American Football and Chess

 

                        

Shaun Alexander (1977- ) was an NFL running back for the Seattle Seahawks (2000-2007) and Washington Redskins (2008).  He plays chess.  He has donated over $25,000 to schools in Seattle. (Sources: "Shaun Alexander tackles chess," ChessBase News, Jan 28, 2006 and Shabazz, "Shaun Alexander gives to Chess, The Chess Drum, Sep 7, 2008)

Spencer Anderson (2000- ) is an offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He played college football at Maryland.  He plays chess.  (Sources: Charles, "A chess-playing tackle helps Maryland's offensive line plot its next moves," The Washinton Post, Oct 13, 2022 and Varley, "Anderson ready to prove himself, www.steelers.com)

Arik Armstead (1993- ) is a defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers.  He took down Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for a third-down sack in the 2024 Superbowl.  Arik has been playing chess at Chess.com since 2018 and is a diamond member.  He has played about 3,000 games online.  (Sources: "5 Things to Know about Arik Armstead, www.49ers.com, July 20,2022 and ARIK916, chess.com)

LaVar Arrington (1978 - ) was a linebacker for the Washington Redskins (2000-2005) and the New York Giants (2006).  He had to retire after a serious motorcycle accident.  He plays chess online and with a chess computer.  He has a whole room in his house devoted to chess. He used to have a chessboard set up on the sidelines during a football game. At home, he would sometimes play chess for three hours a day.  (Source: Clarke, "Arrington Is Showing His Strong Side, The Washington Post, Oct 27, 2001)

Chidobe Awuzie (1995 - ) is an Amerixan football cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals.  He plays chess.  In July 2022, he won Chess.com's BlitzChamps.  He won $25,000 for his favorite charity.  He is a diamond member at Chess.com and has been a member since 2020.  (Source: Rodgers, "Chidobe Awuzie Wins BlitzChamps 2022," Chess.com, July 12, 2022)

Saquon Barkley (`997 - ) is a running back for the New York Giants.  He plays chess.  (Source: Cimimi, "Barkley gets a lesson on life, football and chess from Curtis Martin," ESN, Mar 16, 2018)

Mike Barrow (1970 - ) was an NFL linebacker for 12 seasons.  He is assistant head coach for the Seattle Seahawks.  He plays chess.

Le'Veon Bell (1992- ) is a former running back who played 8 seasons.  He has been playing chess since 3rd grade.  (Sources: Costello, "Le'Veon Bell can thank chess for running prowess," New York Post, Aug 17, 2019 and Oljy, "Tampa Bay Buccaneers Star Blown Away by Playing Chess, Essentially Sports, Jan 7, 2022))

Jerome Bettis (1972- ) is a former football halfback. He played for the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams from 1993 through 1995. He played with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1996 through 2005. He retired in 2006 after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL, beating the Seattle Seahawks. He is a chess player.

Jim Brown (1936-2023) was a running back for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 through 1965. He is considered to be one of the greatest football players of all time. Brown was a Pro Bowl invitee every season he was in the league, was recognized as the AP NFL Most Valuable Player three times, and won an NFL championship with the Browns in 1964. He led the league in rushing yards in eight out of his nine seasons, and by the time he retired, he had shattered most major rushing records. In 2002, he was named by The Sporting News as the greatest professional football player ever. He is a chess player.  (Source: Buffalo Niagra Chess Corner, Nov 3, 2007)

Joe Burrow (1996 - ) is a quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals.  He plays chess.  He regularly challenges his teammates to a game of chess in the locker room.  (Sources: "Why Super Bowl Quarterback Joe Burro Plays Chess, Feb 22, 2022 and The Wall Street Journal, Feb 11, 2022)

Larry Caper (1991 - ) was a running back at Michigan State.  He plays chess.

Barney Chavous (1951- ) played for the Denver Broncos NFL football team from 1973 through 1985. He is a chess player.  (Source: Bardwik, "Chess Academy of Denver," Colorado Chess Informant, July 1999)

Cris Collinsworth (1959- ) is a former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the NFL for eight seasons, all with the Cincinnati Bengals, during the 1980s. His father taught him to play chess. Since 2002, he sponsored the Queen City Classic Chess Tournament in Cincinnati as part of his ProScan Fund. It is now an annual event that has hosted as many as 1,000 students.  (Source: "Chess in Schools Program," Cris Collinsworth Proscan Fund)

Amari Cooper (1994- ) is an NFL wide receiver and four-time Pro-Bowler, who currently plays for the Cleveland Browns.  He plays chess.  He participated in chess.com's 2022 BlitzChamps tournament.  He lost in the finals to Chidobe Awuzie.  (Sources: chess.com and Gallant, "Amari Cooper plays chess to help improve route running," clutchpoints.com, Jul 22, 2023)

Will Davis (1990 - ) is a former NFL cornerback who played for 6 seasons.  He plays chess.  He played in chess.com's 2022 BlitzChamps. (Source: Shabazz, "NFL football players battle on chess.com," The Chess Drum, July 12, 20222)

Julius Dixon was a Defensive back at Furman University from 1985 to 1988. He has been a football coach for 27 years.  He plays chess.  

