Bama in the NFL: Tracking Crimson Tide Players During NFL Wild-Card Weekend

Take a look at how many former Alabama stars will take the field in the first round of the 2023-24 NFL Playoffs.

It's no secret that over the last decade and change, the Alabama Crimson Tide has developed players for the NFL like no other program. Bama led the NFL with 57 former players on active rosters as of Week 1 of this season, and ended up setting the record for having the most active players in the NFL during season. 

Take a look at where some of the program's best will be playing on wild-card weekend.

Saturday's Games

Browns at Texans, 3:30, p.m. CT, NBC

In the first showdown of the 2023 playoffs, two teams loaded with former Alabama stars will face off. 

Taking the field for the Browns will be memorable Tide legends Amari Cooper, Dalvin Tomlinson, Jedrick Wills, Jr. and Alex Leatherwood. 

© Charles LeClaire-USA Today Sports

On the other side of the field, the Houston Texans feature even more Tide legends. Of the five players on the roster, the most veteran presence of the group is safety Kareem Jackson, followed by four more players within their first or second seasons in the league: linebackers Will Anderson, Jr., Christian Harris and Henry To'o To'o, and wideout John Metchie III. 

Dolphins at Chiefs, 7 p.m., Peacock Streaming

The Miami Dolphins, led by none other than Tua Tagovailoa, were one of the NFL's hottest teams in 2023, and feature a total of four Alabama alumni on the roster. On the offense, outside of the aforementioned Tagovailoa, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was one of the league's top threats, and guard Lester Cotton helped pave the way for one of the most productive offenses in recent memory. 

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On the other side of the ball, Da'Shawn Hand and Raekwon Davis locked down the middle, helping Miami finish the season with one of the top rushing defenses in the NFL.

Sunday's Games

Steelers at Bills, noon, CBS [Note: The game has been rescheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT, Monday due to inclement weather]

The Steelers feature three former Alabama players, two of which a hold special places in the program's record books for their times in Tuscaloosa. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick leads the way in the Pittsburgh secondary alongside Levi Wallace, and on the offense, running back Najee Harris rushed for his third straight 1000+ yard season. 

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Fellow former Tide running back Damien Harris will suit up for Buffalo. The Kentucky native spent his first four years in the league with New England before joining the Bills in 2023. 

Packers at Cowboys, 3:30 p.m., Fox

Cornerback Trevon Diggs, drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, will be the only former Alabama star on either roster. However, he's out after suffering a season-ending ACL injury. Since joining the Cowboys, Diggs has become of the most feared defensive backs in the NFL, hauling in 18 interceptions in four years. 

Rams at Lions, 7 p.m., NBC

In the final game of Sunday, the Rams will take the field with just one player who once wore Crimson and White while the Lions will feature three. 

Long snapper Carson Tinker, an undrafted free agent in 2013, joined the Rams in Week 14 after an injury to the starter Alex Ward.  Since then, the eight year veteran has been the primary option for Los Angeles. 

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As for the Lions, running back Jahmyr Gibbs and wideout Jameson Williams make up critical parts of a successful Detroit offense, while safety Brian Branch has been excellent in the secondary, hauling in three picks and finishing the regular season with nearly 75 tackles in only nine starts. 

Monday's Game

Eagles at Buccaneers, 7 p.m., ESPN/ABC

The final game of wild-card weekend will feature seven former Tide stars, all of which will take the field for the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Quarterback Jalen Hurts leads the offense joined by center Landon Dickerson and wideouts DeVonta Smith and Julio Jones. Also on the Eagles offense is former Tide tackle Tyler Steen, though the rookie saw time in just eleven games with one start. 

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On the defensive side of the ball are cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Eli Ricks, both of which saw limited time as rotational pieces in the secondary. 

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