The 4 Best Football Players from Santa Monica
With a rich history of producing quality athletes and sports teams that goes back decades, Santa Monica is also one of the most exciting parts of California to visit.
The beach town spirit of Santa Monica has never gone away, which is why people flock from around the world to its beachfront hotels and charming restaurants.
If you are planning a visit to Santa Monica, recently came from there, or simply have an interest in the region, then you may want to know about the area’s top athletes as well.
Fans who regularly check out NFL Betting Lines may have noted that many of the top teams in the NFL this season have players who are Santa Monica natives.
Below is a rundown of the top four football players who hail from this part of California.
1. Chad Wheeler
Chad Wheeler was a native of Santa Monica, attending the local Santa Monica High School during his younger years. He then went on to play as a defensive end and offensive tackle in college and was even rated as a three-star recruit when he left high school.
Wheeler decided to play for the University of Southern California, shining at USC and eventually going all the way to the big league. He became an NFL player after he had completed college, but it did take him a while to get there.
Unlike others who were drafted right out of college, injury meant that Wheeler did not get the chance to play in the NFL until 2017. He was signed as a free agent by the New York Giants, eventually signing a three-year deal.
He moved to the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 and stayed there for a single year. Wheeler did not manage to win a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, but the Seattle-based team is among bettors' favorites to lift the trophy this year, given the strength of their roster.
2. Glyn Milburn
Another top player from Santa Monica, Glyn Milburn, went to the same high school as Chad Wheeler. He is a former American football running back who made his name with the Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, and even the California-based San Diego Chargers.
Milburn had a very good career in the NFL, setting a record in 1995 for the most all-purpose yards gained during a single game. He managed to gain 404 yards in that game, showcasing his quality as a kick returner.
He was the all-time leading kick returner for the Chicago Bears, with a whopping 4,596 yards by the time he retired. He even made it into two Pro Bowl teams, both in 1995 and 1999.
3. Dennis Smith
An outstanding prospect out of high school when he was in Santa Monica, Dennis Smith went on to play professionally as a safety. In high school, Smith played as both a wide receiver and a defensive back.
He took some time to find his feet in college, but he was named the CIF Southern Section Co-Player of the Year in 1976. Smith was an outstanding prospect out of college and went on to become an immense player in the NFL.
A storied career saw Smith manage six Pro Bowl appearances, with most coming in the 1998s and one of them occurring in 1993. Smith ended his NFL career with a mammoth 1,171 tackles, 30 interceptions, and an impressive 15 sacks. He played a total of 184 games for the Denver Broncos, even receiving an induction into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2001.
4. Sam Anno
A graduate from Santa Monica High School who also spent time at the local Saint Monica Catholic High School, Sam Anno played for USC at college. As he grew up, he was a great friend of two famous actors, Charlie Sheen and Dean Cain.
Anno did not have the most glittering NFL career compared to a few other Santa Monica natives, but he was very respectable in the professional league. Sam Anno did manage to play for the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Diego Chargers during a professional career that spanned seven years.
From 1987 to 1994, he was an NFL star at the prime of his career and even managed to get the NFL Special Teams Player of the Year honor in 1989 while he played for the Buccaneers.
