Bama in the NFL: Detroit Lions Turned to Alabama To Key Turnaround
Truth be told, no one may have been more shocked that Jahmyr Gibbs was the 12th-overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions than the former Alabama Crimson Tide running back himself.
Actually scratch that. Gibbs wasn't surprised he ended up with the Lions, especially after he had a strong interview with team officials at the NFL combine. It's when he was selected that caught him off guard.
"Yeah, I felt great," Gibbs told Lions reporters after his selection. "Didn't know I was gonna get picked as high as I did, because running backs don't really get picked this high in this new age, new era of the NFL draft. Yeah, it was pretty shocking to me, but I'm grateful for the city of Detroit."
Gibbs later admitted he thought he would be selected somewhere in the 20s, still solidly in the first round after teams zeroed in on other positions. However, the Lions didn't think he'd fall to their other pick at No. 18, so they grabbed him while they could.
With Detroit also nabbing safety Brian Branch in the second round, three of its top picks over the last two years have been former Alabama standouts. In 2022, wide receiver Jameson Williams was the top selection even though he was coming off a torn ACL that limited him to six games his rookie season.
While Alabama has a long history with the Lions — it's one of the oldest NFL franchises, and pre-dates the league as it was originally the Portsmouth Spartans (based in Ohio) before moving — team officials are hoping that their latest additions can alter the lack of success former Crimson Tide players have had in Detroit.
Of the 34 Alabama players who have played in a game for the Lions, no one has lasted more than six seasons with the franchise. Not one has been named All-Pro, or even been named to a Pro Bowl.
On the flip side to that, the first Alabama player to be a first-round pick in the organization was Williams, with Gibbs the second. The only other second-round pick in franchise history was defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson in 2016.
Consequently, more than half of the Alabama players, 19 heading in 2023 (although that includes defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs and offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher currently trying to make the roster for a second season), have been one-and-done with the Lions so far. This is also a franchise that hasn't won a division since 1993, a 28-year drought and longest among NFC teams, and has yet to play in a Super Bowl.
"We're going to get the guys that fit us, the guys we love, and the guys that fit our culture and can help our football team because ultimately, we are acquiring these players to win football games," general manager Brad Holmes said during one of his draft press conferences. "That's the bottom line and so we feel these guys can help us and that's why we took them."
So far, the Lions like what they see from their Crimson Tide contingency, although Williams will miss the first six games of this season due to a gambling-related suspension. Head coach Dan Campbell recently called Branch "a football-playing dude. He’s got a feel for it. He’s got a knack. In the heat of the moment, he doesn’t panic." While the rookie is just getting adjusted to NFL practices he's in the mix to potentially start at strong safety.
"He's one of those guys, you kind of see the light bulb," Campbell said. "What showed up on his tape in college is beginning to show up – quickly. He's an instinctive guy. He's got some ball-hawk ability."
Meanwhile, the Lions are looking at different ways to use Gibbs as a weapon, including lining him wide occasionally. It wasn't lost on anyone during a recent practice when Williams made the downfield block to spring Gibbs for a big gain.
"Speed kills," Gibbs said. "With me and (Williams) both on the field, it's kind of pick your poison, like what do you want to do? Because we can both make explosive plays in the pass game and run game."
Bama in the NFL: Detroit Lions
The Franchise
National Football Conference
North Division
Team Colors: Honolulu Blue and Silver
Founded: 1929 (The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans, and joined the NFL in 1930. It relocated to Detroit in 1934).
Stadium: Ford Field (64,500)
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
Training Camp: Allen Park, Mich.
All-Time Alabama Players
Crimson Tide Players Drafted
| Year | Player | Pos. | Round | Pick | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1936 | Kananaugh Francis | C | 5 | 8 | 44 |
1945 | Jim McWhorter | B | 18 | 6 | 181 |
1947 | Bill Capenhead | B | 24 | 1 | 216 |
1948 | Ramzee Robinson | E | 23 | 2 | 207 |
1958 | Jim Loftin | B | 9 | 6 | 103 |
1964 | Benny Nelson | HB | 5 | 5 | 61 |
1983 | Steve Mott | C | 5 | 9 | 121 |
1993 | Antonio London | LB | 3 | 6 | 62 |
1996 | Brad Ford | CB | 4 | 34 | 129 |
2007 | Ramzee Robinson | CB | 7 | 45 | 255 |
2013 | Michael Williams | TE | 7 | 5 | 211 |
2016 | A'Shawn Robinson | DT | 2 | 14 | 46 |
2018 | Da'Shawn Hand | DE | 4 | 14 | 114 |
2022 | Jameson Williams | WR | 1 | 12 | 12 |
2023 | Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | 1 | 12 | 12 |
2023 | Brian Branch | S | 2 | 14 | 45 |
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports
Super Bowl Appearances
Major Awards/Honors
In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the 11th story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.
AFC
NFC
See Also
Bama in the NFL: The Ultimate Crimson Tide Database
Bama in the NFL: Active Alabama Crimson Tide Players by Team
