Sports
| Name | Notability | Connection to Florida | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nate Allen (1977–) | Professional football safety | Born in Fort Myers | ||
| Robert Andino (1984-) | Professional baseball shortstop | Born in Miami | ||
| Chucky Atkins (1974–) | Professional basketball player | Born in Orlando | ||
| Gilbert Arenas (1982–) | Professional basketball player | Born in Tampa | ||
| J. P. Arencibia (1986-) | Professional baseball catcher | Born in Miami | ||
| Devin Aromashodu (1984–) | Professional football wide receiver | Born in Miami | ||
| Bronson Arroyo (1977-) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Key West | ||
| Alex Avila (1987–) | Professional baseball catcher | Born in Hialeah | ||
| Antwan Barnes (1984–) | Professional football defensive end | Born in Miami | ||
| Wade Boggs (1958–) | Professional baseball player | Lives in Tampa | ||
| Boof Bonser (1981–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in St. Petersburg | ||
| Dwayne Bowe (1984–) | Professional football wide receiver | Born in Miami | ||
| Travis Bright (1983–) | Professional football offensive guard | Born in Orlando | ||
| Antonio Brown (1988–) | Professional football wide receiver | Born in Miami | ||
| Brodrick Bunkley (1983–) | Professional football defensive tackle | Born in Tampa | ||
| Billy Butler (1986-) | Professional baseball player | Born in Orange Park | ||
| Rashad Butler (1983–) | Professional football offensive tackle | Born in Palm Beach Gardens | ||
| Jose Canseco (1964-) | Major League Baseball Outfielder | Raised in Miami, Florida | ||
| Steve Carlton (1944–) | Major League Baseball pitcher | Born in Miami | ||
| Vince Carter (1977–) | Professional basketball player | Born in Daytona Beach | ||
| Kevin Cash (1977–) | Professional baseball catcher | Born in Tampa | ||
| Jamar Chaney (1986–) | Professional football linebacker | Born in Fort Pierce | ||
| John Chaney (1932–) | College basketball coach | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Desmond Clark (1977–) | Professional football tight end | Born in Bartow | ||
| Laveranues Coles (1977–) | Professional American football player | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Jim Courier (1970-) | Professional American tennis player | Born in Sanford | ||
| Daunte Culpepper (1977–) | Professional American football quarterback | Born in Ocala | ||
| Johnny Damon (1974–) | Major League Baseball All-Star Outfielder | Grew up in Orlando | ||
| Wade Davis (1985–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Lake Wales | ||
| Antonio Dixon (1985–) | Professional football defensive tackle | Born in Miami | ||
| Keyon Dooling (1980–) | Professional basketball player | Born in Fort Lauderdale | ||
| Elvis Dumervil (1984–) | Professional football linebacker | Born in Miami | ||
| David Duval (1971–) | Professional golfer | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Dave Eiland (1966–) | Professional pitching coach | Born in Dade City | ||
| Eric Foster (1985–) | Professional defensive tackle | Born in Homestead | ||
| Jeff Fulchino (1979–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Titusville | ||
| Cody Gabella (San Diego Padres) (1991) | Professional Baseball Shortstop | Born in Orlando, Florida | ||
| William Gay (1985–) | Professional football cornerback | Born in Tallahassee | ||
| Alonzo Gee (1987–) | Professional basketball player | Born in Riviera Beach | ||
| Margie Goldstein-Engle (1958–) | Equestrian | Born in Wellington | ||
| Gio Gonzalez (1985–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Hialeah | ||
| Luis Gonzalez (1967–) | Professional baseball outfielder | Born in Tampa | ||
| Dwight Gooden (1964–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Tampa | ||
| Tom Gordon (1967-) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Avon Park | ||
| Richard Goodman (1987–) | Professional football wide receiver | Born in Fort Lauderdale | ||
| Nick Green (1978–) | Professional baseball player | Born in Pensacola | ||
| Zack Greinke (1983–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Orlando | ||
| Al Harris (1974–) | Professional football cornerback | Born in Pompano Beach | ||
| Udonis Haslem (1980–) | Professional basketball player | Born in Miami | ||
| Bob Hayes (1942–2002) | Track and Field athlete and professional American football player | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Geno Hayes (1987–) | Professional football linebacker | Born and raised in Greenville | ||
| Mario Henderson (1984–) | Professional football offensive tackle | Born in Lehigh Acres | ||
| Devin Hester (1982–) | Professional football wide receiver and punt returner | Born and raised in Riviera Beach | ||
| Hulk Hogan (1953–) | Professional wrestler and television star | Born in Tampa | ||
| Eric Hosmer (1989-) | Professional baseball first baseman | Born in South Miami | ||
