The UCLA football program has 23 former players named to active rosters ahead of the 2025 NFL regular season, which begins Thursday, September 4 in Philadelphia.
Among those representing UCLA in the NFL are Houston Texans kicker Kai’imi Fairbairn and defensive lineman Kenny Clark. Both are entering their tenth professional seasons. Clark will play his first year with the Dallas Cowboys this fall.
The Dallas Cowboys feature three former UCLA defensive linemen—Clark, Osa Odighizuwa, and Jay Toia—who will play in the NFL’s opening game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
On Friday night, Andre James and Otito Ogbonnia, both former Bruins, will take the field for the Los Angeles Chargers as they face the Kansas City Chiefs at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil. This marks one of several international games scheduled by the NFL as part of its ongoing efforts to expand its global presence: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-announces-2025-international-games-sao-paulo-madrid-london-munich
Alec Anderson is set to start his fourth season with the Buffalo Bills when they host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football.
Five members from UCLA’s 2024 team are beginning their first seasons in the league this week. The group includes linebacker Carson Schwesinger, who was selected 33rd overall by the Cleveland Browns in this year’s draft. Schwesinger recently received the Maurice Bassett Award from Cleveland for being voted as training camp’s most outstanding rookie by media members. Other rookies starting their careers include Ale Kaho and Kain Medrano (Washington Commanders), Oluwafemi Oladejo (Tennessee Titans), and Moliki Matavao (New Orleans Saints).
Altogether, 32 former Bruins are affiliated with 22 different NFL teams. Nine additional alumni hold positions on practice squads throughout the league.
“Last week, Schwesinger was honored with the 2025 Maurice Bassett Award by the Cleveland Browns organization, which is given to the most outstanding rookie in training camp, as voted by the media.”
