Former Clay-Chalkville High School star Nico Collins joined 11 Crimson Tide alumni as the players from Alabama high schools and colleges chosen for the Pro Bowl for the 2024 season.
Last season’s Pro Bowl players with Alabama football roots, with number of selections, included:
Detroit Lions strong safety Brian Branch (Alabama), first
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville), first
Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson (Alabama), third
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama), fifth
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama), second
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (Alabama), fifth
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, Alabama), fourth
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama), third
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (Alabama), first
Green Bay Packers free safety Xavier McKinney (Alabama), first
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (Alabama), third
New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama), third
Only two running backs have more Pro Bowl selections this century than Henry. Adrian Peterson had seven, and LeSean McCoy had six. Fitzpatrick is a little farther down the 21st century Pro Bowl safety list, with eight players having at least six selections
But neither Henry nor Fitzpatrick cracked the top 10 for Pro Bowl selections among players from Alabama high schools and colleges. Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens (Benjamin Russell) and Chris Samuels (Shaw, Alabama) have six Pro Bowl selections apiece, and they aren’t in the state’s top 10 either.
Five players from Alabama high schools and colleges have been chosen nine times apiece for pro football all-star games – either the NFL’s current Pro Bowl Games, the preceding Pro Bowl, the former AFL All-Star Game or the NFL’s old Pro All-Star Game.
Ten players from Alabama high schools and colleges have been selected at least seven times.
The players with Alabama football roots with the most all-star game selections include:
1. Maxie Baughan, Bessemer High School: Nine Pro Bowl invitations
The linebacker was a Pro Bowler for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1965 and for the Los Angeles Rams in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.
1. John Hannah, Albertville High School, Alabama: Nine Pro Bowl invitations
The guard was a Pro Bowler for the New England Patriots in 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985. Hannah was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
1. Walter Jones, Aliceville High School: Nine Pro Bowl invitations
The offensive tackle was a Pro Bowler for the Seattle Seahawks in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Jones was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
1. Derrick Thomas, Alabama: Nine Pro Bowl invitations
The outside linebacker was a Pro Bowler for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. Thomas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
1. DeMarcus Ware, Auburn High School, Troy: Nine Pro Bowl invitations
The outside linebacker was a Pro Bowler for the Dallas Cowboys in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and the Denver Broncos in 2014 and 2015. Ware is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.
6. Buck Buchanan, Parker High School (Birmingham): Eight Pro Bowl invitations
The defensive tackle was a Pro Bowler for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971. Buchanan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
6. Tyreek Hill, West Alabama: Eight Pro Bowl invitations
The wide receiver was a Pro Bowler for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 and the Miami Dolphins in 2022 and 2023.
6. Philip Rivers, Athens High School: Eight Pro Bowl invitations
The quarterback was a Pro Bowler for the San Diego Chargers in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2016 and the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017 and 2018.
9. Robert Brazile, Vigor High School (Prichard): Seven Pro Bowl invitations
The outside linebacker was a Pro Bowler for the Houston Oilers in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982. Brazile was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
9. Julio Jones, Foley High School, Alabama: Seven Pro Bowl invitations
The wide receiver was a Pro Bowler for the Atlanta Falcons in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
