Alabama Roots: Top 10 in NFL passing yards

This is the list that shows why quarterback Philip Rivers is on top of the Alabama roots’ top 10 for NFL pay. With 63,440, the former Athens High School star has the sixth-most passing yards in NFL history and almost twice as many as any other player from an Alabama high school or college.

A pair of former Crimson Tide quarterbacks are starting to make their way up the Alabama-roots passing chart after four NFL seasons, although they have a long way to go to reach Rivers. The Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa and Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts rank ninth and 10th, respectively, after the 2023 season.

Tagovailoa led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards last season, and Hurts displaced Bobby Thomason (Leeds) from the top 10 by throwing for 3,858 yards in 2023.

Jameis Winston (Hueytown) holds the Alabama roots single-season record for NFL passing yards with 5,109 in 2019.

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The top 10 NFL passers with Alabama roots (ranked by passing yards):

1. Philip Rivers, Athens High School: 63,440 passing yards

San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers 2004-2019, Indianapolis Colts 2020: Completed 5,277-of-8,134 passes with 421 touchdowns, 209 interceptions and a 95.2 passing-efficiency rating. Eight-time Pro Bowler.

2. Cam Newton, Auburn: 32,382 passing yards

Carolina Panthers 2011-2019, 2021, New England Patriots 2020: Completed 2,682-of-4,474 passes with 194 touchdowns, 123 interceptions and an 85.2 passing-efficiency rating. One-time All-Pro, three-time Pro Bowler and 2015 NFL MVP.

3. Ken Stabler, Foley High School, Alabama: 27,938 passing yards

Oakland Raiders 1970-1979, Houston Oilers 1980-1981, New Orleans Saints 1982-1984: Completed 2,270-of-3,793 passes with 194 touchdowns, 222 interceptions and a 75.3 passing-efficiency rating. One-time All-Pro, four-time Pro Bowler, 1974 NFL MVP, one-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

4. Joe Namath, Alabama: 27,663 passing yards

New York Jets 1965-1976, Los Angeles Rams 1977: Completed 1,866-of-3,762 passes with 173 touchdowns, 220 interceptions and a 65.5 passing-efficiency rating. One-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler, 1968 and 1969 AFL Player of the Year, one-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

5. Bart Starr, Sidney Lanier High School, Alabama: 24,718 passing yards

Green Bay Packers 1956-1971: Completed 1,808-of-3,149 passes with 152 touchdowns, 138 interceptions and 80.5 passing-efficiency rating. One-time All-Pro, four-time Pro Bowler, 1966 NFL MVP, five-time NFL champion, two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

6. Jameis Winston, Hueytown High School: 22,104 passing yards

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2015-2019, New Orleans Saints 2020-2023: Has completed 1,763-of-2,882 passes with 141 touchdowns, 99 interceptions and an 87.0 passing-efficiency rating. One-time Pro Bowler.

7. Richard Todd, Davidson High School, Alabama: 20,610 passing yards

New York Jets 1976-1983, New Orleans Saints 1984-1985: Completed 1,610-of-2,967 passes with 124 touchdowns, 161 interceptions and a 67.6 passing-efficiency rating.

8. Jason Campbell, Auburn: 16,771 passing yards

Washington Redskins 2005-2009, Oakland Raiders 2010-2011, Chicago Bears 2012, Cleveland Browns 2013, Cincinnati Bengals 2014: Completed 1,519-of-2,518 passes with 87 touchdowns, 60 interceptions and an 81.7 passing-efficiency rating.

9. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama: 12,639 passing yards

Miami Dolphins 2020-2023: Has completed 1,096-of-1,638 passes with 81 touchdowns, 37 interceptions and a 97.1 passing-efficiency rating.

10. Jalen Hurts, Alabama: 11,764 passing yards

Philadelphia Eagles 2020-2023: Has completed 1,000-of-1,578 passes with 67 touchdowns, 34 interceptions and a 91.1 passing-efficiency rating.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at@AMarkG1.