| Eric Hurley (1985–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Michael Irvin (1966–) | Professional American football player | Born in Fort Lauderdale | ||
| Jamaal Jackson (1980–) | Professional football center | Born in Miami | ||
| Max Jean-Gilles (1983–) | Professional football guard | Born in Miami | ||
| Mike Jenkins (1985–) | Professional American football player | Grew up in Bradenton | ||
| Andre Johnson (1981–) | Professional football wide receiver | Born in Miami | ||
| Bruce Johnson (1987–) | Professional football cornerback | Born in Live Oak | ||
| Chris Johnson (1985–) | Professional football running back | Born in Orlando | ||
| Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (1972–) | Professional wrestler and actor | Lives in Miami | ||
| Gartrell Johnson (1986–) | Professional football running back | Born in Miami | ||
| Howard Johnson (1960–) | Professional baseball player | Born in Clearwater | ||
| Chipper Jones (1972–) | Professional baseball player | Born in Deland | ||
| Hunter Jones (1984–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Palm Beach Gardens | ||
| James Jones (1980–) | Professional basketball player | Born in Miami | ||
| Roy Jones Jr. (1969–) | Former boxing champion | Born in Pensacola | ||
| Solomon Jones (1984–) | Professional basketball player | Born in Eustis | ||
| Matt Joyce (1984–) | Professional baseball outfielder | Born in Tampa | ||
| Kelly Kelly (1987–) | WWE Diva | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Howard Kendrick (1983–) | Professional baseball second baseman | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Jeff Keppinger (1980–) | Professional baseball player | Born in Miami | ||
| Casey Kotchman (1983–) | Professional baseball first baseman | Born in St. Petersburg | ||
| Matt LaPorta (1985–) | Professional baseball first baseman | Born in Port Charlotte | ||
| Tony La Russa (1944–) | Professional baseball manager | Born and raised in Tampa | ||
| Ray Lewis (1975–) | Professional American football player | Born in Bartow | ||
| Danell Leyva (1991-) | Gymnast-2012 Olympic Silver Medalist Men's All-Around | Raised in Miami, Florida | ||
| Jesse Litsch (1985–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Pinellas Park | ||
| Dave Magadan (1962–) | Professional baseball player | Born in Tampa | ||
| Olindo Mare (1973–) | Professional football placekicker | Born in Hollywood | ||
| Tino Martinez (1967–) | Professional baseball player | Born in Tampa | ||
| Jeff Mathis (1983–) | Professional baseball catcher | Born in Marianna | ||
| Ricardo Mathews (1987–) | Professional football defensive tackle | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Michelle McCool (1980–) | Former WWE Diva | Born and lives in Palatka | ||
| Mark McCumber (1951–) | Professional golfer | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Bryant McFadden (1981–) | Professional football cornerback | Born in Hollywood | ||
| Willis McGahee (1981–) | Professional American football player | Born in Miami | ||
| Tracy McGrady (1979–) | Professional basketball player | Born in Bartow | ||
| Jason Michaels (1976–) | Professional baseball outfielder | Born in Tampa | ||
| Joshua Moore (1988–) | Professional football cornerback | Born in Fort Lauderdale | ||
| DaJuan Morgan (1985–) | Professional football safety | Born in Riviera Beach | ||
| Santana Moss (1979–) | Professional American football player | Born in Miami | ||
| Sinorice Moss (1983–) | Professional football wide receiver | Born in Miami | ||
| Louis Murphy (1987–) | Professional football wide receiver | Born in St. Petersburg | ||
| Brett Myers (1980–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Chris Myers (1981–) | Professional football lineman | Born in Miami | ||
| Mike Napoli (1981–) | Professional baseball catcher | Born in Hollywood | ||
| Stephen Nicholas (1983–) | Professional football linebacker | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Chad Ochocinco (1978–) | Professional American football player | Born in Miami | ||
| Darren O'Day (1982–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (1988–) | Professional football safety | Born in Gainesville | ||
| Jonathan Papelbon (1980–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Grew up in Jacksonville | ||
| Dimitri Patterson (1983–) | Professional football cornerback | Born in Orlando | ||
| Eric Patterson (1983–) | Professional baseball outfielder | Born in Tallahassee | ||
| Jason Pierre-Paul (1989–) | Professional football defensive end | Born in Deerfield Beach | ||
| Kenny Phillips (1986–) | Professional football safety | Born in Miami | ||
| Ryan Pickett (1979–) | Professional football nose tackle | Born and raised in Zephyrhills | ||
| AJ Pierzynski (1976–) | Professional baseball catcher | Raised in Orlando | ||
| Jim Presley (1961-) | Professional baseball third baseman | Born in Pensacola | ||
