The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546417
Jacoby Brissett (New England, Indianapolis, Miami, Cleveland, Washington, Arizona) Brissett came to NC State after a freshman season at Florida and, after two seasons with the Wolfpack, was chosen in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has bounced around the league for more than a decade. Now with Arizona, Brissett is projected to be the Cardinals' starter for the 2026 season. Dick Christy (Pittsburgh, Boston, N.Y. Titans/Jets) Christy played in the era when halfbacks frequently threw passes, one of the reasons he was named a first-team All-American for the Wolfpack in 1957. In the NFL, he did the same thing, throwing 2 touchdown passes from that posi - tion as a rookie for the New York Titans. However, he did not complete a pass in his final four seasons as a professional. Ryan Finley (Cincinnati, Houston) Finley was chosen by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He started four games, throwing 3 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions. Roman Gabriel (L.A. Rams, Philadelphia) A superstar in college and professional football, Gabriel was a two-time ACC Player of the Year, two-time All-American and the 1969 NFL Player of the Year. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1962 AFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and the No. 2 overall pick by the Rams in the NFL Draft. He played 11 seasons for the Rams and five for the Eagles, throwing 201 touchdown passes and rushing for 30 more. Mike Glennon (Tampa Bay, Chicago, Arizona, Oakland, Jacksonville, N.Y. Giants, Miami) A third-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2013, Glennon was a starter in his first two seasons. He was a spot starter with the Bears and the Jaguars. In nine seasons, he threw 47 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. Erik Kramer (New Orleans, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, San Diego) The 1986 ACC Player of the Year was signed as a free agent by the Falcons during the '87 NFL strike season. He went on to spend 10 years in the NFL and three more in the Canadian Football League. Kramer took the Lions to the NFC Championship Game in 1991 and held the Bears' single-season record for most passing yards (3,838) until it was broken last season. Coley McDonough (Chicago Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers) A pre-war quarterback/kicker at NC State, McDonough finished his college career at Dayton. In 1939, he became the first NC State alumnus to play in the NFL. McDonough played for several blended teams, while serving just long enough in the U.S. Army to participate in the Battle of the Bulge. In three NFL seasons, he threw 5 touchdown passes and 22 interceptions. Jakobi Meyers (New England, Las Vegas, Jacksonville) Recruited to NC State as a quarterback, Meyers was moved to receiver as a freshman and signed in 2019 as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots. He never lost his passing touch, though, completing 6 of his 7 NFL passing attempts, with 3 career touchdown throws through the end of last season. Philip Rivers (San Diego/L.A. Chargers, Indianapolis) He arrived at NC State a fresh-faced 18-year-old and retired from the NFL — for the second time — after the 2025 season, when the 44-year-old was called back to the league by the Colts to fill in for an injured starter, making him one of the oldest starting quarterbacks in league history. In his career, Rivers com- pleted nearly two-thirds of his 8,226 passes for 63,984 yards. He threw 425 touchdown passes, the sixth most in NFL history. Russell Wilson (Seattle, Denver, Pittsburgh, N.Y. Giants) A surprise starter as an NC State redshirt freshman, Wilson spent three seasons with the Wolfpack then transferred for his final season to Wisconsin, which he led to a Rose Bowl appearance. The two-sport athlete was taken in both the Major League Baseball and NFL drafts, going in the third round to the Seahawks. He quickly earned the starting job and took his team to back-to- back Super Bowl appearances in his second and third seasons. He played 10 seasons for the Seahawks and later had short stints with the Broncos, Steelers and Giants. He retired in June after 14 years in the NFL. — Tim Peeler Philip Rivers ranks sixth in league history in both career passing yards (63,984) and passing touchdowns (425). PHOTO COURTESY INDIANAPOLIS COLTS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026 ■ 41 NC State's Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks "There will be moments in life when people tell you that you are too small, too different, or just simply not enough," he said. "Don't let oth- ers cast their fears of greatness on you. Keep your faith strong, keep your heart strong, wake up every day believing you can do great things. "Because greatness is always within you." Wilson did play both professional foot- ball and baseball. He married a pop music star, Ciara, and they have three children. On Aug. 29, Club Reign — the first starter for Wilson's Three Brand Racing — won his debut at Saratoga Race Course. It's been a successful life on and off the field, and on the track. "Thank you, football, the great- est game in the world," Wilson said. "I thank you, I thank you, I thank you. "I am forever grateful." ■ Tim Peeler is a regular contributor to The Wolfpacker and can be reached at tmpeeler@ncsu.edu.