The Greatest Alabama Crimson Tide Football Players of All Time
Alabama has had many great football players over the years, and it is difficult to say definitively who is the best. However, some of the most notable players include:
- Joe Namath: Namath was a quarterback for the Crimson Tide from 1962 to 1964. He led the team to a national championship in 1964 and was named the Heisman Trophy winner that same year. Namath went on to play in the NFL for the New York Jets and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
- Ken Stabler: Stabler was a quarterback for the Crimson Tide from 1965 to 1967. He led the team to a national championship in 1965 and was named the Heisman Trophy runner-up that same year. Stabler went on to play in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
- Derrick Thomas: Thomas was a linebacker for the Crimson Tide from 1985 to 1988. He is considered to be one of the greatest defensive players in college football history. Thomas was a consensus All-American in 1988 and was named the Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft and played for the Chiefs until his death in 2000.
- John Hannah: Hannah was an offensive lineman for the Crimson Tide from 1970 to 1972. He is considered to be one of the greatest offensive linemen in college football history. Hannah was a consensus All-American in 1972 and was named the Outland Trophy winner that same year. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft and played for the Patriots until his retirement in 1985.
- Julio Jones: Jones was a wide receiver for the Crimson Tide from 2008 to 2010. He is considered to be one of the greatest wide receivers in college football history. Jones was a consensus All-American in 2010 and was named the Biletnikoff Award winner that same year. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft and has played for the Falcons since then.
- DeVonta Smith: Smith was a wide receiver for the Crimson Tide from 2017 to 2020. He is considered to be one of the greatest wide receivers in college football history. Smith was a unanimous All-American in 2020 and was named the Heisman Trophy winner that same year. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft and has played for the Eagles since then.