The NFL lost a legend, and Connecticut one of its finest athletes ever, on Friday when Floyd Little died after a bout with cancer. The College and Pro Football Hall of Famer was one of the best players in Syracuse history before going onto the Denver Broncos as a pro.
Revered in football circles, Little is one of the best pro football players to come out of the Nutmeg State. In fact, as you'll find out, he tops our list of the best NFL players to come from Connecticut.
6) Eugene Robinson: Among Connecticut natives only kicker John Carney (302) appeared in more NFL games than Robinson's 250. The defensive back spent 15 years in the league, including his first 11 with Seattle, from 1985-2000. In that time he picked off 57 passes (leading the league in 1993), made three Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl in 1996 with the Packers. He also made another with the Falcons, when he was infamously arrested the night before the game. According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Weaver High graduate actually has the highest weighted career of anyone from CT, but he only checks in at six on our list.
5) Ken Strong: The first Hall of Famer from Connecticut, Strong spent nearly two decades in professional football. The West Haven native played collegiately at NYU, where he starred in both football (leading the nation in scoring in 1928) and baseball. Across 16 professional seasons he was best known as a fullback, but also played defense and kicked. Playing for the Staten Island Stapletons and the New York Giants, he was an All-Pro three times in his career, getting inducted in Canton in 1967.
4) Bill Romanowski: The Vernon native and Rockville High graduate was one of the game's most feared linebackers from 1988-2003. Playing for four teams, Romanowski was a two-time Pro Bowler and four-time Super Bowl champion, winning a pair with San Francisco and a pair with Denver. In 16 years he racked up 1,116 total tackles, 39.5 sacks and 18 interceptions.
3) Dwight Freeney: The Bloomfield High alumnus graduated as the Connecticut all-time leader in sacks (since surpassed) before becoming an All-American at Syracuse and a first-round draft pick in 2002. In a 15-year NFL career Freeney was one of the most devastating pass rushers alive with his patented spin move. His 125.5 career sacks are 18th all-time, leading the league in 2004. He made seven Pro Bowls, was a first team All-Pro three times and helped Indianapolis win Super Bowl XLI.
2) Andy Robustelli: Graduating from Stamford High and going to the now-closed Arnold College in Milford, Robustelli turned his status as a 19th round draft pick into a Hall of Fame career. First with the Rams, then the Giants, the defensive end was an All-Pro 10 times (including six first-team nods) and won a pair of championships. He also took home the Bert Bell Award in 1962, which went to the NFL's Player of the Year as voted on by the Maxwell Football Club.
1) Floyd Little: Born in New Haven, Little went to Hillhouse High before moving onto Syracuse, where he took over for Ernie Davis in the backfield. Wearing the school's iconic No. 44, he was a three-time All-American in central New York. He was drafted sixth overall by Denver in 1967, where over the next eight years he was dubbed "The Franchise". A three-time All-Pro, Little led the league in rushing in 1971 and retired as the seventh-highest rusher in league history (6,323 yards). His long wait to Canton ended in 2010 when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.