Who Are the Washington Huskies Most Famous Alumni?

While the Washington Huskies don’t get the spotlight that many college football programs do, they’ve produced a storied tradition despite that. Many famous alumni have come to Seattle, and the football team itself produced a number of great professionals too.

Top Washington Huskies Football Alumni

Warren Moon

While more people remember Warren Moon for his time in the NFL, it was his time with the Huskies that got him started. The Los Angeles native moved up north, and put together one of the more memorable careers for a Washington player.

Moon produced 3,277 yards and 19 touchdowns through the air, and he added 429 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground. His development at Washington helped pave the way to his NFL career, where he produced 49,325 yards and 291 touchdowns passing. He also won Offensive Player of the Year for the Houston Oilers in 1990.

Brock Huard

Most known for his role as an analyst for Fox Sports, Huard put together a decent career with the Washington Huskies. In his 3 seasons as a starter, he produced 5,742 yards and 51 touchdowns as a passer, with the Huskies going 23-13 during his time on campus.

Huard had a brief NFL career, spending 2 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and 1 season with the Indianapolis Colts. He threw for 689 yards and 4 touchdowns in those 3 seasons.

Huard’s son, Sam, committed to Washington as well before transferring to Cal Poly after the 2022 season.

Joel McHale

More known for his work in the film industry, McHale was “good enough to not be remembered for how bad he was” with the Huskies. One of the most unique comments about a player’s game didn’t phase him after school, as he found his way into acting in shows like “Community.”

Napoleon Kaufman

One of the best running backs in Washington Huskies football history, Kaufman was a star the minute he stepped on the field. He posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons with the team and finished with 4,041 yards and 33 touchdowns rushing in college.

Oakland drafted Kaufman with the 18th pick in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft, and he spent his entire six-year career with the team. He rushed for 4,792 yards and 12 touchdowns with the Raiders.

Corey Dillon

While he started his career with Garden City Community College, Corey Dillon joined the Washington Huskies program for a season in 1996. It was all he needed to get to the NFL, as he rushed for 1,555 yards and 22 touchdowns that year.

At 6’1″ and 225 pounds, he was an intriguing prospect at the NFL level, and the Cincinnati Bengals took him with the 43rd pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. He spent 10 years in the league, seven with the Bengals and three with the New England Patriots. Dillon finished his professional career with 11,241 yards and 82 touchdowns.