WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - SEPTEMBER 20: Wide receiver Antonio Brown #27 of the Central Michigan Chippewas runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 20, 2008 in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

MAC Football's All-Time NFL Team

MAC football has produced outstanding NFL talent, boasting players like Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown.

Before the college football season starts for the Mid-American (MAC) football, let's look at the conference's NFL dream team. 

This dream team from the MAC has legends at the college and NFL levels. It is filled with Hall of Fame talent on the offensive side of the ball, with 'Big' Ben Roethlisberger leading the charge. A prime Roethlisberger could lead this offense to a Super Bowl with the weapons he has, including his former (controversial) teammate Antonio Brown in the receiving corps. Along with an excellent offense is a list of pro bowlers and Hall of Fame talent on the defense, with Jason Taylor leading the front. Along with the defense, the special teams have some great players from the MAC. This dream team could give Steelers fans fond memories because there are alumni who played for Pittsburgh. 

If you're a football fan, this dream team offense has a combined 37 Pro Bowls for the skill positions. Even if Antonio Brown is a controversial figure, he was one of the best wide receivers alumni in MAC football history. Another pair of wide receivers that could do well with Brown is Bernie Casey and Bob Schnelker. The running game of this fantasy team is also great, with quality running backs Bill Triplett and Jim Podoley. If done well, they could help the offense in key plays. This offense could be a top offense of all time with the weapons they have. 

The MAC also had some top defensive players for the NFL at the time. One of them is the aforementioned Taylor. Along with the line is a linebacker corps of Hall of Famer Jack Lambert, with a lineup of Joel Smeenge, James Harrison, and Khalil Mack. The secondary is also nothing to joke about, with Emlen Tunnell leading it. This defense could shut down the best of the best in the NFL. This MAC all-time fantasy NFL team has won multiple Super Bowls and, if all together, could win more. 

Ben Roethlisberger

NFL legend Ben Roethlisberger was a star at Miami-Ohio before he played for the Steelers (PHOTO CREDIT: Miami-Ohio Athletics)

MAC/NFL ALL-TIME TEAM (CURRENT MAC TEAMS)

OFFENSE

POS G5 SCHOOL PLAYER ACT YRS STATS
QB MIAMI-OHIO Ben Roethlisberger 2004-2021 64,088 Yds,  418 Tds
RB MIAMI-OHIO Bill Triplett 1962-1972 2,446 Rush Yds,17 Tds
RB CENTRAL MICH Jim Podoley 1957-1960 746 Rush Yds, 2 Tds
WR CENTRAL MICH Antonio Brown 2010-2021 12,291 Rec Yds, 83 Tds
WR BOWLING GREEN Bernie Casey 1961-1968 5444 Rec Yds, 40 TDs
WR BOWLING GREEN Bob Schnelker 1953-1961 3667 Rec Yds, 33 Tds
TE KENT ST. Antonio Gates 2003-2018  11,841 Rec Yds, 116 Tds
OL CENTRAL MICH Joe Staley 2007-2019 6 Pro Bowls
OL BOWLING GREEN Doug Smith 1978-1991  6 Pro Bowls
OL NO. ILLINOIS Ryan Diem 2001-2011  GS 150
OL WESTERN MICH John Rapacz 1948-1954  3 FR
OL BOWLING GREEN Jerry Jones 1966-1969  1 RT, KR 5

(*) — Indicates Hall of Famer

DEFENSE

POS G5 SCHOOL PLAYER ACT YRS STATS
DL NO. ILLINOIS Larry Brink 1948-1954  8 FR, 88 Yds
DL EASTERN MICH. Maxx Crosby 2019-2022 37.5 Sk, 7 FF
DL WESTERN MICH. Jason Babin 2004-2015 64.5 Sk, 14 FF
DL AKRON Jason Taylor (*) 1997-2011 139.5 Sk, 46 FF
LB-DE WESTERN MICH. Joel Smeenge 1990-2000 35.5 Sk, 9 FF
LB BUFFALO Khalil Mack 2014-2022 84.5 Sk, 25 FF
LB KENT ST. James Harrison 2002-2017 84.5 Sk, 8 Ints
LB KENT ST. Jack Lambert (*) 1974-1984 28 Int, 243 Int Yds
DB CENTRAL MICH. Walter Beach 1960-1966  6 Int, 120 Int Yds
DB TOLEDO Emlen Tunnell (*) 1948-1961 79 Int, 1282 Int Yds
DB NO. ILLINOIS Jimmie Ward 2014-2022 7 Int, 64 Int Yds

(*) — Indicates Hall of Famer

SPECIAL TEAMS

POS G5 SCHOOL PLAYER ACT YRS STATS
K-DE MIAMI-OHIO Mack Yoho 1960-1963 FGM 13, 1 Int
P TOLEDO Brett Kern 2008-2022  3 Pro Bowls

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