Alabama football players in the NFL playoffs: Dolphins, Eagles lead Crimson Tide rooting guide
Alabama is one of several states across the south that does not have an NFL team but, thanks to retired coach Nick Saban’s efforts in building up the football program at the state’s flagship institution, fans across the state have the next-best thing — enough former Alabama players in the NFL to field a team.
As the NFL playoffs are set to begin Saturday with a pair of wild-card round matchups, the Crimson Tide is unsurprisingly well-represented among the teams vying for the Super Bowl.
Rosters across the NFL are littered with former Alabama standouts, many of whom helped lead their team to a national championship (or several) during their time in Tuscaloosa. At the NFL level, a number of them are key contributors who helped guide their teams to the playoffs.
REQUIRED READING: How 5-star Alabama football decommit Ryan Williams reacted to Kalen DeBoer hire
So while Alabama doesn’t have an NFL franchise of its own — and some of the closest ones like the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints failed to make the playoffs — Tide fans still have plenty of potential rooting interests over the next several weeks leading up to Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas.
To help Alabama fans navigate the NFL playoffs and who, if anyone, they should root for, here’s a look at every team in the NFL playoffs and what former Tide stars, if any, are on their team:
How many Alabama players are in the NFL playoffs?
Across the 14 teams competing in the NFL playoffs, there are 26 players who finished their college careers at Alabama, plus Jalen Hurts, who despite transferring to Oklahoma for his final season continues to support the Crimson Tide.
That group does not include five former Tide standouts who are on injured reserve — most notably, Dallas Cowboys All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs — or anyone on practice squads.
REQUIRED READING: Alabama football recruits react to hire of Kalen DeBoer
Alabama players by NFL team
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles come with a bit of an asterisk, as one of their best, most prominent players isn’t technically among the aforementioned 26 players who finished their careers at Alabama. Hurts, however, spent his first three seasons at Alabama before transferring to Oklahoma. One of his favorite targets this year has been DeVonta Smith, his college teammate of two seasons and one of the Tide’s four all-time Heisman Trophy winners. Smith is tied for the team touchdown reception lead, with seven.
Julio Jones, at 34 years old, signed with Philadelphia in October. Landon Dickerson starts at left guard for an Eagles offensive line that, despite the team’s underwhelming season on that side of the ball, remains one of the NFL’s best units.
The full list of Alabama players:
QB Jalen Hurts
WR DeVonta Smith
G Landon Dickerson
WR Julio Jones
CB Josh Jobe
CB Eli Ricks
OL Tyler Steen
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are behind only the Eagles for most former Alabama players on their roster, with five. The group is headlined by former Heisman runner-up Tua Tagovailoa and receiver Jaylen Waddle, two of the centerpieces of the NFL’s top passing attack. Waddle, who had 1,014 receiving yards and four touchdowns during the regular season, is nursing an ankle injury that may affect his playing status for the postseason.
Defensively, Raekwon Davis and Da’Shawn Hand have 28 and 17 tackles, respectively, this season.
The full list of Alabama players:
QB Tua Tagovailoa
WR Jaylen Waddle
DT Raekwon Davis
DT Da’Shawn Hand
G Lester Cotton
Houston Texans
One of the NFL’s surprise teams this season, the Texans have a significant Alabama presence not only on the roster, but also in head coach and former Crimson Tide linebacker DeMeco Ryans, the 2005 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-America selection.
Houston also has five former players on the roster, headlined by Will Anderson, who has been excellent for Houston as a rookie, with seven sacks (second on the team) and 45 tackles. Anderson is nursing an ankle injury that forced him to miss practice earlier this week.
Christian Harris is second on the team with 101 tackles, while Henry To'oTo'o is sixth with 61 tackles. Offensively, John Metchie III is third on the team in receiving yards, with 158.
The full list of Alabama players:
DE Will Anderson
LB Christian Harris
LB Henry To'oTo'o
WR John Metchie III
S Kareem Jackson
REQUIRED READING: Alabama football early 2024 rankings: Where is Crimson Tide picked in top 25 for next season?
Detroit Lions
Few, if any, of the playoff teams have as many impactful Alabama players as the Lions. Jahmyr Gibbs has silenced many of the doubts directed at Detroit after it selected him with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. As a rookie this season, he has rushed for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns, along with 316 receiving yards and another score. Elsewhere on offense, Jameson Williams has 354 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Brian Branch has been one of the Lions’ defensive standouts this season, with 74 tackles, three interceptions and a team-high 13 passes defended.
The full list of Alabama players:
RB Jahmyr Gibbs
WR Jameson Williams
DB Brian Branch
Pittsburgh Steelers
Minkah Fitzpatrick continues to be a cornerstone of the Steelers’ secondary and earned his fourth career Pro Bowl nod despite injuries limiting him to 10 games during the regular season. A knee injury has his questionable heading into the playoffs, though Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said he is optimistic Fitzpatrick will play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Levi Wallace also starts in the Steelers’ secondary.
After disappointing for much of the season, Najee Harris came on strong late to help push the team into the playoffs. In the Steelers’ past three games, he has rushed for 312 yards and four touchdowns.
The full list of Alabama players:
S Minkah Fitzpatrick
RB Najee Harris
CB Levi Wallace
Cleveland Browns
Amari Cooper has been the Browns’ top receiving threat for each of the past two seasons, including this year, as he has helped keep Cleveland’s offense steady in a season in which it has had to turn to five different starting quarterbacks. He has 1,250 receiving yards and five touchdowns, earning him Pro Bowl honors. Dalvin Tomlinson has contributed to a stout Browns defense with 28 tackles and three sacks.
The full list of Alabama players:
WR Amari Cooper
DT Dalvin Tomlinson
Baltimore Ravens
Marlon Humphrey is the Tide’s lone active player on the AFC’s No. 1 seed. A starting cornerback for the NFL’s top-ranked scoring defense, Humphrey has 26 tackles, five passes defended and an interception this season. He missed Baltimore’s regular-season finale with a calf injury, but with the Ravens earning a bye in the playoffs, he’ll get an extra week of rest.
The full list of Alabama players:
CB Marlon Humphrey
Los Angeles Rams
The resurgent Rams have just one Alabama player on their roster — long snapper Carson Tinker.
LS Carson Tinker
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football players in the NFL playoffs, from Dolphins to Eagles
