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The NFL Is Full of Jewish Players This Season

The 102nd National Football League season just began, and it’s a special one for Los Angelenos and the Jewish people. 
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September 28, 2021

The 102nd National Football League season just began, and it’s a special one for Los Angelenos and the Jewish people. 

Not only will the Rams and Chargers be allowing fans inside their brand new $5 billion SoFi Stadium for the first time (fans were prohibited last season due to the pandemic), but at the end of the season, the Super Bowl will return to the L.A. area for the first time since 1993. 

While the game was a blow out win for the Dallas Cowboys over the Buffalo Bills, Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena featured the famous Michael Jackson halftime show. Culminating with a performance of “Heal the World,” it has been lauded by many as the greatest Super Bowl halftime show of all time. 

The entertainment for Super Bowl LVI’s halftime show has yet to be announced. But for now, here’s a list of Jewish players on NFL rosters this season.  

Josh Rosen—Atlanta Falcons

The former UCLA quarterback, nicknamed “The Chosen Rosen,” was born in Torrance and went to high school in Bellflower. He is currently on his fifth NFL team after being drafted 10th overall in the 2018 NFL draft.  

Michael Dunn—Cleveland Browns

Now in his second year in the NFL, Michael Dunn played offensive line for the University of Maryland Terrapins. According to Hillel.org, Maryland has the fourth largest number of Jewish students enrolled out of all public universities in the United States (behind University of Florida, Rutgers University and University of Central Florida).

Nate Ebner (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty)

Nate Ebner—New York Giants

Nate Ebner is a three-time Super Bowl winner at the safety and special teams positions. He told the now-defunct Jewish Tribune in Canada in 2014 that his father taught him “the importance of being Jewish with holidays like Chanukah and Passover,” and that he “spent some time at Sunday Hebrew school.”

Anthony Firsker (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty)

Anthony Firkser—Tennessee Titans

He currently plays tight end for the Titans in Nashville, and also played three seasons at Harvard University. While in high school, Firkser competed for Team USA as a basketball player at the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel. 

Ali Marpet (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty)

Ali Marpet—Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Alexander “Ali” Marpert is another Jewish offensive lineman currently in the NFL. He won a Super Bowl ring earlier this year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also went on a Birthright Israel trip in 2014. 

Greg Joseph—Minnesota Vikings

Born in South Africa, placekicker Greg Joseph spent most of his childhood in South Florida, where he attended Jewish day school. 

And a bonus:

Jews in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Marv Levy

Coached the Buffalo Bills to a record four straight Super Bowl appearances. Inducted in 2001. 

Ron Mix

Before going pro, the offensive tackle was raised in Boyle Heights and played for the USC Trojans. Inducted in 1979.

Andre Tippett

The five-time pro-bowler played his entire career with the New England Patriots. Although he was raised Baptist, after he married his wife in 1993, he converted to Judaism in 1997. Inducted in 2008.

Al Davis

The longtime Raiders executive (in both L.A. and Oakland) presided over three Super Bowl-winning teams. He was also the first NFL owner to hire an African-American head coach, Art Shell. Inducted in 1992.

Benny Friedman

He was a highly-decorated quarterback from the first half of the twentieth century, and spent 29 years coaching college and pro teams. He also served in the United States Navy during World War II. Posthumously inducted in 2005. 

Sid Gillman

Although he is mostly known for his coaching career, Gillman played in the first ever season for the Cleveland Rams in 1936, a decade before they relocated to L.A. Inducted in 1983.  

Sid Luckman

After growing up in Brooklyn, the quarterback played his entire career with the Chicago Bears and was one of the most decorated NFL players in the first half of the 20th century. Inducted in 1965. n

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