Alabama's NFL Quarterback Pipeline: From Title Contenders to Benched Rookies

It shouldn't come as a surprise that for the 2024 NFL season, no college is represented more in the league than Alabama.

The Crimson Tide has long been a factory of elite football talent. The powerhouse program not only dominates in the NCAA, but those athletes go on to be successful at the professional level.

Before head coach Kalen DeBoer took over the program this year, it was Nick Saban helping develop first-round, NFL-ready prospects. However, if there was one position that wasn't translating as well, it was at quarterback.

That has changed in recent seasons. Since 2020, three Alabama quarterbacks have been taken in the first round, while one was selected in the second round. That marks a slight change from Alabama's consistent pipeline of elite defenders and powerful running backs.

So who are the QBs from the Crimson Tide in the NFL? The Sporting News has the answer.

Alabama Quarterbacks in the NFL

There are currently four quarterbacks rostered in the NFL that played at Alabama — Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, Dolphin QB Tua Tagovailoa, Panthers QB Bryce Young, and Jaguars QB Mac Jones.

Jalen Hurts: From Oklahoma to Super Bowl Contender

Hurts has been the most successful QB currently in the league that came out of Alabama — however, he wasn't a member of the Crimson Tide when he was drafted. When the Eagles selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft, it was after Hurts spent a season at Oklahoma. He had lost the starting role to Tagovailoa after three years with the Crimson Tide, leading to the transfer to the Sooners.

He's been the full-time starter in Philadelphia since 2021, beating out Carson Wentz for the role. Since then, he has two Pro Bowls to his name and a Super Bowl appearance. He is tied for the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 15, which he accomplished in 2023.

Tua Tagovailoa: A Promising Talent Plagued by Injuries

Tagovailoa was selected in the same draft as Hurts, but he didn't wait long to hear his name called. He was taken with the No. 5 overall pick by Miami, becoming the team's immediate starter in the 2020 season.

The lefty has dealt with injuries his entire NFL career. He's only played one full season in the league, which came in 2023. Tagovailoa suffered his third official concussion in his pro career during Week 2 of the 2024 campaign, putting the rest of his season into question.

Bryce Young: A Dazzling Prospect Facing Early Setbacks

Young became the second QB out of Alabama to be drafted first overall when the Panthers selected him in 2023. It hasn't gone well since.

Carolina finished Young's rookie season with the worst record in the league, going a dismal 2-15. The 2024 season has not been promising either, and the second-year pro was benched after Week 2 in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. It puts a major dent in his development and could signal that his Panthers career is over before it could truly even begin.

Mac Jones: A Disappointing End to a Patriots Tenure

Jones was taken with the No. 15 overall pick in 2021 by the Patriots, giving the team a new starting QB after Cam Newton acted as a bridge between legendary QB Tom Brady and a successor. While the Alabama product enjoyed a strong showing as a rookie, his play in 2022 and 2023 declined, resulting in multiple benches last year.

New England elected to move on from Jones during the 2024 offseason, trading him to the Jaguars where he is now the backup to Trevor Lawrence.

The Legacy of Alabama Quarterbacks in the NFL

There have been 20 Alabama quarterbacks selected in the NFL Draft since 1936, with 12 passers selected post-merger (1970). There have been four first-round picks in that span:

Only Joe Namath and Young have been selected with the top overall selection in the draft, nearly 60 years apart. Namath would win a Super Bowl with the Jets.

It may come as a surprise that only two Alabama quarterbacks have won a Super Bowl as a starter: Namath (Super Bowl 3) and Ken Stabler (Super Bowl 11).