Alabama Crimson Tide has a Strong History of Players in the Super Bowl
Considering that Alabama had at least one player on every team during the 2021-22 NFL season, the odds are extremely favorable for the Crimson Tide to have its 50th former player play in a Super Bowl next year.
It came just shy at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles.
Alabama ended up with five former players on the rosters of the teams playing for the Lombardi Trophy, but only two got into the game.
Defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson started and had a sack for the Rams. Linebacker Terrell Lewis was inactive and long-snapper Carson Tinker was on the practice squad after being added back again the day before.
It was the seventh time Tinker was signed by the Rams since Dec. 18, a precautionary move during the coronavirus pandemic as teams were allowed to replace active-roster players who tested positive with practice-squad members.
For the Bengals, Jonah Williams started at left tackle. Damion Square remained on the practice squad and was not one of two players elevated for the game, which would have made him eligible to play.
Square spent the season with the Raiders, and had three tackles (one for a loss) in their Wild Card Playoff matchup against the Bengals on Jan. 15. When the Raiders lost, his practice squad contract expired, making him a free agent.
Ten days later, he was signed to the Bengals practice squad, and on January 30 promoted to the regular roster.
That's how Square became the first player in NFL history to play for two teams in one postseason.
Alabama's history with the Super Bowl has had a profound impact on the game, including the MVP of Super Bowls I, II and III having all played for the Crimson Tide.
Bart Starr, who lettered from 1952-55, played in the league’s first two championship games, quarterbacked the Green Bay Packers. Joe Namath, who lettered at Alabama from 1962-64, was the MVP of Super Bowl III, leading the New York Jets to victory.
Cornelius Bennett (1983-86) has played in the most Super Bowls, having appeared in five, four times with the Buffalo Bills and once with the Atlanta Falcons.
Dont’a Hightower (2008-11), Larry Roberts (1982-85), Jeff Rutledge (1975-78) and Bart Starr (1952-55) have each won two Super Bowl rings, tying for the most by a former Alabama player.
But not everyone who has a ring played in the game.
For example, Tampa Bay tight end O.J. Howard and Kansas City wide receiver Gehrig Dieter helped their teams reach Super Bowl LV, won by the Buccaneers, but did not play in the game. Howard was on the injured list with a season-ending Achilles injury, and Dieter was on the Chiefs' practice squad.
Overall, 49 former Crimson Tide players have participated in 39 Super Bowls heading into the 2022 season.
Here's the breakdown of everyone who was on his teams' active roster for the Super Bowl:
Crimson Tide Players in the Super Bowl
Super Bowl I: Packers 35, Chiefs 10
Super Bowl II: Packers 33, Raiders 14
Super Bowl III: Jets 16, Colts 7
Super Bowl V: Colts 16, Cowboys 13
Super Bowl VI: Cowboys 24, Dolphins 3
Super Bowl X: Steelers 21, Cowboys 17
Super Bowl XI: Raiders 32, Vikings 14
Super Bowl XIV: Steelers 31, Rams 19
Super Bowl VI: 49ers 26, Bengals 21
Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVIII: Raiders 38, Redskins 9
Super Bowl XIX: 49ers 38, Dolphins 16
Super Bowl XX: Patriots 46, Bears 10
Super Bowl XXI: Giants 39, Broncos 20
Super Bowl XXII: Redskins 42, Broncos 10
Super Bowl XXIII: 49ers 20, Bengals 16
Super Bowl XXIV: 49ers 55, Broncis 10
Super Bowl XXV: Giants 20, Bills 19
Super Bowl XXVI: Redskins 37, Bills 24
Super Bowl XXVII: Cowboys 52, Bills 17
Super Bowl: Cowboys 30, Bills 13
Super Bowl XXX: Cowboys 27, Steelers 17
Super Bowl XXXIII: Broncos 34, Falcons 19
Super Bowl XXXV: Ravens 34, Giants 7
Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots 24, Eagles 21
Super Bowl XL: Steelers 21, Seahawks 10
Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23
Super Bowl XLIV: Saints 31, Colts 17
Super Bowl XLV: Packers 31, Steelers 25
Super Bowl XLVI: Giants 21, Patriots 17
Super Bowl XLVII: Ravens 34, 49ers 31
Super Bowl XLVIII: Seahawks 43, Broncos 8
Super Bowl XLIX: Patriots 28, Seahawks 24
