The 6 best NFL players to come out of Villanova

The Villanova Wildcats won their second NCAA men’s basketball championship in three years on Monday night, blowing by the Michigan Wolverines, 79-62.

But they also have a football program, which a lot of people don’t know about. It’s at the FCS level, which is a notch below Division I. They won the 2009 FCS football national championship, with their most recent postseason trip being a second-round exit in 2016.

There have also been some good NFL players to come out of Villanova. Not many, but some. These are the best ones:

If you’re an older sports fan, you probably remember Howie Long best for being a member of the Oakland Raiders from 1981-1993. If you’re a younger fan, you probably only know him best from the NFL on FOX pregame show. But the Hall of Famer was a two-time All-Pro, and an eight-time Pro Bowler during his career with the Raiders. He helped the Raiders win one of their three Super Bowls, in 1984 when he earned his first All-Pro. He’s also the father of current NFL players Chris and Kyle Long. It clearly runs in the family.

The former do-it-all running back for the Eagles, Westbrook played eight of his nine NFL seasons in Philly. He finished his career with 6,335 yards rushing, 3,940 yards receiving, and 73 total touchdowns, with two coming on punt returns. He made two Pro Bowls, and had one All-Pro nod in 2007. It’s a shame he wasn’t ever able to win a Super Bowl with the Eagles, making just one Super Bowl after being a part of three of their four consecutive NFC Championship appearances. But it doesn’t take away from how talented he was.

Atkinson had the third-longest NFL career of any Villanova alum in the NFL, playing 10 years in the NFL. The linebacker was drafted in both the NFL and AFL drafts in 1965 — going in the sixth round of the NFL Draft to the Baltimore Colts, and in the third round of the AFL Draft to the Buffalo Bills. However, he played his entire career (1965-1974) with the Jets, winning a world championship (NOT a Super Bowl) in 1968, the same year he was an AFL All-Star.

Finneran’s one of the better known names on this list, just because he was much more recent, and a wide receiver. He went undrafted in 1998, but signed by the Seahawks, where he was only on the practice squad. He played for the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999, before spending 2000-2010 with the Atlanta Falcons. The school has his No. 25 (sure, why not) retired.

Mellus, a tackle, was drafted in 1938 (yes, that long ago!) by the New York Giants, and played for their championship team the same season. He played with them through 1941, where he was named to two Pro Bowls, and one first-team All-Pro nomination. He was drafted into the Army during World War II in 1942, and played for the 49ers starting in 1946 after his discharge. He would play three more years with the Baltimore Colts, before calling it a career.

Gruneisen was selected in the 25th round of the 1962 AFL Draft, but the center had a lengthy career. He played with the Chargers from 1962-1972, and one year with the Oilers in 1973. His Wikipedia page will tell you he kicked two PATs and a 26-yard field goal in Villanova’s 1961 Sun Bowl over Wichita State, who — surprise — also has a football team!