Alabama football: 15 greatest Crimson Tide NFL careers ever
By Joey Loose
Greatest Alabama football career No. 6: Julio Jones
One of the most prolific wide receivers of this most recent era of pro football, Julio Jones was a massive talent even back at Alabama in the late 2000s. He won a national title and had an impactful role in the Crimson Tide offense at school but has been even more explosive in the NFL.
Jones was taken with the 6th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft and the Atlanta Falcons certainly did not regret that selection. He was a focal part of their passing game and an elite weapon for Matt Ryan across the next ten seasons.
Jones was voted to seven Pro Bowls, made a pair of All-Pro teams, and led the NFL in passing yards twice, including 1871 yards in 2015. Between 2014 and 2019, he averaged just over 1550 receiving yards per season.
He had multiple 180-yard performances in the playoffs and played in Super Bowl LI, the Falcons’ infamous disaster against the New England Patriots. After his time in Atlanta came to an end, he spent a season each playing for the Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching passes from Tom Brady at the tail end of his career.
Jones has eclipsed 13,000 receiving yards for his career and sits 16th all-time in that category. It’s uncertain if his NFL career will continue, but Jones has been a very impactful receiver for the last twelve seasons. He’s a major talent and could find his way to the Hall of Fame down the line.