Alabama football: 15 greatest Crimson Tide NFL careers ever

Greatest Alabama football career No.12: Shaun Alexander

A major standout in the SEC before the turn of the century, Shaun Alexander was an elite running back who starred at Alabama before a very solid NFL career. He was an All-American and SEC Player of the Year way back in 1999 before getting his shot at the NFL.

The Seattle Seahawks gave him that shot, taking him with the 19th pick of the 2000 NFL Draft. He was the backup running back during his rookie season, but emerged as one of the NFL’s best runners in the years following that, beginning a string of five straight 1000-yard seasons.

Alexander played a major role in Seattle’s success during the decade, making three straight Pro Bowls and scoring a ton of points for the Seahawks. The clear highlight of his career was his 2005 season, where he led the NFL with 1880 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. Not only did he win NFL MVP, but he helped lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl.

That campaign was his final 1000-yard season, though he did have two more decent seasons with the Seahawks. Alexander spent the 2008 season with the Washington Redskins, but barely saw the field and instead saw the end of his career.

Alexander had 100 rushing touchdowns in the regular season, adding a few more in the playoffs, and was one of the best offensive players of the 2000s, and not just for Seattle. Alexander’s role in Seattle’s success cannot be understated, and that 27-touchdown season remains legendary in many ways.