Delaware may stand as the second smallest state, but it has delivered some of the best athletes whose impact has reached the national and international stages. Delaware’s athletes have unlocked incredible milestones in basketball, baseball, tennis, and football. The accolades make one forget about the state’s small population.
While Delaware often flies below the radar in sports powerhouse discussions, the state has quietly produced talent capable of competing at the highest levels, earning accolades, and breaking records. The influence of Delaware’s notable athletes from the last two decades is certainly impressive for a state with just over a million residents.
NFL Quarterback Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco was born in Audubon, New Jersey, but he moved to Delaware, where his football career started when he played for the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens before being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2008. Flacco quickly established a name for himself as a dependable NFL quarterback as he led the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory in 2013, even earning the Super Bowl MVP Honors.
Flacco was known for his calm composure under heavy pressure and a solid arm, as he also holds multiple franchise records, like the most career touchdowns and passing yards for the Ravens. Flacco’s earliest football career started in Delaware, where his elite talent was nurtured. Flacco has shown a lot of potential in his career and currently plays for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Punters looking for the best betting odds use apps on ReadWrite’s list to access real-time updates and player props bets. A variety of betting types will work for Flacco as he continues to make a name in the Bengals team, but some bookmakers are currently pricing the Bengals at +5.5 for spreads and +195 for moneyline bets against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
***This game has already passed***
WNBA Star Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne hails from Wilmington, Delaware, where her earlier roots at the University of Delaware contributed to her becoming one of the WNBA’s most accomplished athletes. Donne led her team to national notoriety and set records that continue to stand today at the university.
She was drafted second overall by the Chicago Sky team in 2013 before earning multiple All-Star selections, a WNBA championship, and an MVP award by 2021. Donne is famous for her versatility as she excels as a defender and scorer. She also advocates for equality, accessibility, and health in sports off the court, showing her influence outside of basketball.
NFL Wide Receiver Chris Godwin
Chris Godwin was raised in Middletown, Delaware, where his earliest football story began at Middletown High School with a team that compiled a 41-7 record and went on to win two state championships. Godwin then played for Penn State before he was drafted to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2017 NFL third round.
Godwin was integral to the Super Bowl LV victory in 2021 by the Buccaneers, which made him the first Delaware-born and raised player to win a Super Bowl title as a key contributor. Godwin’s success stemmed from reliable hands, strong technique, and big moment performance capabilities, which is why the Buccaneers will miss Godwin until he returns from a recent injury.
NBA Guard Bones Hyland
Bones Hyland is another notable athlete born in Wilmington and educated at Middletown St. George’s Technical High School, where his earliest success drove him to become someone memorable on the court. Nah’Shon, better known as Bones Hyland, first made a mark at the VCU during his college basketball stint before he was selected in the 2021 NBA Draft’s first round.
Hyland’s unique skill set includes scoring ability, speed, and perimeter shooting, and has quickly become a strong suit in the NBA and on a professional level that captures attention from Delaware sports enthusiasts. Hyland continues to involve himself in basketball training programs used to guide future legends, even launching his own program called HYIQ in 2020.
NFL Defensive Lineman Bilal Nichols
Bilal Nichols is a native of Newark, Delaware, and is often referenced in local reports as another legend who played for the University of Delaware before entering the NFL. While Nichols’ profile isn’t as widely accomplished as some other successful athletes from Delaware, the man continues to make a splash in the NFL, with an ongoing success story.
Nichols’ current defensive lineman position with the Arizona Cardinals shows a consistent rise in defensive contributions, with highly influential philanthropic involvement in his home state of Delaware. Nichols even contributed a significant sum to upcoming projects for further player development programs at the University of Delaware in late 2024, showing how much he remains attached to his home state, which pivoted his career.
Professional Tennis Player Madison Brengle
Madison Brengle is another notable athlete from Delaware who has represented the US on the global tennis stage, with her career spanning from the Grand Slam to rising higher on the top-100 charts around the world. However, Brengle’s earliest Delaware experiences on local tennis circuits laid the groundwork for the woman guided by ethics and insane serve-return skills.
Tennis doesn’t always draw as much attention as other sports do in the state, but Brengle’s success story also began on home ground. Her accomplishments demonstrate the variety of athletic excellence born and raised in Delaware. She even became the youngest inductee into the Delaware Tennis Hall of Fame in 2016.
MLB Pitcher Chad Kuhl
Chad Khul is another Newark, Delaware, local who attended Middletown High School and the University of Delaware, where his earliest performance ensured he was drafted into the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016. This was only the beginning of his Major League Baseball career, as Khul went on to play for the Colorado Rockies in 2022 and the Chicago White Sox in 2024. Khul even earned a spot in the Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
Khul’s success in reaching the MLB level from such a small state already adds depth to Delaware’s athletic production stage, where many University of Delaware players enter the spotlight in major leagues. It also reinforces how the state can produce MLB and other high-level players beyond the most televised sporting events.