Montana Athletes A–Z: NFL Stars, Olympians, Legends

For today's fun content project, I put together a list of Montana-born athletes from A to Z.

The athletes range from NFL players to MMA fighters to Olympians and everywhere in between.

I had to fib on a couple of entries, as you will see below. It's tough finding a significant Montana-born athlete with their last name starting with an 'X' or an 'I.'

But I did the best I could. If you have other suggestions for any of the letters below, don't hesitate to send your suggestions my way.

Famous Montana-Born Athletes A-Z

Credit: Kevin C. Cox (Getty Images)

Troy Andersen

Born in Dillon. NFL Player.

Credit: Otto Greule Jr (Getty Images)

Jeff Ballard

Born in Billings. MLB Pitcher.

Credit: George Rose (Getty)

Shane Collins

Born in Roundup. NFL Player, NCAA Shot Put National Champion.

Credit: University of Montana Athletics

Dave Dickenson

Born in Great Falls. CFL QB, Coach & GM.

Credit: Streeter Lecka (Getty)

Dwan Edwards

Born in Billings. NFL Player.

Credit: Jim Rogash (Getty Images)

Dane Fletcher

Born in Bozeman. NFL Player.

Credit: Jim McIssac

John Gibbons

Born in Great Falls. MLB Player & Manager.

Credit: Handout (Getty Images)

Tim Hauck

Born in Butte. NFL Player, Super Bowl Winning Coach.

Credit: Canva

Iola 'Olie' Else

Attended Western Montana College and the University of Montana. She was born in Idaho, but we're cheating because I can't find many athletes with names that begin with 'I.' Montana Cowboy Hall of Famer and Montana Western Rodeo Coach.

Credit: Ronald Martinez (Getty Images)

Phil Jackson

Born in Deer Lodge. 13x NBA Champion as Player or Coach.

Credit: Chris Graythen (Getty)

Larry Krystkowiak

Born in Shelby. NBA Player & Coach.

Credit: Getty Images

Ryan Leaf

Born in Great Falls. NFL QB.

Credit: Mike Ehrmann (Getty Images)

Marc Mariani

Born in Havre. NFL Player.

Credit: Jeff Gross (Getty), Canva

Dallas Neil

Born in Great Falls. NFL Player.

Credit: Elsa (Getty)

Sean O'Malley

Born in Helena. UFC Champion.

Credit: Al Messerschmidt (Getty)

Bobby Petrino

Born in Lewistown. College Football, NFL Coach.

Credit: Canva

Larry Questad

Born in Livingston. Olympic Sprinter.

Credit: Jim Rogash (Getty Images)

Chase Reynolds

Born in Drummond. NFL Player.

Credit: Gregory Shamus (Getty Images)

Jake Sanderson

Born in Whitefish. NHL Player, Olympic Gold Medalist.

Credit: Greg Flume (Getty)

Mason Tobin

Born in Glendive. MLB Pitcher.

Credit: Canva

Danny Uluilakepa

I'll be honest... I was running out of ideas for 'U.' Danny Uluilakepa is from Washington, but played football at Montana State. Good enough, I suppose.

Credit: Canva

Steve Vanek

Born in Great Falls. Griz Basketball Player.

Credit: Jerry T. Lai (Getty Images)

Lones Wigger

Born in Great Falls. Olympic Gold Medalist in Rifle Shooting.

Credit: University of Montana Athletics

Xavier Harris

This is another one I had to stretch the rules on. Harris is from California, but played for the Griz. Plus, his first name starts with X, but that's good enough for me.