List of Native American sportspeople explained

This is a list of American sportspeople of Native American ancestry.

American & Canadian football

• Bud Adams, Cherokee Nation, owner of the Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans
• Keenan Allen, Lumbee wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers
  • Eli Ankou, Ojibwe Dokis First Nation defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills Sam Bradford, Cherokee Nation, quarterback, 2010 first overall draft pick and Offensive Rookie of the Year^[1]
• Tyler Bray, Potawatomi, quarterback
• Austin Corbett, Walker River Northern Paiute,^[2] offensive guard, Super Bowl LVI champion with the Los Angeles Rams.^[3]
• Dane Evans, Wichita, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, quarterback
• Al Hoptowit, Yakima, American football player, right tackle, 1943 NFL Champion.
• Levi Horn, Northern Cheyenne, offensive tackle^{[4] [5]}
• Creed Humphrey, Potawatomi, Kansas City Chiefs, center,^[6] a Super Bowl LVII champion.^[7]
• Wahoo McDaniel, Choctaw-Chickasaw, played defensive back for different American Football League (AFL) teams between 1960 and 1968. 1960 AFL Champion.^{[8] [9]} Later became a professional wrestler.^[10]
• Bryce Petty, Chicksaw,^[11] quarterback.^[12]
• Teton Saltes, Oglala, professional football player signed by the New York Jets of the NFL (2021), offensive tackle^[13] Later joined XFL team Arlington Renegades in 2023,^[14] He is a 2023 XFL Champion.^[15]
• Sonny Sixkiller, Cherokee, quarterback^[16]
• Jakeb Sullivan, Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux, quarterback
• Jim Thorpe (Sac and Fox Nation, 1887–1953), Olympic Gold medalist and football and baseball player. Won titles as both a player and team executive of the Canton Bulldogs.^{[17] [18]}
• James Winchester, Choctaw,^[19] Kansas City Chiefs, long snapper,^[20] a Super Bowl LIV and Super Bowl LVII champion^[21]

Oorang Indians players

Cherokee

• Nick Lassa
• Stan Powell
• Emmett McLemore
• Stillwell Saunooke

Chippewa

• Arrowhead
• Napoleon Barrel
• Leon Boutwell
• Ted Buffalo
• Xavier Downwind
• Gray Horse
• Joe Guyon
• Ted St. Germaine
• Baptiste Thunder

Mission

• Reggie Attache
• Pete Calac

Mohawk

• Bob Hill
• Joe Little Twig

Mohican

• Eagle Feather

Pomo

• Elmer Busch

Sac and Fox

• Bill Newashe
• Jack Thorpe
• Jim Thorpe

Winnebago

• Bill Winneshiek

Wyandotte

• Al Jolley

Athletics

• Frank Pierce, first Native American to represent the United States at the Olympics in 1904
• Ellison "Tarzan" Brown, Narragansett U.S. Olympian/marathon runner
• Wilson Charles, competed in the decathlon at the 1932 Olympics.^[22]
• Robert Brevelle, Represented U.S. and placed 4th at the 1994 World Karate Championships, 3rd Place at US Karate Nationals, gold medalist and Louisiana State Champion TaeKwonDo 1992.
• Ashton Locklear, artistic gymnast of Lumbee tribe, 2014 world champion (team), 2 x 2014 Pan American Champion (team, uneven bars), 2 x 2016 Pacific Rim Champion (team, uneven bars)
• Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota 1964 gold medalist
• Jim Thorpe, gold medalist in the decathlon and pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics^[23]

