Sources & Methodology

Last updated: September 7, 2026

Coverage statement: the directory is broad from 1974 through 2026 and selective before 1974. Early professional football records are incomplete, so this archive does not claim to be a census of every historical player.

Primary datasets

Structured player and team records are imported from the open nflverse player and team datasets. Editorial career pages link to the relevant Pro Football Reference record. Selected early-era and historically significant profiles are curated separately so incomplete modern feeds do not overwrite better historical dates or biographical detail.

Record merging

Records are matched by normalized player name and stable identifiers where available. Curated historical fields take precedence for career span and researched biography; source headshots, identifiers and college fields are retained when the curated record does not supply them. Duplicate franchise identities are consolidated before display.

Stories

The current story library contains separately written, source-linked historical features. The older collection of 100 automatically assembled career profiles is research material awaiting revision, not a completed journalism collection. We do not promise that article length or variation alone establishes accuracy or usefulness.

Photographs and rights

Images are reference photographs loaded from linked source records. Copyright and reuse rights remain with the respective owners or licensors. An available image is not presented as public-domain material.

Known limitations

Pre-1974 rosters and measurements are selectively curated.
A “latest team” field means the final team in the source feed, not a complete transaction history.
Positions and franchise codes may reflect the source's modern normalization.
Active-player 2026 records may change as source datasets are updated.

Corrections

Potential errors are reviewed against the linked record and at least one additional authoritative source when practical. Send corrections to hevioco2@gmail.com, with the page address and a supporting source.

September 2026 editorial revision

Eight separately written features replace template-generated profiles in the featured story library. They are AI-assisted, source-linked interpretations, not eyewitness reports or independently human-reviewed journalism. The earlier collection is retained for revision and excluded from the indexable article sitemap.

Unknown draft status is distinct from confirmed undrafted status. Exact-season filtering requires explicitly documented seasons. Career spans are calendar bounds and can contain gaps.

Photograph credits and reuse status are recorded individually when evidence is available. Unverified directory photographs are not represented as licensed.

Send corrections with the page URL and supporting source to hevioco2@gmail.com.