Chiefs, Broncos among few teams without any Alabama players
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of six teams in the NFL without a single player from Alabama, who have a total of 53 players in the league.
While the roster slots won’t exactly fit, the Alabama Crimson Tide could make up their own 53-man NFL roster. That’s exactly how many former members of the Crimson Tide are currently on NFL rosters, an incredible total that any college would love to claim.
The Kansas City Chiefs are one of only six teams in the NFL without a single Alabama alum on its roster. The others include the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.
The last draft selection made by the Chiefs from the University of Alabama was Nico Johnson, a linebacker taken in the fourth round back in 2013—John Dorsey’s first ever draft class with K.C. Other picks over the years include quarterback Brodie Croyle and defensive backs Javier Arenas and DeQuan Menzie. Of course, perhaps the greatest player in Chiefs history was also a product of the Crimson Tide: pass rusher Derrick Thomas. The Chiefs have also employed defensive linemen in recent years like Wallace Gilberry and Damion Square, who both played college ball at ‘Bama.
The overall number of Alabama players in the NFL will undoubtedly drop once rosters shrink from their current limit at 90 overall to the final 53 for each team, but the current total is reason enough to brag. Nick Saban has created a pro football factory that shows no sign of letting up, as illustrated 10 new players selected in this year’s draft.