Bama in the NFL: The Crimson Tide's History with the Arizona Cardinals
In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the first story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.
The Alabama Crimson Tide has a pretty rich history with the NFL franchise now called the Arizona Cardinals, but not of late. Only three players coached by Nick Saban have been selected by the team in the NFL draft, and just one before the fifth round.
That one was former Alabama All-American safety Rashad Johnson, at third-round pick in 2009, who started 51 games during seven seasons in the desert. For his pro career he was had 345 tackles with the Cardinals, 15 interceptions (returning three for touchdowns), and 30 passes defended, before playing a final year with the Tennessee Titans.
Only twice in franchise history, which dates back to Chicago as the Cardinals are the oldest surviving professional football club in the United States (1898, when it was the amateur Morgan Athletic Club, and subsequently became a charter member of the National Football League along with the Chicago Bears), has the team used a first-round draft pick on an Alabama player.
The first was quarterback Joe Namath, the 12th-overall selection in 1965. Instead, he signed with the New York Jets in the upstart AFL. The other was linebacker EJ Junior, the fifth-overall selection in 1981.
A recent inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, Junior was a finalist for the Lombardi Award and helped lead Alabama to consecutive national championships in 1978 and 1979, coach Paul "Bear" Bryant's final national title.
He played 13 seasons in the NFL, from 1981 to 1993, and was named an All-Pro.
Other notable players in franchise history include linebacker Keith McCants, who played his final two seasons with the Cardinals under head coach Buddy Ryan, and safety Benny Perrin. McCants scored two defensive touchdowns, and Perrin had nine interceptions and five fumble recoveries from 1982-85.
Bama in the NFL: Arizona Cardinals
The Franchise
National Football Conference
West Division
Team Colors: Cardinal Red, Black and White
Founded: 1898 in Chicago
Previously known as the Morgan Athletic Club, Racine Street Normals, Racine Cardinals, Chicago Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals, Phoenix Cardinals. One of two charter members of the NFL still playing in the league.
Stadium: State Farm Stadium (65,000)
Playing Surface: Grass
Training Camp: State Farm Stadium
All-Time Alabama Players
Crimson Tide Players Drafted
Super Bowl Appearances
Tim Castille, Super Bowl XLIII, Feb. 1, 2009
The Steelers beat the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, 27-23. It's the only time the Cardinals have played in a Super Bowl, although they won two NFL championships prior to the AFL-NFL merger.
EJ Junior as an Alabama linebacker
Notable Awards/Honors
See Also:
Bama in the NFL: The Ultimate Crimson Tide Database
Bama in the NFL: Active Alabama Crimson Tide Players by Team
