We have to shout out Torry Holt, Charlie Sanders, Julius Peppers, and the rest of the North Carolinaian NFL alumni for their contributions to the game, but we have to give the North Carolina NFL crown to Bruce Matthews for his uncanny durability. The 6'5, 305lbs, offensive lineman has played every position on the o-line from center to talckle to guard to long snapper, Matthews is a versatile as they come. The Hall of Famer played his collegiate ball at USC before being drafted 9th overall in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers.
Bruce played his entire nineteen-season career with the Houston Oilers who later relocated to Tennesee and rebranded themselves as the Titans. Of those nineteen seasons, Matthews only missed a total of three starts. Matthews was also a 14x Pro Bowler, 9x NFL All-Pro First Team selection, and included on the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. When you stand the test of time playing such a violent sport from 1983 to 2001, you have to give someone like Bruce Matthews their flowers.