Alabama's All-Pros and Impact On Every National Football League Team: Bama in the NFL

Since our original inception as BamaCentral, Sports Illustrated On SI has kept a close eye on the Alabama Crimson Tide's history and legacy with each NFL franchise. Overall, the program's impact has been nothing short of huge, including inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, players with retired jerseys, and the MVPs of Super Bowls I, II, III, and LIX.

In addition to the former Alabama players who have won 31 Super Bowl titles, and 77 players who have been on Super Bowl teams (Cornelius Bennett has appeared in five, while Dont’a Hightower, Larry Roberts, Jeff Rutledge and Bart Starr have each won two Super Bowl rings), being named All-Pro was another one of the benchmarks we used to help demonstrate the Crimson Tide's impressive success at the next level.

The term "All-Pro" is different from being named to the Pro Bowl, as it specifically refers to the best player at each position. So for the quarterbacks there's only one person named each season, in contrast to the Pro Bowl in which there are three players named for each conference before replacements factor in depending on availability and/or injuries.

Consequently, second-team All-Pro is not the same as being named All-Pro. The second-team selection means the player was considered the second-best in the league at his position.

Moreover, the All-Pro recognition is for life. Being named to a Pro Bowl is only for that specific season. So being named All-Pro even once is a huge honor.

For our purposes, and consistency, only the Associated Press All-Pro selections were used, and just first-team players. The AP teams date back to 1940 and are the longest running annual selectors of the top NFL players. Overall, 30 former Crimson Tide players have gone on to land All-Pro honors, including nine who have done so more than once, for a total of 50 times:

Alabama All-Pro Leaders

Don Hutson (8): 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945
John Hannah (7): 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985
Dwight Stephenson (4): 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
Minkah Fitzpatrick (3): 2019, 2020, 2022
Derrick Thomas (2): 1990, 1991; Julio Jones (2): 2015, 2016; Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos (1): 2022, 2024; Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens (1): 2019, 2024

Here's the breakdown by position, including all former Crimson Tide players who have been named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press:

Alabama All-Pro by Position

Quarterbacks (3)

Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers (1): 1966
Joe Namath, New York Jets (1): 1968* (All-AFL)
Kenny Stabler, Oakland Raiders (1): 1974

Running Back (3)

Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans (1): 2020
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raideers (1): 2022
Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks (1): 2005

Fullback (1)

LaRon McClain, Baltimore Ravens (1): 2008

Wide Receivers (2)

Don Hutson, Green Bay Packers (8): 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945
Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (2): 2015, 2016

Tight Ends (1)

Ozzie Newsome, Cleveland Browns (1): 1984

Offensive Linemen (4)

John Hannah, New England Patriots (7): 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985
Dwight Stephenson, Miami Dolphins (4): 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
Evan Mathis, Philadelphia Eagles (1): 2013
Billy Neighbors, Boston Patriots (1): 1964 (All-AFL)

Defensive Linemen (4)

Bob Baumhower, Miami Dolphins (1): 1983
Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills (1): 2014
Quinnen Williams, New York Jets (1): 2022
Will Anderson, Houston Texans (1): 2025

Linebackers (3)

Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs (2): 1990, 1991
Cornelius Bennett, Buffalo Bills (1): 1988
E.J. Junior, St. Louis Cardinals (1): 1984

Defensive Backs (7)

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers (3): 2019, 2020, 2022
Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos (1): 2022, 2024
Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens (1): 2019, 2024
Landon Collins, New York Giants (1): 2016
Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears (1): 2018
Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys (1): 2021
Xavier McKinney, Green Bay Packers (1): 2024

Special Teams (2)

Tony Nathan, Miami Dolphins, KR (1): 1979
Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings, K (1): 2025

Other Parts of the Ultimate Bama in the NFL Database

Of Note:

• Of the 30 players, 14 are players from the Nick Saban era (since 2007). Obviously that number can only continue to rise.

• Alabama never had a defensive back named All-Pro until the Saban area. Through 2025, it's had seven, plus numerosu second-team honors. That's good ammunition for the next time someone wants to discuss which college program should be DBU. During the 2024 season alone, Patrick Surtain II was named the league's defensive player of the year, and he, Marlon Humphrey and Xavier McKinney were All-Pro selections along with Xavier McKinney, while Brian Branch just missed.

• During the same season, Jalen Hurts finished second in MVP voting, and was also second-team All-Pro behind Patrick Mahomes.

• If you're wondering about linebacker C.J. Mosley, he was named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press five times (2014, 2016–18, 2022)

• If you used a nickel package, one could have an Alabama All-Pro team as the Crimson Tide has had a selection at each every-down position, and with special teams.

All-Pro designation is by Associated Press through the 2025 season, and only first-team selections.

Bama in the NFL, Team-By-Team

For a look at Alabama's history and legacy with each NFL team:

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

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