| The University of Alabama has a rich football | | | | second overall pick in the NFL Draft in 1936. This |
| tradition that dates back to the early part of the | | | | was the first ever NFL Draft in history and Smith |
| 1900s. The Crimson Tide have been involved in | | | | was the first drafted player to sign a contract. He |
| some of the greatest games in college football | | | | would play just three seasons in the NFL, first |
| history. They have also sent some truly great | | | | with Boston and then two seasons after the |
| players on to play in the NFL. Who though were | | | | team moved to the nation's capital and became |
| the five players drafted highest in NFL history out | | | | the Washington Redskins, before an injury ended |
| of Alabama? | | | | his career. He would later go into coaching and |
| Harry Gilmer - QB/HB | | | | serve in World War II. |
| Harry Gilmer played quarterback and halfback for | | | | Cornelius Bennett - LB |
| eight years in the NFL. He was drafted with the | | | | Cornelius Bennett starred for Alabama in the mid |
| first overall pick in the draft by the Washington | | | | 1980s before being drafted in the first round with |
| Redskins in 1948 after quarterbacking for | | | | the third pick overall by the Indianapolis Colts in |
| Alabama. He played six seasons in Washington | | | | 1987. He never suited up for the Colts though |
| before playing his final two years for the Detroit | | | | that season as before the year began he was |
| Lions and then retiring following the 1956 season. | | | | involved in a three way trade that brought Eric |
| Nine years later he would return to prominence as | | | | Dickerson to Indianapolis and sent Bennett to |
| he became the head coach of the Lions. He would | | | | Buffalo where he starred for the Bills for a |
| only last two seasons though after putting up a | | | | number of years, including appearing in four |
| record of 10-16-2. Gilmer was elected into the | | | | straight Super Bowls. While at Alabama, Bennett |
| College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. | | | | was named an All-American three times, won the |
| Joe Namath - QB | | | | 1986 Lombardi Award, and was the 1986 SEC |
| Possibly the most famous player in Alabama | | | | Player of the Year. In 2005, Cornelius Bennett |
| Crimson Tide history, Joe Namath not only | | | | was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame. |
| starred in Alabama, but also with the New York | | | | Chris Samuels |
| Jets who chose him with the first overall pick in | | | | In 2000, the Washington Redskins drafted |
| the 1965 NFL Draft. Namath played 13 seasons in | | | | offensive tackle Chris Samuels out of the |
| the NFL, but none more important than when he | | | | University of Alabama with the third overall pick in |
| led the Jets to an upset Super Bowl victory over | | | | the first round. Samuels was born and raised in |
| the Baltimore Colts in the 1968 Super Bowl, | | | | Alabama and then went on to become one of the |
| putting the American Football League on the map. | | | | best blockers in Crimson Tide history. He started |
| After 12 years in New York, Namath would spend | | | | every game from early on during his freshman |
| one final NFL season with the Los Angeles Rams | | | | season right up until his final game as a senior and |
| before hanging it up. After football, Namath | | | | never gave up a quarterback sack. Samuels went |
| dabbled in both broadcasting and acting. | | | | on to a very successful NFL career with the |
| Riley Smith - QB/HB/LB/K | | | | Redskins, making it to six Pro Bowls in just his |
| Riley Smith starred for the University of Alabama | | | | first ten years in the league. |
| in the early 1930s and then was drafted with the | | | | |
