Derrick Vincent Thomas, nicknamed "D. T.", was an American professional football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Considered one of the greatest pass rushers of all time, he played 11 seasons with the Chiefs until his death in 2000. Thomas played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he won the Butkus Award, and was selected fourth overall by Kansas City in the 1989 NFL draft. During his career, he received nine Pro Bowl and two first-team All-Pro selections, and set the single-game sacks record.
Marcus Dell Gastineau is an American former professional football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons with the New York Jets. During his NFL career, he was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1982 and was the first player to lead the league in sacks in consecutive seasons. Gastineau also received five Pro Bowl and four first-team All-Pro selections. At the time of his retirement, he held the single-season sack record. For his accomplishments in New York, Gastineau was inducted to the Jets Ring of Honor in 2012.
John Antonio Abraham is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and linebacker for 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, and was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft. Abraham also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals. A three time first-team All-Pro and five time selection for the Pro Bowl, Abraham is often regarded as one of the greatest defensive ends of the 2000s, and universally cited as one of the greatest defensive linemen in the history of the New York Jets.
Dwight Eugene Stephenson is an American former professional football player who was a center for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1980 to 1987. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Stephenson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
Joseph Edward Klecko is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the New York Jets. He played college football for the Temple Owls and was a member of the Jets' famed "New York Sack Exchange".
Cornelius O'Landa Bennett is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1995, Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2000. Bennett was a five-time Pro Bowler, being elected in 1988, and 1990–1993, and won the AFC Defensive Player of the Year award twice.
Robert Glenn Baumhower is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide under coach Bear Bryant from 1973 to 1976 and professionally for Miami under coach Don Shula. He later became a restaurateur.
Dan Klecko is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle and fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football for the Temple Owls.
Ben Dreith was an American professional football on-field official who worked from 1960 to 1969 in the American Football League (AFL) and from 1970 to 1990 in the National Football League (NFL). Prior to his teaching and officiating career, he was a three-sport athlete at the University of Northern Colorado.
Abdul Salaam was an American professional football player who played defensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He was a member of a defensive line known as the "New York Sack Exchange".
The New York Sack Exchange were the front four defensive line of the American football team New York Jets of the National Football League during the early 1980s. The line consisted of Mark Gastineau, Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam.
Ester James Junior III is an American former football player and coach. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, from 1981 to 1993, with the St. Louis / Phoenix Cardinals, the Miami Dolphins, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Seattle Seahawks. Junior played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he played as a defensive end and earned consensus selection to the 1980 College Football All-America Team. He was selected by the Cardinals in the first round with the fifth overall pick of the 1981 NFL draft. Junior served as the head football coach at Central State University from 2009 to 2013. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 2020.
The Alabama Crimson Tide football program represents the University of Alabama in the sport of American football. The team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team is currently led by Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide is among the most storied and decorated football programs in NCAA history. Since beginning play in 1892, the program claims 18 national championships, including 13 wire-service national titles in the poll-era, and five other titles before the poll-era. From 1958 to 1982, the team was led by Hall of Fame coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, who won six national titles with the program. Alabama then had a dominant run under head coach Nick Saban between 2007 and 2023, resulting in six further national titles. The team's rallying cry is "Roll Tide!".
Richard Barry Krauss is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
Kenneth Ray Callahan was an American football player and coach. He was recruited by Coach Paul Bear Bryant at the University of Kentucky in 1952 under a full scholarship. Coach Bryant mentored him often taking him fishing and along on other recruiting trips to convince players to come to U.K. to play. He later coached for his alma mater as an assistant coach from 1963 to 1966. He then moved to University of Cincinnati as an assistant coach for 2 years before becoming the head football coach from 1969 to 1972, compiling a record of 20–23. His first pro team was in 1973 with the Baltimore Colts as a linebacker coach under former teammate Howard Schnellenberger. Callahan then took a chance with the World Football League Florida Blazers with Jack Pardee. The Blazers made it to the World Bowl losing to the Birmingham Americans by 1 point but with controversy in the officiating. Coach Callahan then bolted back to the NFL with the Chicago Bears as the offensive line coach in front of Walter Peyton for his first 3 years as a player. The Washington Redskins was his next stop for 3 years of offensive line coach again with Jack Pardee at the helm. Callahan then headed south to Texas with the Houston Oilers as the defensive line coach for 2 years. Joe Walton then called upon Ray Callahan to lead up the defensive line "sack exchange" consisting of Barry Bennett, Marty Lyons, Joe Klecko, Mark Gastineau, of the New York Jets for the next 7 years. Callahan retired to Bracey, Va on Lake Gaston and enjoyed lake life with his high school sweetheart wife Essie "Lee" Dorsey. Callahan died on September 2, 2017.
Gregory Vincent McElroy Jr. is an American football commentator and former quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft after playing college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. During his high school career, McElroy won several awards including being named an EA Sports All-American and winning a Texas 5A state championship for Southlake Carroll. He was the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide football team. As a junior, he led the Crimson Tide to an undefeated 14–0 season, which included the 2009 SEC Championship and BCS National Championship.
Marcell Dareus is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he was named defensive MVP of the 2010 BCS National Championship Game. Dareus was selected by the Buffalo Bills third overall in the 2011 NFL draft. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Courtney Tremaine Upshaw is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, earning first-team All-American honors in 2011. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft.
Quinnen Williams is an American professional football defensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama and was drafted by the Jets with the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. He is the younger brother of his Jets teammate, linebacker Quincy Williams.
William Anderson Jr. is an American professional football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he won several awards, such as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy twice, and was a part of Alabama's national championship in 2020.
