The start of the 2026-27 NFL season is one week away, which means teams are finalizing their rosters. Here’s everything you need to know about former Gophers competing in the NFL this fall.
Players on 53-man rosters
- Boye Mafe (Bengals)
- Rashod Bateman (Ravens)
- Brevyn Spann-Ford (Cowboys)
- Airontae Ersery (Texans)
- Justin Walley (Colts)
- Eric Murray (Jaguars)
- Danny Striggow (Jaguars)
- Daniel Faalele (Jaguars)
- Benjamin St-Juste (Packers)
- Blake Cashman (Vikings)
- Cody Lindenberg (Raiders)
- Jack Gibbens (Cardinals)
- Jordan Howden (Saints)
- Tyler Nubin (Giants)
- John Michael Schmitz (Giants)
- Nick Kallerup (Seahawks)
- Antoine Winfield Jr. (Buccaneers)
- Ko Kieft (Buccaneers)
There were no major surprise former Gophers to make 53-man rosters this year. Faalele earned a spot after being traded from the Giants to the Jaguars, and Murray continues to be one of the most veteran defensive backs in the league heading into Year 11. 18 former players on active rosters is another impressive number for P.J. Fleck and Minnesota’s developmental staff.
Practice squad/*IR
- Max Brosmer (Vikings)
- *Jameson Geers (Cardinals)
- Esezi Otomewo (Steelers)
- Kyler Baugh (Steelers)
- Deven Eastern (Seahawks)
- Terell Smith (Commanders)
There’s no former Gophers practice squad player more notable than Brosmer with the Vikings. J.J. McCarthy’s long-term future as a potential trade candidate could directly impact his future as a reserve on Minnesota’s active roster, but he still seems like a well-liked player within that building.
Eastern landed on the Seahawks’ practice squad despite being a seventh-round pick. Smith was a relatively surprising cut from the Bears’ active roster, but he landed on Washington’s practice squad.
Other notes
Some notable former Gophers who were released without landing spots yet include Tyler Johnson with the Cowboys, Jah Joyner with the 49ers and Ethan Robinson with the Dolphins, among others. NFL rosters are obviously fluid, so it will be worth monitoring to see if any of those players find spots.
In the transfer portal era, there are also a bunch of former Gophers who ended their college careers elsewhere, but they’ve landed on NFL rosters. Notably, former Gophers QB Athan Kaliakmanis made the Commanders roster as QB3 behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota.
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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Sep 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Gophers section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.