Baseball

• Johnny Bench, Choctaw Hall of Fame catcher with the Cincinnati Reds, two-time MVP
• Chief Bender, Ojibwa Hall of Fame pitcher
• Lou Bruce, Mohawk outfielder for the Philadelphia Athletics^[24]
• Dylan Bundy, Cherokee Nation, pitcher^[25]
• Joba Chamberlain, Ho-Chunk, pitcher
• Lee Daney, Choctaw, pitcher^[26]
• Jacoby Ellsbury, Navajo, outfielder for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, one time All-Star, Gold Glove winner, and two time Word Series champion ^[27]
• Koda Glover, Cherokee-descent, pitcher for the Washington Nationals^[28]
• Marco Gonzales, pitcher for the Seattle Mariners^[29]
• Jon Gray, Cherokee Nation, pitcher
• Ryan Helsley, Cherokee Nation, pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals^[30]
• Adrian Houser, Cherokee Nation, pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers^[31]
• Chief Johnson, Ho-Chunk, pitcher
• Frank Jude (Mille Lacs Ojibwe, 1884–1961), Major League Baseball outfielder^[32]
• Ike Kahdot, Potawatomi, third baseman for the Cleveland Indians^[33]
• Louis Leroy, Stockbridge–Munsee, Major League Baseball pitcher^[34]
• Kyle Lohse, Nomlaki, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Pryor McBee, Choctaw, pitcher who appeared in one game for the Chicago White Sox^[35]
• Euel Moore, Chickasaw, Major League Baseball pitcher^[36]
• Chief Meyers, Cahuilla, Major League Baseball catcher
• Robbie Ray, Cherokee-descent, pitcher for the Seattle Mariners^[37]
• Louis Sockalexis, Penobscot, Major League Baseball player
• Jim Thorpe (Sac and Fox Nation, 1887–1953), Olympic Gold medalist and football and baseball player

Ice hockey

• Taffy Abel, Ojibwe, first United States–born Native American player to become an NHL regular, which he did with the New York Rangers beginning on November 16, 1926^{[38] [39]}
• George Armstrong, Ojibway, former NHL player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, four-time Stanley Cup champion, seven-time All-Star, and Hockey Hall of Fame member
• Aaron Asham, Métis, former NHL player for the Pittsburgh Penguins
• Ethan Bear, Ochapowace Nation, NHL player for the Vancouver Canucks
• Craig Berube, Cree, former NHL player and Stanley Cup winning head coach of the St. Louis Blues
• Jonathan Cheechoo, Cree, former NHL player for the San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators, one time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner
• Michael Ferland, Cree, NHL player for the Vancouver Canucks
• Theoren Fleury, Métis, former NHL player for the Calgary Flames and 1989 Stanley Cup champion
• Brady Keeper, Pimicikamak Cross Lake First Nation, NHL player for the Vancouver Canucks
• Dwight King, Métis, former NHL player for the Los Angeles Kings and two-time Stanley Cup champion
• Brigette Lacquette, Métis, player for Team Canada
• Jocelyne Larocque, Cote First Nation, player for Team Canada and 2014 Olympic gold medalist
• Jamie Leach, Ojibwe, former NHL player for the Pittsburgh Penguins and 1992 Stanley Cup champion
• Reggie Leach, Ojibwe, former NHL player for the Philadelphia Flyers, 1975 Stanley Cup champion, and father of Jamie Leach
• Cayden Lindstrom, Driftpile First Nation, prospect for the Montreal Canadiens
• Brandon Montour, Mohawk, NHL player for the Florida Panthers
• Brandon Nolan, Ojibwe and Maliseet, former NHL player for the Carolina Hurricanes
• Jordan Nolan, Ojibwe and Maliseet, AHL player, two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Los Angeles Kings
• Ted Nolan, Ojibwe, former NHL player for the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, former head coach of the Buffalo Sabres and Latvia men's national ice hockey team at the 2014 Olympics; father of Jordan and Brandon
• Gino Odjick, Algonquin Kitigan Zibi, former NHL player for the Vancouver Canucks
• T. J. Oshie, Ojibwe, NHL player for the Washington Capitals, Stanley Cup winner and member of the 2014 men's US Olympic hockey team
• Carey Price, Ulkatcho First Nation, NHL goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens, Olympic Gold medalist for Canada and Vezina Trophy winner
• Wacey Rabbit, Blackfoot Confederacy, ECHL player
• Wade Redden, Métis, former NHL player for the Ottawa Senators
• Abby Roque, Wahnapitae First Nation, first indigenous person to play for the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team, making her Olympic debut in Beijing 2022
• Chris Simon, Ojibwe, former NHL player with several teams and 1996 Stanley Cup champion
• Sheldon Souray, Métis, former NHL player for the Montreal Canadiens
• Jordin Tootoo, Inuit, former NHL player for the Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, and Chicago Blackhawks
• Bryan Trottier, Cree, former NHL player for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins, seven-time Stanley Cup champion, nine-time All-Star, and Hockey Hall of Fame member
• Zach Whitecloud, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, NHL player for the Vegas Golden Knights and 2023 Stanley Cup champion

