Being an Alabama fan, I consider it such a great accomplishment that here in 2021, four alumni are still playing in the NFL and two of them as NFL starting quarterbacks. It’s nothing but luck that all four of them are playing on different teams. I’ve been keeping tabs on them, watching their successes & their struggles and they all have amazing, but different stories.
Tua Tagovailoa, everyone’s favorite (at least in our house) as he was an AL native, grew up in Hawaii and led the Miami Dolphins to a Wild Card round this season. Despite loads of injuries and a shaky start to his career, he is proving his worth this season.
Staying in the NFC East, Jalen Hurts has been under center for the Eagles since week 13. Everyone’s counting on him to be the one to lead the Eagles to make a miraculous comeback and perhaps sense of normalcy. He’s doing well though, considering the players he has around him are not in any way meet NFL standard. It’s remarkable what he’s been able to pull off and it’s like watching a kid trying to beat a grown man.
Lastly, Mac Jones and AJ McCarron, both had their own stories to tell. Jones took over for Tom Brady after his departure from the Patriots in 2020, and after a few tweaks, he proved to be a worthy replacement. And with McCarron, he’s a great backup for the top 10 team, the Houston Texans. He’s done well in the three games played and filled in well for Deshaun Watson when he was injured earlier this year.
Though it’s quite uncanny that all four ended up on different teams in the NFL, and not to mention the top 2 guys under center at the moment, it’s a great showcase for Tennessee football and especially Alabama football. The Crimson Tide has always had a reputation of producing successful quarterbacks and it’s all about the coaching and the system in place.
Following the 4 QBs, is an even larger pool of players playing in the NFL and more and more are coming up through the ranks as the years go by. It’s always interesting to watch when they go up against one another, and cheer them on every step of the way.
My own opinion is that there’s always going to be great QBs coming out of one of the top college programs in the country, and it all rides on the coach and his prowess in picking out the right talent and grooming them to become successful NFL players.
I couldn’t overlook the offensive and defensive linemen that have been developed at Alabama as well. All the players on the team have played an important role in getting these QBs to where they are today.
It wasn’t just Joe Burrow that made the connection with the Bengal’s Offense, Andrew Whitworth and Cordy Glenn, the veteran linemen are both extremely experienced and understand the importance of taking care of the young QB they’ve got. That’s why I believe that the coaching staff needs to be held accountable for their actions and that no single person should be glorified for the success.
When debating about who the best QB coming out of college is, I always count the number of AL alumni starting in the NFL as a great testament to the program and the abundance of talent coming out from the University.
In addition, arguing who is the top AL QB in the NFL is a challenge as well, but I think Tua has to be the top candidate with the potential to become really special with the Dolphins and if the team is able to get some more pieces in place, they could be really successful with him at the helm. Hurts is improving in every game, and it’s only a matter of time until he’s leading a team to the playoffs.
One fun fact is that all four QBs are all the same age, which is noteworthy. All four of them share a very similar path up to being successful in the NFL, but the way that they’ve all taken different paths once they got to the pros is what makes them unique.
At the end of the day, it’s pretty special having four AL QBs play in the NFL. We should all be lucky to have that kind of representation and it shows what team spirit, hard work, and dedication can ever achieve. It’s one of those things that make you feel proud when you’re an Alabama fan.
With that said, there’s definitely something to be said for having four AL QBs playing in the NFL at the same time and it shows the level of talent that is being produced in the college program. But as with any group of individual players, it’s always difficult to judge who is the best and who will be the next star. That’s what makes it interesting though, since each QB brings something different to their game.
It’s not just the QBs who have been making a name for themselves either. AJ Johnson, an Alabama linebacker, was picked by the Minnesota Vikings just recently, which shows how the program is producing both offensively and defensively. It’s great to see that the program is producing players who can make an immediate impact in the NFL.
But it’s not just about the players on the field. It’s about the coaches too. Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, and Lane Kiffin all have their fingerprints all over this incredible era of AL QBs, and I think a lot of their success can be contributed to their hard work. They’ve all worked to build a strong foundation of playmakers and get their regards across the NFL.
While the spotlight might be on the QBs, this program is more than just quarterbacks. It’s also a great opportunity for an array of versatile players to showcase their talents. Over the years, players like Najee Harris, Jonathan Allen, C.J. Mosley, and O.J. Howard have all made an impact in the NFL, which shows that the AL program is well-rounded and can produce talent throughout the team.
There’s no doubt that the success of four AL QBs in the NFL is a testament to the program and the way the coaches have groomed these players to make an immediate impact. And while it may be difficult to say who the best QB is, it’s clear that the AL program has produced some incredible talent that will continue to make an impact for years to come.