Super Bowl L: Broncos 24, Panthers 10
Super Bowl LI: Patriots 34, Patriots 28
Super Bowl LII: Eagles 41, Patriots 33
Super Bowl LIII: Patriots 13, Rams 3
Super Bowl LIV: Chiefs 31, Rams 20
Super Bowl LVI: Rams 23, Bengals 20
Alabama in the Super Bowl (Alphabetically)
Player (Years at Alabama), NFL Team, Super Bowl
- Shaun Alexander (1996-99), Seattle Seahawks, XL - Feb. 5, 2006
- Mark Anderson (2002-05), Chicago Bears, XLI - Feb. 4, 2007; New England Patriots, XLVI - Feb. 5, 2012
- Mark Barron (2008-11), Los Angeles Rams, LIII - Feb. 3, 2019
- Bob Baumhower (1974-76), Miami Dolphins, XVII - Jan. 30, 1983; XIX - Jan. 20, 1985
- Cornelius Bennett (1983-86), Buffalo Bills, XXV - Jan 27, 1991; XXVI - Jan. 26, 1992; XXVII - Jan. 31, 1993; XXVIII - Jan. 30, 1994; Atlanta Falcons, XXXIII - Jan. 31, 1999
- James Carpenter (2009-10), Seattle Seahawks, XLVIII - Feb. 2, 2014; XLIX - Feb. 1, 2015
- Joe Carter (1980-83), Miami Dolphins, XIX - Jan. 20, 1985
- Jeremiah Castille (1979-82), XXII - Jan. 31, 1988
- Terrence Cody (2008-09), Baltimore Ravens, XLVII - Feb. 3, 2013
- Paul Crane (1963-65), New York Jets, III - Jan. 12, 1969
- Howard Cross (1985-88), New York Giants, XXV - Jan. 27, 1991, XXXV - Jan. 28, 2001
- Johnny Davis (1975-77), San Francisco 49ers, XVI - Jan. 24, 1982
- Brandon Deaderick (2006-09), New England Patriots. XLVI - Feb. 5, 2012
- Alonzo Ephraim (2000-02), Philadelphia Eagles, XXXIX - Feb. 6, 2005
- Cornelius Griffin (1998-99), New York Giants, XXXV - Jan. 28, 2001
- Charley Hannah (1974-76), Los Angeles Raiders, XVIII - Jan. 22, 1984
- John Hannah (1970-72), New England Patriots, XX - Jan. 26, 1986
- Roman Harper (2002-05), New Orleans Saints, XLIV - Feb. 6, 2010; Carolina Panthers, L - Feb. 7, 2016
- Dont’a Hightower (2008-11), New England Patriots, XLIX - Feb. 1, 2015; LI - Feb. 5, 2017; LIII - Feb. 3, 2019
- Dennis Homan (1965-67), Dallas Cowboys, V - Jan. 17, 1971
- Bobby Humphrey (1985-88), Denver Broncos, XXIV - Jan. 28, 1990
- Wilbur Jackson (1971-73), Washington Redskins, XVII - Jan. 30, 1983
- Julio Jones (2008-10), Atlanta Falcons, LI - Feb. 5, 2017
- Robbie Jones (1979-82), New York Giants, XXI - Jan. 25, 1987
- Lee Roy Jordan (1960-62), Dallas Cowboys, V - Jan. 17, 1971; VI - Jan. 16, 1972;.X - Jan. 18, 1976
- Emmanuel King (1982-84), Cincinnati Bengals, XXIII - Jan. 22, 1989
- Derrick Lassic (1989-92), Dallas Cowboys, XXVIII - Jan. 30, 1994 (DNP)
- Anthony Madison (2002-05), Pittsburgh Steelers, XLIII - Feb. 1, 2009; XLV - Feb. 6, 2011
- Evan Mathis (2001-04), Denver Broncos, L, Feb. 7, 2016
- Don McNeal (1977-79), Miami Dolphins, XVII - Jan. 30, 1983l XIX - Jan. 20, 1985
- Chris Mohr (1985-88), Buffalo Bills, XXVI - Jan. 26, 1992; XXVII - Jan. 31, 1993; XXVIII - Jan. 30, 1994
- Joe Namath (1962-64), New York Jets, * III - Jan. 12, 1969
- Tony Nathan (1975-78), Miami Dolphins, XVII - Jan. 30, 1983; XIX - Jan. 20, 1985
- Charlie Peprah (2002-05), Green Bay Packers, XLV - Feb. 6, 2011
- Ray Perkins (1964-66), Baltimore Colts, III - Jan. 12, 1969; V - Jan. 17, 1971
- Reggie Ragland (2012-15), Kansas City Chiefs, LIV - Feb. 2, 2020
- Larry Roberts (1982-85), San Francisco 49ers, XXIII - Jan. 22, 1989; XXIV - Jan. 28, 1990
- A'Shawn Robinson (2013-15), Los Angeles Rams, XLVI - Feb. 13, 2022
- Jeff Rutledge (1975-78), Los Angeles Rams, XIV - Jan. 20, 1980; New York Giants, XXI - Jan. 25, 1987; Washington Redskins, XXVI - Jan. 26, 1992
- Kenny Stabler (1965-67), Oakland Raiders, XI - Jan. 9, 1977
- Bart Starr (1952-55), Green Bay Packers, * I - Jan. 15, 1967; * II - Jan. 14, 1968
- Dwight Stephenson (1977-79), Miami Dolphins, XVII - Jan. 30, 1983; XIX - Jan. 20, 1985
- Deshea Townsend (1994-97), Pittsburgh Steelers, XL - Feb. 5, 2006; XLIII - Feb. 1, 2009
- Courtney Upshaw (2008-11), Baltimore Ravens, XLVII - Feb. 3, 2013; New England Patriots, LI - Feb. 5, 2017
- Chance Warmack (2009-12), Philadelphia Eagles, LII - Feb. 4, 2018
- Jonah Williams (2016-18), Cincinnati Bengals, LVI - Feb. 13, 20022
- Sherman Williams (1991-94), Dallas Cowboys, XXX - Jan. 28, 1996
- Cornelius Wortham (2000-04), Seattle Seahawks, XL - Feb. 5, 2006
- Steve Wright (1962-64), Green Bay Packers, I - Jan. 15, 1967; II - Jan. 14, 1968 (DNP)
*Super Bowl MVP; DNP = Was active, but did not play in the game.