You’re all familiar with names like Boomer Esiason and Jumbo Elliott. You probably know Rob Burnett and Melvin Fowler. But did you know legendary Comsewogue coach Tom Cassesse was actually drafted by the Broncos in 1967? Did you know a handful of New York Jets called Suffolk County their home during and after their playing careers?
There are dozens of athletes who were drafted by NFL teams and called Suffolk home. During draft weekend in 2018 we tweeted out images and information about all of these individuals. They are all reflected in this post …
In the spirit of the #NFLDraft we’ll be tweeting out some love for our Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers who have been drafted to the league. Lots of big names, but many you may not be familiar with too. Follow along … #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/1z1fb1NOZw
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in the #NFLDraft: Deer Park’s Kevin Baugh was selected in the 8th round, 197 overall, by the Houston Oilers out of Penn State. #Suffolk HOF pic.twitter.com/jPs59e6dRt
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: Central Islip’s Tom Black, who is on the SSHOF induction committee, was selected in the 14th round, 354 overall, in the 1969 NFL/AFL Draft by the 49ers out of East Texas State! #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/zJFLqFWYpt
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft : Emerson Boozer, a Suffolk resident not native, was drafted in 1966, 6th round, 46 overall, by the #Jets out of #Maryland-Eastern Shore. Later won SBIII. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/lfBBoLIP5e
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: Gary Lee Brown, from Brentwood, was drafted by the #Steelers in 1994, 5th round, 148 overall, out of #GeorgiaTech. Was cut, then signed by #Packers, won SBXXXI. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/BlwDA166bT
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: Rob Burnett, who went to Newfield High, was drafted by the #Browns in 1990, 5th round, 129 overall, out of #Syracuse Won SBXXXV with #Ravens. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/s0HjlahyPS
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: Sachem’s Jumbo Elliott was selected by the #Giants in the second round of the 1988 draft, 36 overall, out of #Michigan. He won Super Bowl XXV with Big Blue. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/nS4cGHfbVw
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: Legendary @wogueathletics football coach Tom Cassese was selected by the #Broncos in 1967, 8th round, 191 overall out of C.W. Post. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/F8g914RMdi
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: Melvin Fowler, from Hills West, was selected in 2002 out of #Maryland, third round, 76 overall, by the #Browns. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/eJSyD4rF7g
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: @7BOOMERESIASON, from East Islip, was taken in second round of 1984 draft, 38 overall, by #Bengals. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/6lXyqsCfKs
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: Gene Heeter, a Suffolk resident not native, was selected in the 1963 AFL Draft by the #Jets, 8th round, 58 overall, out of #WestVirginia. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/V8K3n7TQb7
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: Westhampton Beach's Dan Jiggets was taken by the #Bears in 1976, 6th around, 161 overall, out of #Harvard. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/xMRPx9Frwk
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: Marty Lyons, a Suffolk resident not native, was selected by the #Jets in 1979, 1st round, 14 overall, out of #Alabama. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/GuPDMROHhH
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: Walt Michaels, who resided in Suffolk when he was a #Jets coach, was selected by the #Browns in 1951, 7th round, 86 overall, out of Washington and Lee. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/PCZZLIyO6G
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers: In 1966 the #Cowboys made Amityville native, John Niland, the fifth overall pick of the draft. He played college ball at #Iowa and won Super Bowl VI in Dallas. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/XKd9A7jH0P
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: Kenny Schroy lived in Suffolk because he played for the #Jets. He was taken in the 10th round, 248 overall, in 1975 out of #Maryland. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/VjlzQTKv0G
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers: Wesley Walker, also a Suffolk resident from his time playing with the #Jets, was drafted in 1977, 2nd round, 33 overall, out of #UCLA. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/xyPkA3NGrR
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: Amityville star Bernie Wyatt was taken by the #Steelers in 1961, 19th round, 258 overall, out of #Iowa, where he would coach for many years at his alma mater. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/lj3AOoq789
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018
Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers in #NFLDraft: West Islip native Brent Ziegler was taken by the #Bengals in 1984, 10th round, 265 overall, out of #Syracuse. He would end up rooming with East Islip rival, Boomer Esiason, in camp and they've been buds ever since. #SuffolkHOF pic.twitter.com/JPo9JRr8kv
— Suffolk Hall of Fame (@SuffolkHOF) April 28, 2018