Drafted in the Second Round from California in 2012 by the Cleveland Browns, Schwartz won the starting Right Tackle job as a rookie, and started every game for Cleveland for his four years as an NFL player.  Schwartz signed with Kansas City in 2016 as a Free Agent, and it quietly became one of the best signing in franchise history.

Schwartz took his play to the next level with the Chiefs, earning four consecutive All-Pros (three Second Team and one First Team), and was instrumental in the protection of Quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, who led Kansas City to a Super Bowl win in LIV.  Kansas City’s running game was also stellar with Schwartz anchoring the line.

A back injury in 2020, put him on the shelf after six Games, and he was released after the season.  After sitting out 2021, Schwartz elected to call it a career.  Schwartz may never have made it to the Pro Bowl but four All-Pros certainly show that he should have.  This could be one of the best players in recent memory to have never earned a “PB” beside his name.

One of the most successful Wide Receivers in the history of Pro Football, Larry Fitzgerald played his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals, where there was no doubt who was the top player in the desert.

Fitzgerald was highly coveted in the 2004 NFL Draft, having dominated in two years at Pittsburgh where he would later have the honor of having his jersey retired.  Taken number 3 Overall that year by the Cardinals, Fitzgerald paid immediate dividends as after a solid rookie year, he took the expected step to greatness as a sophomore

In that second season, Fitzgerald had his first 1,000 Yard season, and he would have eight more after.  While Fitzgerald never led the NFL in Receiving Yards, he was a two-time leader in Receptions and Receiving Yards, and setting every receiving record worth having in Cardinals history.  An 11-time Pro Bowl Selection, Fitzgerald set numerous records, and would have twice as many had it not been for the existence of Jerry Rice.  Fitzgerald was the top star in Arizona for years, and a huge reason that the Cards advanced to their first Super Bowl.

Fitzgerald was named to the NFL 100^th Anniversary Team, a sure sign that he will enter Canton quickly. At the time of his retirement, Fitzgerald was second all-time in Receiving Yards (17,492) and Receptions (1,432) while being sixth in Receiving Touchdowns (121).  As great as he was on the field, Fitzgerald was even held in higher regard off of it, as shown by his 2018 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

There is no doubt that Larry Fitzgerald is one of the great ones.

From La Belle Provence, Quebec, Canada, L.P. Ladouceur played his college ball at California, and though he was undrafted, he was signed by the New Orleans Saints, but was released before the end of training camp.  He moved one state west, and made the Dallas Cowboys as their Long Snapper in 2005, a role he held for 16 years.

Ladouceur made the Pro Bowl once in 2014, but was one of the most durable Special Teams players of his era.  The Quebecer set NFL records for the most Games Played by a Canadian and the most consecutive Games Played by a Long Snapper.

Ladouceur will not come close to the Hall, but a durable Long Snapper deserves a few sentences.

The possessor of one of the best names in Football (especially if you played your college ball at Notre Dame), Golden Tate was an All-American for the Fighting Irish, and was able to transfer his skills to the National Football League.

Taken by Seattle in the Second Round in 2010, Tate was part of the Seahawks depth chart for his first two seasons, becoming a starter in his third year.  As Seattle marched towards a title, Tate emerged as one of Russell Wilson’s top weapons, aiding the Seahawks in a win in Super Bowl XLVIII, but it led to Tate’s value increasing, and he signed on with the Detroit Lions in 2014.

Playing in Motown for four years and change, Tate went to his only Pro Bowl in 2014, and had three 1,000-plus Receiving Yard years for the Lions.  Closing out his career with Philadelphia and the New York Giants, Tate accumulated 8,278 Yards with 46 Touchdowns.