SIOUX FALLS — The contingent of NFL players with South Dakota connections is only growing stronger in 2025.
A total of 20 players have some sort of NFL job as the season opens on Thursday, while 12 are on 53-man active rosters. (Vikings fullback C.J. Ham is set to make it 13 when he returns from injury in October.)
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Entering 2024, 16 players either from South Dakota or who attended a South Dakota college were on NFL rosters as the season began, 12 of them on active rosters.
One notable name not on the list is former South Dakota State running back Pierre Strong Jr., who was waived on Sept. 2. Strong was put on the Browns' injured reserve and suffered an undisclosed injury in Cleveland's preseason finale, in which he was also evaluated for a concussion. It's possible Strong gets added to an NFL roster this season, as well.
Here's a look at that list, in alphabetical order:
Jack Cochrane, LB, Chiefs (USD)
Cochrane is entering his fourth season with the Chiefs, with 42 total tackles made in 47 games played as mostly a reserve linebacker. Cochrane was re-signed in April and has recovered from a preseason knee injury to be set to play in Friday’s opening game against the Chargers in Brazil.
Isaiah Davis, RB, Jets (SDSU)
Davis is preparing for his second season in the NFL and is expected to be the third running back for the Jets behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. Davis hurt his ankle in August and missed the last two preseason games, but he wasn’t on the injury report before the Jets play Pittsburgh on Sunday. Last season, Davis had a 5.8 yards per carry average on 30 carries and a touchdown, plus a receiving touchdown.
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NFL: Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets
New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis (32) gains yards after the catch as Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) pursues during the second half on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Vincent Carchietta / USA Today Sports
Myles Harden, CB, Browns (USD)
Harden is looking forward to his first full season with the Browns in 2025 after injuries cost him most of his rookie campaign. Harden made his NFL debut in December and played the final four games after spending much of the season on injured reserve. This year, the former seventh-round pick Harden is listed as Cleveland’s second-string cornerback behind starter Greg Newsome II.
C.J. Ham, FB, Vikings (Augustana)
Ham, the second-longest-tenured Vikings player on the roster, will miss the first four games of the season after being put on injured reserve with a designation to return after suffering an undisclosed injury. It makes him eligible to return on Oct. 5 when the Vikings play Cleveland in London. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Ham has played the second-most NFL games from an Augustana player (129), only surpassed by Karl Mecklenburg (180). Ham passed 1960s running back Les Josephson and former Vikings lineman Corbin Lacina, who each played 129 NFL games.
Dennis Gardeck, LB, Jaguars (USF)
Gardeck, 31, is on a new team after spending his first seven seasons with Arizona after being an undrafted rookie out of USF in 2018. He had 17 sacks and 23 tackles for loss in that time. Gardeck tore his ACL in his right knee for the second time in October 2024 and signed with the Jaguars in June, making the 53-man roster after spending time on the physically unable to perform list to start training camp. He’s listed as a starting linebacker ahead of the Jaguars’ opener on Sunday against Carolina.
Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles (Britton-Hecla / SDSU)
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Goedert, 30, is entering his eighth season with the Eagles after claiming the Super Bowl title in 2024. While he was able to play in the Super Bowl win over Kansas City, Goedert is hoping this season will be a healthier one after he only played 10 regular-season games after nursing hamstring and knee injuries. He had 42 catches, 496 yards and two touchdowns, plus a playoff touchdown catch against Green Bay in the divisional round. The Eagles open up Thursday night against Dallas.
NFL: Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) makes a catch against the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 28, 2024 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Wm. Glasheen / USA Today Sports
Tucker Kraft, TE, Packers (Timber Lake / SDSU)
Kraft is the listed starter for the Packers entering his third season in the NFL after another breakout season in 2024, when he caught 50 passes for 707 yards and seven touchdowns. That ranked fourth in touchdowns and seventh in receiving yards among tight ends in 2024. He’s started 27 games in a row since taking over the starting position during the middle of his rookie season. The 24-year-old Kraft and the Packers will face the Lions in the season opener on Sunday.
