Five players from Alabama high schools or colleges have been chosen nine times apiece for pro football all-star games – either the NFL’s current Pro Bowl Games, the preceding Pro Bowl, the former AFL All-Star Game or the NFL’s old Pro All-Star Game.
Four of those players – John Hannah, Walter Jones, Derrick Thomas and DeMarcus Ware – are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The missing player is Maxie Baughan, a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams in the 1960s.
Of the other four players, the longest wait for entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was four years. Baughan played in his final game 50 years ago.
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Ten players from Alabama high schools and colleges have been selected as Pro Bowlers at least seven times. Three are not yet eligible to be considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Six are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And then there’s Baughan.
One of those not-yet-eligible players is Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. He made it eight-for-eight for Pro Bowl selections in his career in 2023.
Fourteen players with Alabama football roots were chosen for last season’s Pro Bowl Games, including four first-time selections. They boosted to 141 the number of players from Alabama high schools and colleges selected at least once for one of the pro football all-star games.
In addition to Hill, the Pro Bowlers with Alabama football roots in the 2023 NFL season included:
· Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen (Abbeville)
· Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama)
· Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown (Auburn)
· Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (Alabama)
· Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson (Alabama)
· Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama)
· Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama)
· Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama)
· Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (Alabama)
· Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly (Alabama)
· Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (Alabama)
· Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama)
· New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama)
While the NFL has changed the Pro Bowl to the Pro Bowl Games, with the players competing in flag football and a variety of other contests, the honor of selection remains.
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The players with Alabama football roots with the most all-star game selections include:
Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Derrick Thomas knocks the football away from Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon during an NFL game on Jan. 16, 1994, in the Astrodome in Houston, Texas.AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
1. Maxie Baughan, Bessemer High School: Nine Pro Bowl invitations
The linebacker was a Pro Bowler for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1965 and for the Los Angeles Rams in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.
1. John Hannah, Albertville High School, Alabama: Nine Pro Bowl invitations
The guard was a Pro Bowler for the New England Patriots in 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985. Hannah was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
1. Walter Jones, Aliceville High School: Nine Pro Bowl invitations
The offensive tackle was a Pro Bowler for the Seattle Seahawks in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Jones was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
1. Derrick Thomas, Alabama: Nine Pro Bowl invitations
The outside linebacker was a Pro Bowler for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. Thomas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
1. DeMarcus Ware, Auburn High School, Troy: Nine Pro Bowl invitations
The outside linebacker was a Pro Bowler for the Dallas Cowboys in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and the Denver Broncos in 2014 and 2015. Ware is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.
6. Buck Buchanan, Parker High School in Birmingham: Eight Pro Bowl invitations
The defensive tackle was a Pro Bowler for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971. Buchanan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
6. Tyreek Hill, West Alabama: Eight Pro Bowl invitations
The wide receiver was a Pro Bowler for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 and the Miami Dolphins in 2022 and 2023.
6. Philip Rivers, Athens High School: Eight Pro Bowl invitations
The quarterback was a Pro Bowler for the San Diego Chargers in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2016 and the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017 and 2018.
9. Robert Brazile, Vigor High School in Prichard: Seven Pro Bowl invitations
The outside linebacker was a Pro Bowler for the Houston Oilers in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982. Brazile was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
9. Julio Jones, Foley High School, Alabama: Seven Pro Bowl invitations
The wide receiver was a Pro Bowler for the Atlanta Falcons in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter@AMarkG1.