Joshua Dobbs (1995 - ) is the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.  He has been playing chess since the 2nd grade.  (Source: "Some quarterbacks turn to chess for improved decision-making," Yahoo Sports, Oct 7, 2023)

Caleb Farley (1998 - ) is a cornerback for the Tennessee Titans since 2021.  He plays chess.  He participated in chess.com's BlitzChamps II. (Source: chess.com, 2023)

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. (1983 - ) was one of the greatest NFL wide receivers who played for 17 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.  He plays chess.  He played in chess.com's 2022 and 2023 BlitzChamps.  He has a 1200 chess bot named after him on chess.com  (Source: Chess.com)

Melvin Fowler (1979 - ) is a former NFL center.  He played for 8 seasons.  He plays chess often.  (Source: "Fowler more than a pawn Bills' center adds smarts to offense," The Buffalo News, Aug 16, 2006)

Wesley Grant (1946- ) was a defensive end from 1971 through 1973. In college, he played for the UCLA Bruins. He is a chess player.

LaDarius Henderson (2001 - ) is an offensive tackle guard with the Michigan Wolverines.  He plays chess.  (Source: Rodgers, "Johnson Scores Final Touchdown in BlitzChamps Michigan," Chess.com, June 28, 2023)

Priest Holmes (1973- ) is a former football running back who played eleven seasons in the NFL. From 1997 through 2000, he played for the Baltimore Ravens. From 2001 through 2007, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs. Holmes earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV over the New York Giants. He is a chess player and taught chess to children at the Kansas City Boys and Girls Club. He was on the chess team in high school. (source: “Priest Holmes – Part Jock, Part Chess Club Geek,” kidsworld.com - https://www.kidzworld.com/article/3766-priest-holmes-biography)

Jalen Hurts (1996 - ) is a quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles since 2020.  He plays chess.  (Source: Gowton, "Jalen Hurts is playing chess," Philadelphia Eagle News, Oct 7, 2023)

Cornelius Johnson (2000 - ) is a wide receiver for the Michigan Wolverines.  He plays chess an won chess.com's BlitzChamps Michaigan tournament.  (Source: Rodgers, "Johnson Scores Final Touchdown in BlitzChamps Michigan," Chess.com, June 28, 2023)

Chuck Knox (1932-2018) was an American football coach. He served as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams (twice), Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills. He was a three-time AP NFL Coach of the Year. He was a chess player.

Seth Makowsky is a peak performance coach who teaches chess to NFL quarterbacks.  (Source: Farmer, "How a chess guru became a trendy mental coach for rising NFL quarterbacks, Los Angeles Times, Oct 6, 2023)

Laurence Maroney (1985- ) is a former football running back who played five seasons in the NFL. He played with the New England Patriots from 2006 to 2010. He played with the Denver Broncos in 2010. He is a chess player and started the Laurence Maroney Chess Club in Taunton, Massachusetts. He was a member of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center in St. Louis, his native city.  (Source: "Laurence Maroney looking to set up next move," Boston Herald, July 30, 2010)

Curtis Martin (1973- ) is a former football running back who played in NFL for the New England Patriots (1995-1997) and New York Jets (1998-2006). In 1995, he was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He played in 5 Pro Bowls. In 2004, he led the NFL in rushing yards. He is a chess player. (Source: Cimimi, "Barkley gets a lesson on life, football and chess from Curtis Martin," ESN, Mar 16, 2018)

Al Means (1982 - ) is a former defensive tackle for the Houston Texans (2005).  He plays chess.

Kyler Murray (1997 - ) is a quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals since 2019.  He plays chess.  He played in chess.com's BlitzChamps II in 2023.  (Sources: chess.com and Weinfuss, "How Kyler Murray uses chess to stay one step ahead," ESPN, Oct 31, 2019))

Micah Parsons (1999 - ) is a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys since 2021.  He plays chess.  He played in chess.com's BlitzChamps in 2023.  (Source: Chess.com, 2023)

Brandon Powell (1995 - ) is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.  He plays chess.

Tommy Prothro (1920-1995) was an American football coach from 1942 to 1978. He was an avid chess player.  (Source: "College Football: They're Only No. 2," Time magazine, Oct 7, 1966)

Lance Rentzel (1943- ) was a professional wide receiver and running back for 9 seasons. He played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1965 to 1966. He played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1967 to 1970. He played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1971 to 1974. He is a chess player.

