There have been many influential Canadian players in the NFL over the years, so it's time for an updated ranking of the best players of all time.
That list will change in the coming years, with players such as Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matthew Bergeron, Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown, New York Giants defensive end Javon Holland, Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard, and Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Alaric Jackson performing at a high level despite starting their careers relatively early.
Honorable Mentions: OL Ian Beckles, RB Tim Biakabtuka, C Steve Christie, D.L. Terento Crawford, Ol Laurent Duvernay-Tarde, D.L. Harald Hasselbach, D.B. Jevon Holland, R.B. Chuba Khabard, Ol Alashik Jackson, L.S.L.P. Ladouceur, REC Josh Palmer, P John Ryan
15) Jerome Paton
Raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, the six-foot, 195-pound target spent eight seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, making 260 catches for 3,350 yards and 15 touchdowns in 100 career games. Paton was the 32nd overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and was immediately thrust into the starting lineup in Indianapolis along with fellow rookie Peyton Manning, future Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison and Canadian offensive lineman and former draft pick Tony Mandarich.
14) Israel Idoniye
The six-foot-six, 275-pound guard grew up in Brandon, Maine. and played for the University of Manitoba before signing with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent. Idonije spent 10 seasons in the league almost entirely with the Chicago Bears, totaling 288 tackles, 52 tackles for loss, 29 sacks, 15 pass breakups, six forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and one touchdown.
13) Roy Gerela
Native of Sarrail, Alta. played 11 seasons in the NFL, most of which he spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the team's glory years in the 1970s. Gerela made 60.1 percent of his career field goal attempts, which was about the league average at the time, and 96.2 percent of his field goal attempts. Gerela was a two-time second-team All-Pro with the Steelers and won three Super Bowls.
12) Mitch Berger
The Kamloops, British Columbia native played 15 years in the NFL, primarily with the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints, with the latter winning Super Bowl XLIII. Berger was named a second-team All-Pro in 1999 and a first-team All-Pro in 2004, finishing his career with 847 punts for a 42.9-yard gross average and a 35.9-yard net average over 187 games. He also parked 265 career punts at the 20-yard line.
11) Jason David
Native of Edmonton, Alta. Played only five seasons in the NFL, but was an excellent cornerback, throwing 16 interceptions and batting 55 passes in 75 career games. The five-foot-eight, 180-pound defensive end won Super Bowl XLI with the Indianapolis Colts but also spent two seasons with the New Orleans Saints. David also made 225 tackles, four tackles for loss, five fumble recoveries, three forced tackles and one touchdown.
10) Mike Vanderjagt
Native of Oakville, Ontario. Played nine seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Indianapolis Colts, earning one first-team All-Pro, one second-team All-Pro and leading the league in scoring in 1999. The player became the fourth player in NFL history to have a perfect season when he went 33-for-33 on field goals in 2003, although he is perhaps best remembered for being publicly called an “idiot” by Peyton Manning. Vanderjagt also won two Gray Cups with the Toronto Argonauts.
9) Let OJ fall
Native of Windsor, Ontario. was a strong safety who spent most of his seven-year NFL career with the St. Louis Rams. The five-foot-eleven, 205-pound defensive back recorded 454 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 48 ​​pass knockdowns, 25 interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and two touchdowns in 101 games. Atogwe was named the 2008 NFC Defensive Player of the Week after four tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one touchdown in a 19–17 win over Washington.
8) Alex Singleton
The 32-year-old has been one of the NFL's most productive linebackers for seven seasons since retiring from the CFL. The Canadian-American defensive back recorded 736 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 16 passes defensed, five sacks, five fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and three interceptions in 91 games with the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos, despite missing games due to a torn ACL and a cancer diagnosis.
7) Reuben Mays
Native of North Battleford, Sask. was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1986 after setting a Canadian NFL record with 1,353 yards and eight touchdowns. The two-time Pro Bowl player's career was derailed by a torn Achilles he suffered in 1989, although he still managed to record 3,484 rushing yards, 401 receiving yards and 23 total touchdowns in eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks. Mayes is a member of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.
6) David Onyemata
The New Orleans Saints traded for Onyemata in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and it turned out to be a great decision. The six-foot-four, 310-pound University of Manitoba product played seven seasons for the team and has since been a member of the Atlanta Falcons for three years, recording 388 tackles, 48 ​​tackles for loss, 31 sacks, 10 pass knockdowns, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception in 151 games.
5) Eddie Murray
Halifax, N.S. native played 19 seasons in the NFL, 12 of which were spent with the Detroit Lions, who gave him a spot on their 75th Anniversary team. The one-time first-team All-Pro, three-time second-team All-Pro and Super Bowl XXVIII champion completed 75.5 percent of his career field goal attempts, 98.7 percent of his field goal attempts and punted the ball 303 times for an average of 56.3 yards over 250 games.
4) Nate Burleson
The third-round pick from the University of Nevada was a versatile contributor over 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions, recording 457 receptions for 5,630 yards and 39 touchdowns. Native of Calgary, Alta. was also an underrated returner with 213 career carries for 2,809 yards and four scores. Burleson is still the only Canadian receiver in NFL history to record a 1,000-yard season, which he did with the Vikings in 2004.
3) Mark Rypien
The six-foot-four, 225-pound passer was a two-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl XXVI MVP after completing 18 of 33 pass attempts for 292 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 37-24 win over the Cowboys. Native of Calgary, Alta. He went 47-31 as an NFL starter and threw for 18,473 yards, 115 touchdowns and 88 interceptions in 15 seasons spent primarily in Washington.
2) Arnie Weinmeister
Native of the Rhine Sask. All-American Football Conference (AAFC) honoree for two seasons before being named a four-time first-team All-Pro with the New York Giants. The six-foot-four, 235-pound defensive tackle recorded eight fumble recoveries and one safety in 71 career games (tackles and sacks were not counted in official statistics at the time) and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984, 31 years after his NFL career ended.
1) Bronko Nagurski
There could only be one player on this list, as Nagurski remains an NFL icon 35 years after his death. The six-foot-two, 225-pound defensive lineman and defensive lineman rushed for 2,778 yards and 25 touchdowns in nine seasons with the Chicago Bears, earning four first-team All-Pro selections and winning three NFL championships. Native of Rainy River, Ontario. was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the Bears retired his No. 3 number.