Basketball

• Ron Baker, Citizen Potawatomi EuroLeague player, formerly with the New York Knicks
• Ryneldi Becenti, first Native American to play in the WNBA,^[40] first Native American woman to play professional basketball for a foreign nation^[41]
• Joe Burton, first Native American to earn a scholarship to a Pac-10 conference^[42]
• Sonny Dove, Wampanoag N.B.A. basketball player Detroit Pistons and New York Nets
• Angel Goodrich, (Cherokee) WNBA basketball player
• Kyrie Irving, American basketball player.^[43]
• Bronson Koenig, Ho-Chunk, basketball player
• Shoni Schimmel, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, WNBA player

Boxing

• Kali Reis, three times world middleweight champion^[44]

Cycling

• Neilson Powless – first Native American to ride in the Tour de France, won the 2021 Clásica de San Sebastián

Golf

• Notah Begay III, Navajo, PGA Tour golfer
• Rod Curl, (Wintu), PGA Tour golfer
• Frank Dufina (Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians), professional golfer
• Rickie Fowler, Navajo, PGA Tour golfer
• Gabby Lemieux (Shoshone, Paiute), first Native American to play in the U.S. Women's Open in 2022^[45]

Ice skating

• Naomi Lang, first Native American woman to compete in the Winter Olympic Games in 2002^[46]

Soccer

• Chris Wondolowski, played as striker for San Jose Earthquakes and the United States national team, and is a member of the Kiowa tribe^[47]
• Madison Hammond, Navajo and San Felipe Pueblo,^[48] is the first Native American to play on the National Women's Soccer League after signing with the OL Reign in 2020^[49]
• Harry Manson

Table tennis

• Angelita Rosal, table tennis player and first woman inducted in the Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973^[50]

Professional wrestling

• Gerald Brisco, Chickasaw Nation pro wrestler and WWE talent scout
• Jack Brisco, Chickasaw Nation pro wrestler, former NWA World Champion
• Chris Chavis, Lumbee professional wrestler
• Mickie James, Powhatan-descent professional wrestler
• Edward "Wahoo" McDaniel, Choctaw-Chickasaw professional wrestler, former five-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion^[51]
• Princess Victoria, professional wrestler,
• Nyla Rose, professional wrestler