Ray Rice (1987- ) is a former football running back who played his entire professional career with the Baltimore Ravens, from 2008 through 2013. He was a member of the 2012 Ravens team that won Super Bowl XLVII. He has been a chess player since he was 9 years old.  (Source: "Chess helped Ray Rice's world slow down," Baltimore Sun, Sep 17, 2011)

Reggie Rivers (1968 - ) was a running back for the Denver Broncos from 1991 to 1996.  He has been playing chess since he was a child.  (Source: Bardwick, "Broncos Exercise Minds by Tackling Chess," Colorado Chess Informant, July 1999)

Robert Saleh (1979 - ) is the head coach of the New York Jets.  He is the first Muslim coach.   He plays online chess.  (Source: Rodriguez, "49ers' Arik Armstead, Robert Saleh use online chess to stay connected," Yahoo Sports, May 29, 2023)

Barry Sanders (1968- ) is a former football running back who played for the Detroit Lions from 1989 to 1998. A Pro Bowl invitee in each of his ten NFL seasons and two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Sanders led the league in rushing yards four times and established himself as one of the most elusive runners in pro football with his quickness and agility. In 2007, he was ranked by NFL Network’s NFL Top 10 series as the most elusive runner in NFL history. He is a chess player.  (Source: Birkett, "This Detroit Lions player tried to talk Barry Sanders out of retirement," Detroit Free Press, July 21, 2019)

Wes Schweitzer (1993 - ) is an offensive guard for the New York Jets.  He has played in the NFL for eight seasons.  He plays chess.  He participated in chess.com's 2023 BlitzChamps II.  (Source: chess.com, June 15, 2023)

Mike Shanahan (1952- ) is a former American football coach, best known as the head coach of the Denver Broncos. He has coached 3 Super Bowl championships. He is a chess player.  (Source: Bardwick, "Broncos Exercise Minds by Tackling Chess," Colorado Chess Informant, July 1999)

Richard Sherman (1988 - ) played 11 seasons in the NFL as a cornerback.  He is considered as one of the greatest cornerbacks of all time.  He plays chess.  He played in chess.com's BlitzChamps II tournament.  (Source: "Who Is The NFL's Best Chess Player?" chess.com, June 15, 2023)

Brandon Short (1977- ) was an NFL linebacker who played for the New York Giants (2000-2003, 2006) and the Carolina Panthers (2004-2005). He was a member the Giants' team that played in Super Bowl XXXV. He is a chess player.  (Source: "Giants' kicker Doesn't Mind Mixing It Up on the Field," The New York Times, Aug 8, 2006)

Coleridge Bernard Stroud (2001 - ) is the quarterback for the Houston Texans.  He plays chess.  (Source: Farmer, "How a chess guru became a trendy mental coach for rising NFL quarterbacks, Los Angeles Times, Oct 6, 2023)

Chazz Surratt (1997 - ) is a linebacker for the New York Jets.  He plays chess and won chess tournaments as a child. (Sources: "Who Is the NFL's Best Chess Player?" chess.com, June 15, 2023 and Zell, "QB Surratt Molded by Chess," WCCB Charlotte, Feb 14, 2016))

Kayvon Thibodeaux (2000 - ) is a linebacker for the New York Giants.  He plays chess.  (Source: DiRocco, "Kayvon Thibodeaux steals moves, uses chess strategies to hone skill," ESPN, Mar 4, 2022)

Drue Tranquill (1995 - ) is an NFL linebacker active for the past 5 seasons.  He plays chess.  In 2023, he won Chess.com's BlitzChamps tournament.  He won $25,000 for charity.  He recorded two tackles against the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 Super Bowl. (Source: McMullen, "Chiefs' LB Drue Tranquil Wins Chess.com's 'Blitz Champs' Tournament," www.chiefs.com, June 26, 2023_

Dr. John Urschel (1991- ) is a retired professional American football guard and center. He played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2014 through 2016. He is a chess player and has played Fabiano Caruana. He plays chess online and has been a chess analyst on Chess.com.  He has a PhD in mathematics.  (Source: "Forget Madden.  The Hottest Game in the NFL is Chess," The New York Times, Oct 11, 2022)

Bill Walsh (1931 - 2007) was a football coach for 36 years.  He played chess.

Kellen Winslow, Jr. (1983- ) is a former professional tight end football player. He was active from 2004 through 2013. He played college football at the University of Miami, where he earned unanimous All-American honors and was recognized as the top college tight end. He is a chess player.

Kellen Winslow, Sr. (1957- ) is a former professional tight end football player. He was active from 1979 through 1987, playing for the San Diego Chargers. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in the league's history. He started playing chess in high school and said he learned football through chess. (Source: "Where are they now? Kellen Winslow Sr. works at Madonna University," Detroit Free Press, Dec 21, 2016)

Luke Wypler (2001 - ) is a center for the Cleveland Browns.  He plays chess.  (Source: Petrak, "Luke Wypler is a man of many interests - film study, chess, juggling and comedy," www.brownzone.com, May 23 2022)