Bama in the NFL: The Crimson Tide's History with the Arizona Cardinals

The Crimson Tide and Cardinals' franchise go way back together in football history, but there hasn't been much of a recent connection.

In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the first story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.

The Alabama Crimson Tide has a pretty rich history with the NFL franchise now called the Arizona Cardinals, but not of late. Only three players coached by Nick Saban have been selected by the team in the NFL draft, and just one before the fifth round.

That one was former Alabama All-American safety Rashad Johnson, at third-round pick in 2009, who started 51 games during seven seasons in the desert. For his pro career he was had 345 tackles with the Cardinals, 15 interceptions (returning three for touchdowns), and 30 passes defended, before playing a final year with the Tennessee Titans.

Only twice in franchise history, which dates back to Chicago as the Cardinals are the oldest surviving professional football club in the United States (1898, when it was the amateur Morgan Athletic Club, and subsequently became a charter member of the National Football League along with the Chicago Bears), has the team used a first-round draft pick on an Alabama player. 

The first was quarterback Joe Namath, the 12th-overall selection in 1965. Instead, he signed with the New York Jets in the upstart AFL. The other was linebacker EJ Junior, the fifth-overall selection in 1981. 

A recent inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, Junior was a finalist for the Lombardi Award and helped lead Alabama to consecutive national championships in 1978 and 1979, coach Paul "Bear" Bryant's final national title. 

He played 13 seasons in the NFL, from 1981 to 1993, and was named an All-Pro.

Other notable players in franchise history include linebacker Keith McCants, who played his final two seasons with the Cardinals under head coach Buddy Ryan, and safety Benny Perrin. McCants scored two defensive touchdowns, and Perrin had nine interceptions and five fumble recoveries from 1982-85.  

Bama in the NFL: Arizona Cardinals

The Crimson Tide and Cardinals' franchise go way back together in football history, but there hasn't been much of a recent connection.

The Franchise

National Football Conference 

West Division     

Team Colors: Cardinal Red, Black and White

Founded: 1898 in Chicago

Previously known as the Morgan Athletic Club, Racine Street Normals, Racine Cardinals, Chicago Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals, Phoenix Cardinals. One of two charter members of the NFL still playing in the league.

Stadium: State Farm Stadium (65,000) 

Playing Surface: Grass

Training Camp: State Farm Stadium

All-Time Alabama Players

1. Javier Arenas, DB, 2013
2. Jim Cain, DE/OE, 1949
3. Tim Castille, RB, 2008
4. Ed Culpepper, DT, 1958 - 1960
5. Wayne Davis, LB, 1987 - 1988
6. Kenyan Drake, RB, 2019 - 2021
7. Dante Ellington, OT, 2005
8. Tony Holm, RB/LB, 1932
9. Rashad Johnson, DB, 2009 - 2015
10. E.J. Junior, LB, 1981 - 1988
11. Kenny King, DE, 2003 - 2005
12. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, 2020
13. Evan Mathis, OG, 2016
14. Jason McAddley, WR, 2002 - 2003
15. Keith McCants, DE, 1994 - 1995
16. Ricky Moore, RB, 1988
17. Ray Ogden, TE, 1965 - 1966
18. Benny Perrin, DB, 1982 - 1985
19. Willie Shelby, RB, 1978
20. Andre Smith, OT, 2018
21. Anthony Steen, OG, 2014
22. Vaughn Stewart, C, 1943
23. Ed Stinson, DE, 2014 - 2016
24. Deionte Thompson, S, 2019 -2022
25. Jerry Watford, OE/DE, 1953 - 1954
26. Art "Tarzan" White, G, 1940 - 1941
27. Bobby Wood, OT, 1940
28. Steve Wright, OT, 1972

All-Time Alabama Players in the NFL

Crimson Tide Players Drafted

Year	Player	Pos.	Round	Pick	Overall
2019	Dionte Thompson	S	5	1	139
2014	Ed Stinson	DE	5	20	160
2009	Rashad Johnson	S	3	31	95
2003	Kenny King	DT	5	6	141
2002	Jason McAddley	WR	5	14	149
1987	Wayne Davis	LB	9	6	229
1982	Benny Perrin	S	3	10	65
1981	E.J. Junior	LB	1	5	5
1981	James Mallard	WR	10	5	253
1965	Joe Namath	QB	1	12	12
1965	Ray Ogden	E	3	12	40
1965	Buddy French	B	11	12	152
1963	Mike Fracchia	B	3	5	33
1962	Bill Rice	E	5	13	69
1954	Tommy Lewis	B	10	1	110
1954	Ralph Carrigan	C	26	1	302
1953	Jerry Watford	G	8	2	87
1953	Joe Curtis	E	21	3	244
1952	Harold Lutz	E	28	3	328
1949	Jim Cain	E	7	9	70
1946	Phil Tinsley	E	8	1	61
1943	George Hecht	G	5	3	33
1942	Jimmy Nelson	B	19	4	174

Super Bowl Appearances

Tim Castille, Super Bowl XLIII, Feb. 1, 2009

The Steelers beat the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, 27-23. It's the only time the Cardinals have played in a Super Bowl, although they won two NFL championships prior to the AFL-NFL merger. 

EJ Junior as an Alabama linebacker

Notable Awards/Honors

All-Pro 

E.J. Junior (1): 1984 

Pro Bowl

E.J. Junior (2): 1984-85

Note: John David Crow, who was an Alabama assistant coach, was named to the Pro Bowl in 1959, 1960 and 1962

See Also:

Bama in the NFL: The Ultimate Crimson Tide Database
Bama in the NFL: Active Alabama Crimson Tide Players by Team