Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Tucked along the banks of the Mississippi River, the historic city of Natchez may be best known for its rich cultural heritage, but its contributions to American football also run deep. Over the years, this small Southern town has quietly produced several athletes who have made their mark on the national stage. From Friday night lights to NFL Sundays, Natchez-born football players have carried their hometown’s grit, pride, and resilience into some of football’s biggest arenas. This article highlights some standout names who started their journey on Mississippi soil and rose to the professional ranks.

The First Natchez-Born Professional Football Player

Although no Natchez-born players are on active NFL rosters, that has not always been the case. The versatile Paige Cothren played as a fullback, linebacker, and placekicker for Natchez High School and later the Ole Miss Rebels before declaring for the NFL Draft in 1957. The Philadelphia Eagles, the current favorite with Mississippi betting apps to win the Super Bowl this coming season, selected Cothren as the 256th pick, but they released him before the start of the season.

The Los Angeles Rams signed Cothren as a free agent, and he led the league in extra points during his rookie season. The following season, Cothren was the league leader in terms of field goals and field goal percentage. Despite his success, the Rams released Cothren at the end of the 1958 season. He joined the Eagles, where he stayed for one year.

In 1966, Cothren became the first player to sign a professional contract with the newly formed New Orleans Saints, even though he had been out of football for seven seasons. He never played for the Saints and officially retired upon his release.

Cothren died in September 2016 after a brief illness. He was 81 years old.

One of the Greatest Guards of All Time

Billy Shaw – Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Bills

Charlie Kempinska was the next Natchez-born NFL player. In 1960, he played a solitary season with the Los Angeles Chargers. Billie Shaw signed with the Buffalo Bills a year later, and he was deployed as a guard despite never playing that position in high school or college. Whoever convinced Shaw to switch positions deserves a medal because Shaw developed into one of the best guards in football history.

Shaw played 119 games for the Buffalo Bills in the AFL. He became an AFL champion twice, was named to the All-AFL team seven times, and was an eight-time AFL All-Star. Additionally, the Bills inducted Shaw into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame in 1988. The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted him in 1999 without ever playing in the NFL; the AFL and NFL merged a year after Shaw retired.

The legendary Shaw died in October 2024 at the age of 85.

Although Perry Lee Dunn was a standout quarterback for Natchez High School, earning All-American, All-Southern, and All-State honors, he would ultimately make a name for himself as a fullback and running back. The Dallas Cowboys selected Dunn as the 45th overall pick of the 1964 NFL Draft. Dunn struggled to hold down a starting place throughout his six-season career. Yet, before retiring, he still racked up 74 appearances and seven touchdowns for the Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and the then-Baltimore Colts.

Sadly, like many Natchez sporting heroes, Dunn is no longer with us. He died in October 2018 at age 77.

A Two-Time Super Bowl Champion

Allen Brown looked destined for a long and illustrious career in the NFL following his incredible performances for Natchez High School and the University of Mississippi. Brown was a three-sport athlete who, in 2004, was named an SEC football legend by the Southeastern Conference.

The Green Bay Packers selected Brown as the 22nd overall pick of the 1965 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, Brown dislocated his shoulder and missed the whole 1965 season. A knee injury limited him to only five appearances in 1966, but the tight end played in all 14 games in 1967. However, Brown ruptured a kidney in the final game of the season; the injury forced his early retirement the following spring.

Although injuries limited Brown to 19 professional appearances, he was part of the Packers team that won the inaugural Super Bowl in 1967 and again the following season.

James Williams was the last Natchez-born player to play in the NFL in the 1990s, after the New Orleans Saints selected him in the 1990 NFL Draft. Between 1990 and 1999, Williams played 137 games, starting 26. He recorded 297 tackles for the Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, and Cleveland Browns before ending his career, having played in the XFL, Arena Football League, and Indoor Football League.

Another Super Bowl Winner

Stevan Ridley attended Trinity Episcopal Day School in Natchez before heading to LSU between 2008 and 2010. The New England Patriots used their 73rd overall pick in the 201 NFL Draft to add Ridley to their roster. Ridley’s career started well, and he became a Patriots starter during his second professional season.

In 2014, Ridley was part of the Patriots team that won the Super Bowl, becoming only the second Natchez native to acquire a coveted Super Bowl ring. Unfortunately, injuries plagued Ridley’s career following his Super Bowl win, and he only played 19 games across the next four seasons, starting only twice.

Finally, we have Justin Hamilton, the last Natchez native to play in the NFL. After receiving All-metro honors as a junior at Natchez High School, Hamilton committed to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Hamilton produced solid numbers throughout college and was expected to be picked up in the 2015 NFL Draft. However, he went undrafted. The Buffalo Bills signed him as an unrestricted free agent but later waived him. Hamilton then headed to the Green Bay Packers, but they also waived him. The Pittsburgh Steelers gave him his NFL debut in 2015. Hamilton later signed deals with the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and the Washington Commanders, but the 31-year-old has been without a team since 2022.

Conclusion

From the muddy fields of high school football to the bright lights of the Super Bowl, Natchez has produced a remarkable legacy of gridiron greatness. While none of its sons currently make NFL rosters, the town’s influence on the game is there for all to see.

All the players in this article carry Natchez’s spirit with them. As future generations lace up their cleats and dream big under the Mississippi night sky, the legacy of Natchez football lives on.

Gamble Responsibly. You must be 21 years old or older to gamble. If you or someone you know has a problem with gambling help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.