Round and was immediately the team’s workhorse.

Johnson was a Pro Bowler in his first three seasons, with his sophomore campaign (2009) proving to be special.  Named the Offensive Player of the Year, Johnson rushed for a league-leading 2,006 Yards, and he caught 50 passes for another 503 Yards.  His 16 Touchdowns would also be a personal best.  Johnson's last Pro Bowl year was 2010, but his next three years saw him crack the four-digit mark in Rushing Yards, making it six years in total that he accomplished that feat.  

Johnson left Tennessee when he was released after the 2014 season, and he never came close to that success again.  He accumulated 9,968 Yards From Scrimmage as a Titan.

Known for his brute strength, Curley Culp played the first half of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he helped them win Super Bowl IV.  He was traded to Houston during the 1974 Season, and it was in the state of Texas where he proved himself Canton worthy.

In 1975, which was Culp's first full season in Houston, he was a First Team All-Pro and went to his third Pro Bowl.  Culp went to the Pro Bowl the next three seasons and was regarded as one of the top Nose Tackles in the game.  Culp was the star of Defensive Coordinator Bum Phillips' 3-4 Defense, and his skill was the centerpiece of what was created in Houston.

Culp entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

Drafted 3^rd Overall in the 1985 NFL Draft, the former Texas A&M Aggie was settling into a nice role where he played Defensive End for the Houston Oilers.  He did well and would go to his first Pro Bowl in 1988, but a switch from the 3-4 to 4-3 Defense forced Childress to move to Defensive Tackle, and it fit him perfectly.

From 1990 to 1993, he would be selected for the Pro Bowl, and he landed a First Team All-Pro Selection in 1992.  Childress was regarded during that era as an elite Defensive Tackle, and the iron man was stuffing opposing rushers at will.  He would be very popular in the Houston area with his work ethic and philanthropy, and though that franchise is gone, he is still a legend in the state of Texas.

From the University of Kentucky, Bob Talimini would play his entire nine-year professional career in the American Football League.  The first eight of those campaigns were with the Houston Oilers, where the Left Guard was a six-time AFL All-Star (1962-67) who played his way into three First Team All-Pros.  The Oilers were one of the powers of the league, and Talimini was a member of the first two AFL Titles (1960 & 1961), and after his run with Houston, he played one final year with the New York Jets.  

That year, he was part of the history-making team that won Super Bowl III.  Not a bad way to finish your career!