Alabama football: 15 greatest Crimson Tide NFL careers ever
By Joey Loose
Current Players
Before we get into the Top 15, we’ll include a few current players who are on track to join such a list but are not included because their NFL careers are still ongoing.
Amari Cooper
A star wide receiver a decade ago, Amari Cooper helped lead the Crimson Tide to a national title in 2012 before becoming the 4th pick of the 2015 NFL Draft by way of Oakland. He made a few Pro Bowls early in his career and has become a favorite target for Derek Carr and Dak Prescott among other quarterbacks.
He’s had six 1000-yard receiving seasons, splitting time with the Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and most recently the Cleveland Browns. Cooper is already at 55 career touchdowns and is well on his way to a fantastic career as one of Alabama’s best former pass catchers.
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Twice a national champion and twice an All-American, Minkah Fitzpatrick was one of the nation’s best defensive backs when he went 11th overall to the Miami Dolphins in 2018. He was a solid contributor on that defense but was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers early in his career.
Fitzpatrick has been one of football’s best safeties, making three First-Team All-Pros. He’s scored a number of defensive touchdowns and led the NFL in interceptions this past season. His first five years have certainly been busy, he’s just looking for that postseason success.
Derrick Henry
Someone who probably already deserves a real spot on the list, Derrick Henry won the Heisman Trophy and a national title at Alabama before becoming a dominant runner in the NFL. A second-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans, he’s been a superstar and perhaps the best running back of the last half-decade.
Henry had a 2000-yard rushing season in 2020, winning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and is actually averaging 110 yards per game across his last four seasons. He’s showing no signs of slowing down, leading the league in rushing yards and touchdowns multiple times in recent years. We’ll see how far up the career lists he can ascend in the next few years.