Pro Football Hall of Fame (Canton, Ohio)

• Lem Barney, Cornerback, Jackson State (1992)
• Mel Blount, Cornerback, Southern (1989)
• Willie Brown, Cornerback, Grambling State (1984)
• Buck Buchanan, Defensive Tackle, Grambling State (1990)
• Willie Davis, Defensive End, Grambling State (1981)
• Ken Houston, Strong Safety, Prairie View A&M (1986)
• Larry Little, Offensive Lineman, Bethune-Cookman (1993)
• Charlie Joiner, Wide Receiver, Grambling State (1996)
• Deacon Jones, Defensive End, Mississippi Valley State (1980)
• Walter Payton, Running Back, Jackson State (1993)
• Jackie Slater, Tackle, Jackson State (2001)
• John Stallworth, Wide Receiver, Alabama A&M (2002)
• Emmitt Thomas, Cornerback, Bishop (2008)
• Bob Hayes, Wide Receiver, Florida A&M (2009)
• Jerry Rice, Wide Receiver, Mississippi Valley State (2010)
• Michael Strahan, Defensive End, Texas Southern (2014)
• Aeneas Williams, Defensive Back, Southern (2014)
• Robert Brazile, Linebacker, Jackson State (2018)
• Ken Riley, Defensive Back, Florida A&M (2023) 

College Football Hall of Fame (Atlanta, Georgia)
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• Buck Buchanan, Tackle, Grambling State
• Marino Casem, Coach, Alabama State; Alcorn State; Southern
• Kevin Dent, Safety, Jackson State
• W.C. Gorden, Coach, Jackson State
• Gary "Big Hands" Johnson, Defensive Tackle, Grambling State
• John Merritt, Coach, Jackson State
• Arnett "Ace" Mumford, Coach, Southern
• Walter Payton, Running Back, Jackson State
• Doug Porter, Coach, Mississippi Valley State
• Jerry Rice, Wide Receiver, Mississippi Valley State
• Willie Richardson, Wide Receiver/Safety, Jackson State
• Eddie Robinson, Coach, Grambling State
• Willie Totten, Quarterback, Mississippi Valley State
• Doug Williams, Quarterback, Grambling State
• Paul "Tank" Younger, Fullback, Grambling State

National Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown, New York)

• Lou Brock, Southern

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (Springfield, Massachusetts)

• Willis Reed, Grambling State

USA Track and Field Hall of Fame (Washington Heights, New York)

• Willie Davenport, Southern
• Rod Milburn, Southern

SWAC Legends (Not an all-inclusive list)

• Donald Driver - Alcorn State, Football
• James Harris, Grambling State, Football
• Avery Johnson - Southern, Basketball
• Robert Mathis - Alabama A&M, Football
• Steve McNair - Alcorn State, Football
• Eddie Robinson - Alabama State, Football
• Everson Walls - Grambling State, Football
• Rickie Weeks - Southern, Baseball