Mason McCormick, OG, Steelers (SF Roosevelt / SDSU)
McCormick, 25, is slated to be the starting right guard for the Steelers when they start the season against the Jets on Sunday in New Jersey. McCormick played all 17 games in 2024 and started from Week 4 onward last season. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound former Jackrabbit will be among the Pittsburgh linemen blocking for 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who will make his first start at quarterback against his ex-Jets teammates.
Trey Pipkins, OL, Chargers (USF)
Pipkins, 28, is taking on a bigger role for the Chargers to start the season after LA lost its starting All-Pro left tackle, Rashawn Slater, in training camp to a knee injury. The Chargers moved Joe Alt from right tackle to the left side and are slotting in Pipkins, who has started 56 games in his career and is entering his seventh season. Pipkins might ultimately have competition for his job, as the Chargers recently traded for former Texans tackle Austin Deculus, who has mainly been a reserve in three previous seasons.
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NFL: Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Cam Jones (44) loses his helmet as he tackles Arizona Cardinals tight end Tip Reiman (44) during a preseason NFL game on Aug. 9, 2025 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images
Tip Reiman, TE, Cardinals (O’Gorman)
Reiman is entering his second season after being drafted in the third round of the 2024 draft out of the University of Illinois. He played all 17 games in 2024 and caught six passes for 37 yards. Reiman slots in as the Cardinals’ second tight end option behind Trey McBride entering the 2025 season.
Christian Rozeboom, LB, Panthers (SDSU)
Rozeboom, 28, has a new home address after signing with the Panthers as a free agent in March, following a four-year run with the Rams that included a Super Bowl win in 2021. He’s on a one-year contract after making 135 total tackles for the Rams in 2024. He projects as a starting inside linebacker in Carolina’s 3-4 defense.
NFL: New Orleans Saints Los Angeles Rams Joint Practice
New Orleans Saints linebacker Isaiah Stalbird (44) during a joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 14, 2025 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Kirby Lee / Imagn Images
Isaiah Stalbird, LB, Saints (SDSU)
Stalbird, who played in five games as a rookie in 2024 for the Saints, has continued to impress as a versatile player, much like he was in Brookings. He’s a projected reserve linebacker behind starter Pete Werner entering the first game on Sunday against Arizona.
Grey Zabel, OG, Seahawks (Pierre)
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Zabel, 23, will make his NFL debut on Sunday when the Seahawks take on San Francisco. The Pierre native and No. 18 overall pick from April will start at left guard, standing at 6-foot-6, 315 pounds.
In addition, seven more players with South Dakota connections are on NFL practice squads to start the season.
Buccaneers: Nash Hutmacher
Chargers: Amar Johnson
Chiefs: Chris Oladokun
Panthers: Mike Reid
Saints: Dalys Beanum
Steelers: J.J. Galbreath
Patriots: Jeremiah Webb
Hutmacher, the Oacoma native and former nose tackle for the Cornhuskers, made the practice squad in Tampa Bay after going undrafted in the spring. Johnson was with the Packers in the preseason and had 67 yards rushing and a touchdown in the preseason opener, but the Chargers scooped him up on Aug. 31 after he was cut. Oladokun, who has two Super Bowl rings from his practice squad time in Kansas City, lands on the reserve unit again, but the Chiefs are only carrying two active roster quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew to start the season.
The rookie Galbreath had three preseason catches for 23 yards for the Steelers, but was behind a deep tight end room to make the 53-man roster. Former college cornerbacks Reid and Beanum, who played at USD and SDSU, respectively, landed on practice units as rookies after being undrafted free agents. The former USD receiver Webb, famous for the Hail Mary catch in 2021 against the rival Jackrabbits, was at South Alabama to close out his collegiate career and is a 24-year-old rookie with the Patriots.