These 6 Harvard Football Stars Played in the NFL
By: Nick Palazzo
Tags: Success, Harvard, NFL, Sport, Football

Although largely known for its academics, Harvard University boasts an impressive football program with a history dating back to the late 19th century. The Harvard Crimson football team was particularly strong from 1875 to 1920. During this time it won 12 college football national championships. It has also won 13 Ivy League championships, with the most recent occurring in 2008.

Impressively, Harvard has produced 20 players and coaches who were later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Moreover, 29 of its players have played in the National Football League (NFL). Below are six of those players.

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

1. Ryan Fitzpatrick

A 38-year-old native of Gilbert, Arizona, Fitzpatrick was in his 16th season in the NFL and second with the Miami Dolphins in 2020. In his first year with the Dolphins, the quarterback led Miami to a win-loss record of 5–8 and accumulated 3,529 passing yards in addition to 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Fitzpatrick has played for eight different teams since he was selected in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He spent four seasons with the Buffalo Bills from 2009 to 2012 and recorded 11,654 passing yards, 80 touchdowns, and 64 interceptions.

Through 164 regular season games as of December 18, 2020, Fitzpatrick had 34,759 passing yards, 222 touchdowns, and 169 interceptions. He ranked 35th all-time for touchdown passes in NFL history behind Joe Flacco and Jay Cutler.

During his senior campaign at Harvard, Fitzpatrick was the unanimous choice for Ivy League Player of the Year. He led the team to an undefeated 10–0 record and amassed 1,986 passing yards and 13 touchdowns.

2. Isaiah Kacyvenski

A middle linebacker from Endicott, New York, Isaiah Kacyvenski was the highest-ever Harvard draft pick when he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. A valued member of the Seahawks’ defense, he played six full seasons with the team before being dealt to the St. Louis Rams in 2006.

He retired from the league after 10 games with the Rams. Kacyvenski’s most productive season was in 2004. He finished the year with 89 combined tackles, one quarterback sack, and one forced fumble. He concluded his career with 290 tackles, five defended passes, two forced fumbles, and one sack.

Kacyvenski graduated Harvard with the distinction of being the only player in school history to start in all of the team’s games for four consecutive seasons. He was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 1996 and earned First Team All-Ivy at his position in each of the following three seasons.

3. Matt Birk

A six-time Pro Bowl center from St. Paul, Minnesota, Birk played an impressive 14 NFL seasons, 10 of which were with the Minnesota Vikings. He earned Pro Bowl distinction in 2000 and 2001 and all four seasons between 2003 and 2007.

He signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2009 and spent four seasons with the team before retiring in 2012. Birk was named Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2011 and won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in his final season with the team. He was the first player in Ravens history to win the award.

“I am honored and truly humbled to be named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year,” Birk said through a team statement upon receiving the award. “This award is not about the recipient, but rather a celebration of the decades-long tradition of NFL players using their unique platform to touch lives and make a positive and lasting impact in the communities in which they work and live.”

Previously nominated eight times for the honor, Birk finally won the coveted award for his work in concussion awareness and prevention as well as his “Ready, Set, Read!” incentive-based program that promoted reading and provided educational opportunities to at-risk youth in Baltimore.

4. John Dockery

A six-year NFL veteran, John Dockery was a defensive back who played for the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. He recorded a career-best five interceptions with the Jets in 1969 and retired in 1973 with eight interceptions for a combined 111 yards through 61 regular season games. He also won a Super Bowl.

5. Rich Szaro

A native of Rzeszow, Poland, Rich Szaro was a kicker who split five seasons in the NFL between the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets. Through four seasons with the Saints, Szaro made 37 of 57 field goal attempts for a success rate of 64.9 percent.

He was particularly effective in 1976, leading the league in field goal efficiency at 78.3 percent. He had a success rate of 93.2 percent on 88 extra point attempts in his career. Szaro passed away in 2015.

6. Pat McInally

A punter and wide receiver, Pat McInally was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 1975 NFL Draft. He completed 700 punts totaling 29,307 yards over the course of 149 regular season games and led the league in yards per punt in 1978 and 1981. As a receiver, McInally caught 57 passes for 808 yards and scored five touchdowns.