| Ryan Raburn (1981–) | Professional baseball player | Born in Tampa | ||
| Tim Raines (1959–) | Professional baseball player | Born in Sanford | ||
| Jay Ratliff (1981–) | Professional football nose tackle | Born in St. Petersburg | ||
| Chris Ray (1982–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Tampa | ||
| Alex Rodriguez (1975–) | Professional baseball player | Partly raised in Miami | ||
| Sean Rodriguez (1985–) | Professional baseball second baseman | Born in Miami | ||
| Antrel Rolle (1982–) | Professional football free safety | Born in Homestead | ||
| Chris Sale (1989–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Lakeland | ||
| Jarrod Saltalamacchia (1985–) | Professional baseball catcher | Born in West Palm Beach | ||
| Asante Samuel (1981–) | Professional football cornerback | Born in Fort Lauderdale | ||
| Deion Sanders (1967–) | Professional football cornerback | Born in Fort Myers | ||
| Warren Sapp (1972–) | Professional American football player | Born in Orlando | ||
| Luke Scott (1978-) | Professional baseball player | Born in DeLand | ||
| Clint Session (1984–) | Professional football linebacker | Born in Pompano Beach | ||
| Derrick Sharp (1971–) | American-Israeli professional basketball player | Born in Orlando | Maria Sharapova (1987-) | |
| Darryl Sharpton (1988–) | Professional football linebacker | Born in Coral Gables | ||
| Lito Sheppard (1981–) | Professional American football player | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Scot Shields (1975–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Fort Lauderdale | ||
| Buck Showalter (1956-) | Professional baseball manager | Born in DeFuniak Springs | ||
| Brandon Siler (1985–) | Professional football linebacker | Born in Daytona Beach | ||
| Ernie Sims (1984–) | Professional football linebacker | Born in Tallahassee | ||
| Mike Sims-Walker (1984–) | Professional football wide receiver | Born in Orlando | ||
| Emmitt Smith (1969–) | Professional American football player | Born in Pensacola | ||
| Kevin Smith (1986–) | Professional football running back | Born in Miami | ||
| Mike Smith (1959–) | Professional football head coach | Born in Daytona Beach | ||
| Rusty Smith (1987–) | Professional football quarterback | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Chris Snelling (1981–) | Professional Baseball player | Born in North Miami | ||
| Denard Span (1984–) | Professional baseball player | Born in Tampa | ||
| Matthew Stafford (1988–) | Professional football quarterback | Born in Tampa | ||
| Steve Spurrier (1945–) | American football player and coach | Born in Miami Beach | ||
| Amar'e Stoudemire (1982–) | Professional basketball player | Born in Lake Wales | ||
| Antonio Tarver (1968–) | Professional boxer | Born in Tampa | ||
| Tim Tebow (1987–) | Professional football quarterback | Grew up in Jacksonville | ||
| Din Thomas (1976–) | UFC Fighter | Lives and trains in Port St. Lucie | ||
| Danny Valencia (1984–) | Professional baseball third baseman | Born in Miami | ||
| Jason Varitek (1972–) | Professional baseball player | Grew up in Longwood | ||
| Tim Wakefield (1966–) | Professional baseball pitcher | Born in Melbourne | ||
| Leon Washington (1982–) | Professional football running back | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Leonard Weaver (1982–) | Professional football fullback | Born in Melbourne | ||
| Nate Weiss (1987–) | Professional soccer player | Born in Coral Springs | ||
| Eric Weems (1985–) | Professional football wide receiver | Born in Daytona Beach | ||
| Paul Wight (1972–) | Professional wrestler. | Resides in Tampa, Florida | ||
| Bobby Wilson (1983–) | Professional baseball catcher | Born in Dunedin | ||
| Major Wright (1988–) | Professional football safety | Born in Miramar | ||
| LeeRoy Yarbrough (1938–1984) | NASCAR driver | Born in Jacksonville | ||
| Sam Young (1987–) | Born in Coral Springs |
Read more about this topic: List Of People From Florida
Famous quotes containing the word sports:
“It is usual for a Man who loves Country Sports to preserve the Game in his own Grounds, and divert himself upon those that belong to his Neighbour.”
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719)
“Come, my Celia, let us prove
While we may the sports of love;
Time will not be ours forever,
He at length our good will sever.”
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637)
“Short of a wholesale reform of college athletics—a complete breakdown of the whole system that is now focused on money and power—the women’s programs are just as doomed as the men’s are to move further and further away from the academic mission of their colleges.... We have to decide if that’s the kind of success for women’s sports that we want.”
—Christine H. B. Grant, U.S. university athletic director. As quoted in the Chronicle of Higher Education, p. A42 (May 12, 1993)