Notes and References

1. News: Rams QB Bradford picked as NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. NFL.com. February 4, 2011. December 13, 2020.
2. Web site: Native athletes in the news: Austin Corbett (Walker River Paiute Tribe) and more. First Nation's Focus. May 16, 2018. September 16, 2022.
3. News: An Indigenous Super Bowl champion. Indian Country Times. February 13, 2022. September 16, 2022.
4. Web site: Chicago Bears Levi Horn Visits Spokane Tribe of Indians. Indian Country Today. July 16, 2011. 2022-09-16.
5. Web site: BIE Director Keith Moore, Chicago Bears' Levi Horn and Nike N7 to Announce President's Active Lifestyle Award Challenge Winning School. United States Department of the Interior. 2011-05-16. 2022-09-16.
6. Web site: Vishanoff . Rachel . 2023-02-10 . Q&A with Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey . 2023-05-14 . Potawatomi.org . en.
7. Web site: Guest column: The irony of Kansas City winning Super Bowl LVII. Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Indian Country Today. Navajo-Hopi Observer. February 21, 2023. May 14, 2023.
8. News: Wahoo McDaniel, 63, a Wrestler and a Folk Hero for Fans of the Early Jets. Gerald. Eskenazi. New York Times. April 25, 2002. April 30, 2021.
9. News: Wahoo McDaniel. NFL.com. April 30, 2021.
10. News: Wahoo McDaniel, 63; Football Player Became Popular Wrestler. Associated Press. Los Angeles Times. April 20, 2002. July 23, 2020.
11. Web site: CHICKASAW.TV – Bryce Petty: Profiles of a Nation . chickasaw.tv.
12. Web site: Patra, Kevin . May 3, 2018 . New York Jets cut backup quarterback Bryce Petty . NFL.com.
13. Web site: 2021-05-02. Teton Saltes signs deal with New York Jets. 2021-12-07. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. en-US.
14. Web site: XFL Transactions . XFL.com . April 25, 2023. June 5, 2023.
15. News: Teton Saltes talks XFL Championship and his future. Jared. Chester. KRQE. May 20, 2023. June 5, 2023.
16. News: The Legend of Sonny Six: Where Did the Name Come From?. Dan. Raley. Sports Illustrated. March 17, 2020. September 16, 2022.
17. Web site: Canton Bulldogs . Sports Ecyclopedia . 2020-01-06 . 2020-08-04.
18. Web site: Canton Bulldogs . Ohio History Central . 2020-08-04 . 2020-08-04.
19. News: Running for Chiefs. Zach. Maxwell. Choctaw Nation. December 13, 2020.
20. Web site: Are There Any Native American Football Players in the NFL?. Lizzie. Wells. January 5, 2020.
21. Web site: OU football: Family celebration after Super Bowl win exactly how James Winchester's father would have wanted it. Eric Bailey Tulsa. World. Tulsa World.
22. Web site: Wilson "Buster" Charles 1972 - Track/Baseball - Oneida . American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame . 3 October 2018.
23. Encyclopedia: Jim Thorpe Biography . Encyclopedia of World Biography . 2 October 2018.
24. Web site: Louis R. Bruce . University Archives and Records Center . . 23 August 2020.
25. Web site: Gray humbled by Cherokee Nation roots. Harding. Thomas. August 15, 2016. MLB.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20191007035014/https://www.mlb.com/news/rockies-jon-gray-proud-of-cherokee-roots/c-197631590. October 7, 2019. live. October 7, 2019.
26. News: Crawford . Grant D. . Baseball exhibit touts Native American players . 18 March 2024 . . 17 October 2019 . en.
27. Web site: Ellsbury a rare talent. Gordon. Edes. Boston Globe. March 11, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20190813204709/http://archive.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/03/11/ellsbury_a_rare_talent/. August 13, 2019. live. October 7, 2019.
28. Web site: Syracuse Chiefs reliever Koda Glover could be a big name from a very small town. Lindsay. Kramer. Indian Country Today. July 6, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20190813210616/https://www.syracuse.com/chiefs/2016/07/syracuse_chiefs_reliever_could_be_a_big_name_from_a_very_small_town.html. August 13, 2019. live. October 7, 2019.
29. Web site: Marco Gonzales: "Soy una mezcla de todo pero me defino como norteamericano". Carlos. Torres Bujanda. Marca. October 13, 2022.
