Bama in the NFL: Woodrow Lowe Still the Exception With Los Angeles Chargers

If it wasn't for the former Alabama linebacker, the Crimson Tide wouldn't have much of a legacy with the NFL franchise.

He was the first player the then-San Diego Chargers drafted from the University of Alabama, and nearly 50 years later Woodrow Lowe has still made the biggest impact in the franchise out of anyone from the Crimson Tide. 

He was also just a fifth-round section in the 1976 NFL Draft, but Lowe ended up missing just one game over 11 seasons and ranked 10th in franchise history with 164 games played. Lowe also served as a team captain for seven seasons and was voted to the Chargers 50th Anniversary Team in 2009.

The linebacker was credited with 21 career interceptions and returned four of them for touchdowns, and 25 sacks. At Alabama, though, he was a tackling machine. 

Lowe is one of only two Crimson Tide players to be a three-time All-American selection, which he earned from 1973 to 1975. Statistically, his best year was as a sophomore, when he had 134 tackles, including six for a loss, and three interceptions to help lead Alabama to the national championship.

The 134 still stands as the Alabama single-season record even though the Crimson Tide plays more games nowadays. No one is more surprised by it than the former player himself.

“We have some great football players who have attended the University of Alabama for the last 30 to 40 years,” Lowe said. “My idol before I got to the university was Lee Roy Jordan. I knew if I could just live up to his expectations, I would be okay and be halfway decent. For that record to stand as long as it has, that means there have been a lot of great defensive players at the University of Alabama in regards to no one single individual player on the team. Even back in 1973, we had a lot of great players on the defensive side of the football.

During his four years, Alabama never failed to win the Southeastern Conference championship, and played in two Sugar Bowls, one Orange Bowl, and a Cotton Bowl.

“We had a very prolific offense, running the ball and throwing play-action passes and we were a great defensive team too,” Lowe said. “When we went on the field, we just expected to win.”

Although it took a little longer than expected, Lowe was enshrined in the College Football Fall of Fame in 2010. His class included 16 players and coaches John Robinson and Dick MacPherson. Among them were two Heisman Trophy winners, Notre Dame’s Tim Brown and Miami’s Gino Torretta — whom Alabama beat in the 1993 Sugar Bowl to win a national championship.

“He was consistently excellent throughout his playing career and his induction into the Hall of Fame is very appropriate,” former athletic director Mal Moore, who was an assistant coach during Lowe’s career, said with his induction. “He put together a career that set a standard that carries on to this day.”

Bama in the NFL: Las Vegas Raiders

The Franchise

American Football Conference

West Division 

Team Colors: Powder Blue, Sunshine Gold, White, Navy (color rush only), Riyal Blue (color rush only)

Stadium: SoFi Stadium (capacity 71,500)

Playing Surface: Artificial Turf (Hellas 44oz. Matrix System) 

Training Camp: Jack Hammett Sports Complex

All-Time Alabama Players

1. Jesse Bendross, WR, 1984 - 1985
2. Simeon Castille, DB, 2009
3. D.J. Fluker, OT, 2013 - 2016
4. Galloway, Ahmaad, RB, 2004
5. Jarret Johnson, DE, 2012 - 2014
6. Woodrow Lowe, LB, 1976 - 1986
7. Cole Mazza, LS, 2019 - 2020
8. Le'Ron McClain, RB, 2012 - 2013
9. Bill Searcey, OG, 1985
10. JK Scott, P, 2022
11. Damion Square, DE, 2014 - 2020
12. George Thornton, DT, 1991 - 1992

Crimson Tide Players Drafted

Year	Player	Pos.	Round	Pick	Overall
1976	Woodrow Lowe	LB	5	7	131
1980	Steve Whitman	RB	9	26	247
1980	Wayne Hamilton	LB	6	25	163
1982	Warren Lyles	DT	9	23	246
1984	Jesse Bendross	WR	7	6	174
1991	George Thornton	DT	2	9	36
2005	Wesley Britt	OT	5	28	164
2013	D.J Fluker	DT	1	11	11

Super Bowl Appearances

None. The Chargers played in Super Bowl XXIX, and lost to the 49ers, 49–26. There were no Crimson Tide players on the Chargers roster at the time. 

Major Awards/Honors

All-Pro

None

Pro Bowl

None

San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team

Woodrow Lowe

Buffalo Bills running back Joe Cribbs (20) is chased by San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Earl Wilson (93) and Woodrow Lowe (51) in 1985 :: Peter Brouillet / USA Today Sports

In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the 18th story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.

AFC

• Baltimore Ravens
• Buffalo Bills
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns
• Denver Broncos
• Houston Texans
• Indianapolis Colts
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Las Vegas Raiders

NFC

• Arizona Cardinals
• Atlanta Falcons
• Carolina Panthers
• Chicago Bears
• Dallas Cowboys
• Detroit Lions
• Green Bay Packers

See Also

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