<P> Pitt has produced 289 NFL players including eight that went on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and 31 that have been selected to play in the Pro Bowl . Furthermore, in a survey of NFL drafts from 1979 to 2009, ESPN rated Pitt third, behind only USC and Miami, for having "the most fertile NFL draft pipelines ." In addition, Pitt has been ranked second among all schools for the historical value of its drafted players . Some former Pitt players that have left their mark on the NFL include Ruben Brown, Jim Covert, Mike Ditka, Chris Doleman, Tony Dorsett, Larry Fitzgerald, Russ Grimm, Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, Rickey Jackson, Dan Marino, Curtis Martin, Mark May, Darrelle Revis, Tony Siragusa, LeSean McCoy and Aaron Donald . </P> <P> Eight Panthers have been elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame . Pitt is tied for fourth among all colleges and universities for the number of former players inducted . Pitt's eight Hall of Famers and their year of induction and years played are: </P> <Ul> <Li> Mike Ditka (Enshrined in 1988; Played 1957--1960) </Li> <Li> Chris Doleman (Enshrined in 2012; Played 1981--1984) </Li> <Li> Tony Dorsett (Enshrined in 1994; Played 1972--1976) </Li> <Li> Russ Grimm (Enshrined in 2010; Played 1977--1980) </Li> <Li> Rickey Jackson (Enshrined in 2010; Played 1977--1980) </Li> <Li> Dan Marino (Enshrined in 2005; Played 1979--1982) </Li> <Li> Curtis Martin (Enshrined in 2012; Played 1991--1994) </Li> <Li> Joe Schmidt (Enshrined in 1973; Played 1949--1952) </Li> </Ul> <Li> Mike Ditka (Enshrined in 1988; Played 1957--1960) </Li>

Pitt players in the nfl hall of fame