30. Web site: A Proud Cherokee Family with An Ace: St. Louis Cardinals' Pitcher Ryan Helsley. Rodney. Harwood. February 10, 2016. https://archive.today/20190813210020/https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/archive/a-proud-cherokee-family-with-an-ace-st-louis-cardinals-pitcher-ryan-helsley-bmU53cAscEuK78id9JV4Vw/. August 13, 2019. live. October 7, 2019.
31. Web site: Cardinals' Ryan Helsley, of Cherokee descent, expresses disappointment over Braves' use of Tomahawk Chop. Saxon. Mark. October 4, 2019. The Athletic . October 7, 2019. Several current major leaguers have Cherokee heritage, including the Milwaukee Brewers' Adrian Houser, who was born in the Native American hospital in Helsley's hometown . subscription.
32. Web site: Bohn. Terry. Frank Jude . Society for American Basketball Research. https://web.archive.org/web/20191007042017/https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/61f62232. October 7, 2019. live. October 7, 2019.
33. Book: King . C. Richard . Native Americans in Sports . 10 March 2015 . Routledge . 978-1-317-46403-7 . June 12, 2024 . en.
34. Book: Powers-Beck . Jeffrey P. . The American Indian Integration of Baseball . 2004 . U of Nebraska Press . 978-0-8032-3745-2 . 21 August 2020 . en.
35. News: Notes of the Cubs and Sox . 20 June 2023 . . 22 May 1926 . 17.
36. News: Trezza . Joe . Chickasaw heritage helps drive Orioles pitcher . 21 August 2020 . . . February 26, 2020 . en.
37. News: Native American Recognition Day sparks Diamondbacks player's interest in heritage . Navajo-Hopi Observer . Stan . Bindell . June 21, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190813194740/https://www.nhonews.com/news/2016/jun/21/native-american-recognition-day-sparks-diamondbac/ . August 13, 2019 . August 13, 2019.
38. Web site: Adams . Jim . A Forgotten Olympic First: Taffy Abel, U.S. hockey's initial American Indian player, won a silver medal at the inaugural Winter Games almost a century ago . Smithsonian Magazine . Smithsonian Institution . 4 February 2022 . 3 February 2022.
39. News: The first Native American in the Winter Olympics hid his identity to stay safe . The Washington Post . 2022-06-03 . 0190-8286. dmy-all.
40. Web site: Prominent American Indian Athletes:Ryneldi Becenti . Mesa Community College . 2 October 2018.
41. Hirschfelder, Arlene; Molin, Paulette F. (2012). The Extraordinary Book of Native American Lists. pg. 420. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810877108.
42. Web site: Eight Native ballers you need to know better . Cary . Rosenbaum . Indian Country Today Media Network . December 3, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161010154425/https://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/12/03/eight-native-ballers-you-need-know-better-162647 . 10 October 2016 . 2 October 2018.
43. Web site: Windhorst . Brian . Kyrie Irving finds new name and new family on North Dakota reservation . ESPN.com . 22 August 2018 . 2 October 2018.
44. Web site: Kali Reis . WBAN . 3 October 2018.
45. Web site: Gabby Lemieux becomes first Native American to play in U.S. Women’s Open • The Seminole Tribune. Kevin. Johnson. July 5, 2022.
46. Web site: Lang, Tchernyshev realize their Olympic dream. 12 January 2002. Associated Press. 3 October 2018.
47. Web site: Infographic: Chris Wondolowski, Kiowa Soccer Star at the World Cup – ICTMN.com . 2019-02-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140620122001/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/06/12/infographic-chris-wondolowski-kiowa-soccer-star-world-cup-155275 . 2014-06-20 . dead .
48. News: Cleveland . Parker . Sunday Cup-o-American Soccer: News, artificial intelligence, and an important announcement . 26 September 2020 . Stars and Stripes . 20 September 2020.
49. News: Evans . Jayda . OL Reign's Madison Hammond is the NWSL's first Indigenous player. She wants to make sure she's not the last. . 20 January 2021 . . 17 October 2020.
50. Book: Liverti, Rita M. . Angelitta ROSAL BENGTSSON . C. Richard . King . Native Americans in Sports . London . Routledge . 2004 . 0-76568-054-8 . 262 . registration . https://archive.org/details/nativeamericansi01king/page/262 .
51. Web site: The Betrayal of Chief Wahoo McDaniel (Part One).