Alabama football: 15 greatest Crimson Tide NFL careers ever

Greatest Alabama football career No.13: Bob Baumhower

Bob Baumhower starred at Alabama back in the mid-1970s, playing defensive tackle for Bear Bryant’s program. The Crimson Tide had plenty of on-field success during Baumhower’s time in Tuscaloosa and he himself stood out as one of the nation’s best defensive linemen.

He was taken with the 40th pick of the 1977 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, beginning a pro career that would last ten years. Baumhower would stay with the Dolphins for his entire career and do excellent work on the team’s front line.

He started nearly every game of his first eight seasons and was voted to five Pro Bowls. Baumhower was twice a First Team All-Pro and was one of the backbones of Miami’s strong defense in the late ’70s and early ’80s. He was one of the league’s best defensive players in the early 80s, with multiple seasons of at least 8 sacks.

During his run in Miami, Baumhower played in 11 playoff games, including Super Bowls XVII and XIX, both losses for the Dolphins. A knee injury would knock him out for the entire 1985 season and he retired following the next season.

Baumhower has a place in the Dolphins’ Honor Roll and secured his place in the franchise’s history. He wasn’t part of a title-winning team, but he was a perennial Pro Bowler and one of the best defensive linemen of his era, contributing at a major level for the Dolphins.