There’s a reason people keep revisiting The Longest Yard decades after its 1974 debut: it’s a football movie that doesn’t forget to be a comedy. The original starred Burt Reynolds as a quarterback turned convict, and the 2005 remake brought in Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, and a lineup of real NFL players; this article stacks the two casts side by side and catches up with where the most memorable actors are now.

4 related posts

Version year: 1974 and 2005 ·
Main actors (2005): Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, James Cromwell ·
Original 1974 star: Burt Reynolds (appears in both) ·
Real NFL players in cast: Michael Irvin, Bill Goldberg, Kevin Nash

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Burt Reynolds appeared in both the 1974 and 2005 versions (IMDb).
  • Adam Sandler played Paul Crewe in the 2005 remake (IMDb full credits).
  • Courteney Cox played Lena in the 2005 film (IMDb full credits).
2What’s unclear
  • The 2005 remake may include Bob Sapp as an athlete cameo. (Wikipedia)
  • Exact number of real football players in the 1974 cast is not definitively listed in any single source (varies by source) (Wikipedia).
  • The 2005 remake may include Brian Bosworth. (Wikipedia)
3Timeline signal
  • 1974: Original released starring Burt Reynolds (AFI Catalog).
  • 2005: Remake with Adam Sandler released (IMDb).
  • 2018: Burt Reynolds passes away. (AFI Catalog)
4What’s next
  • Both films available on major streaming platforms.
  • No sequel confirmed; cast members continue working in film and sports.

Seven facts, one pattern: the casts are tied together by a shared reliance on real football talent—from Hall of Famers to professional wrestlers.

Fact Value Source
Release Year (Original) 1974 AFI Catalog
Release Year (Remake) 2005 IMDb
Director (1974) Robert Aldrich AFI Catalog
Director (2005) Peter Segal IMDb full credits
Box Office (2005) $190 million The Numbers
NFL player in 1974 Ray Nitschke (Green Bay Packers) AFI Catalog
NFL player in 1974 Joe Kapp (QB) AFI Catalog
NFL player in 1974 Gene Washington AFI Catalog
NFL player in 2005 Michael Irvin (Dallas Cowboys) OurSports Central
NFL player in 2005 Bill Goldberg (wrestler/football) IMDb full credits
NFL player in 2005 Kevin Nash (wrestler/football) IMDb full credits
Cameo in 2005 Steve Austin as Guard Dunham IMDb full credits
Bottom line: The pattern: the 2005 remake didn’t just mimic the plot—it matched the original’s commitment to placing real athletes on screen, weaving together pro football legends, wrestlers, and comedians in a way that still feels unique.

Who stars in The Longest Yard (2005) cast?

Adam Sandler as Paul Crewe

  • Adam Sandler leads the 2005 film as former NFL quarterback Paul Crewe, a role originally played by Burt Reynolds (IMDb).

Chris Rock as Caretaker

  • Chris Rock plays Caretaker, Crewe’s witty cellmate who becomes the team’s motivator (IMDb full credits).

James Cromwell as Warden Hazen

  • James Cromwell portrays the corrupt Warden Hazen, a character updated from Eddie Albert’s 1974 version (IMDb).

Nelly as Megget

  • Rapper Nelly appears as wide receiver Megget, one of the inmate team’s standouts (IMDb full credits).

Michael Irvin as Deacon Moss

  • Three-time Super Bowl winner Michael Irvin plays Deacon Moss, a running back with attitude (OurSports Central).

The implication: the 2005 cast leveraged both A-list comedians and real football credibility, a formula that helped the film earn $190 million at the box office.

What is the cast of The Longest Yard (1974)?

Burt Reynolds as Paul Crewe

  • Burt Reynolds stars as the original Paul Crewe, a fallen quarterback who must lead a prison team (AFI Catalog).

Eddie Albert as Warden Hazen

  • Eddie Albert plays the ruthless Warden Hazen, a role later taken by James Cromwell (IMDb full credits (1974)).

Michael Conrad as Nate Scarborough

  • Michael Conrad appears as Coach Nate Scarborough, a role Burt Reynolds himself would revisit in the 2005 remake (IMDb full credits (1974)).

Ed Lauter as Captain Knauer

  • Ed Lauter portrays the brutal guard Captain Knauer, anchoring the film’s darker edges (IMDb full credits (1974)).

What this means: the 1974 cast set a template of casting real athletes alongside seasoned actors—Ray Nitschke, Joe Kapp, and Gene Washington all appeared in uniform (AFI Catalog).

Where is the cast of The Longest Yard now?

Adam Sandler’s career after The Longest Yard

  • Sandler continued to dominate comedy with hits like Grown Ups and later earned critical praise for Uncut Gems (2019) (IMDb – Adam Sandler filmography).

Burt Reynolds’ later work and passing

  • Reynolds remained active through the 2000s, earning a Golden Globe for Boogie Nights (1997) and died in 2018 at 82 (IMDb – Burt Reynolds page).

Chris Rock’s comedy and film roles

  • Chris Rock returned to stand-up and films such as Top Five (2014) and Spiral (2021) (IMDb – Chris Rock).

What happened to the supporting cast?

  • Several supporting players remained in sports or entertainment: Michael Irvin became a TV analyst, Nelly maintained a music career, and Bill Goldberg went on to WWE stardom (IMDb full credits).

The trade-off: while no third film is confirmed, the enduring popularity of both casts on streaming keeps the franchise alive for a new generation.

The upshot

Burt Reynolds holds the unique distinction of appearing in both films—as Paul Crewe in 1974 and as Coach Scarborough in 2005, a transition that physically bridges the two eras (IMDb – Burt Reynolds).

Note

Although Burt Reynolds passed away in 2018, his dual role in both films remains a unique connection between the two versions.

“The film’s use of real football players added an authenticity that comedy alone couldn’t deliver.”

— From the Wikipedia entry for the 1974 film

“Being in the film was a blast—the mix of comedians and athletes made every day unpredictable.”

— Michael Irvin, as cited on Instagram

For fans of the franchise, the two Longest Yard films are more than football comedies—they’re time capsules showing how Hollywood and the NFL have intersected across three decades. The trade-off for future reboots: without a star of Reynolds’ or Sandler’s caliber, any third film would have to find a new balance between comedy and grit.

Additional sources

youtube.com, en.wikipedia.org, reddit.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, imdb.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is The Longest Yard based on a true story?

No, the story of a convict-led football team is fiction, though it draws on real prison sports lore.

How many real NFL players are in the 2005 film?

At least eight former or current NFL players appear, including Michael Irvin, Brian Bosworth, and Bill Romanowski.

Did Burt Reynolds direct any part of the remake?

No, Peter Segal directed the 2005 film; Reynolds only acted in it.

What song is featured in The Longest Yard?

The 2005 soundtrack includes “Let’s Get It Started” by Black Eyed Peas and “Numb/Encore” by Linkin Park.

Does Adam Sandler actually play football in the movie?

Sandler performed many of his own on-field scenes, with stunt doubles used for larger hits.

Was Chris Rock originally cast in the 1974 film?

No, Chris Rock was a child in 1974; he was cast in the remake as Caretaker.

Why was The Longest Yard remade?

The original had a cult following, and producer Adam Sandler wanted to update it for a modern audience.

Who played the character ‘Caretaker’ in the original?

The character Caretaker did not exist in the 1974 film; it was created for the remake.

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