Crimson Tide Players on NFL Rosters
9/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 10, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The National Football League opens its 2009 season this weekend and the Alabama football program will be represented throughout the league with former players and coaches dotting league rosters.
Alabama has 38 former players and coaches working in the NFL this season. The Crimson Tide is also represented on 18 of the league's 30 teams. Four former Alabama players and coaches are with the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The list includes defensive back DeShea Townsend, who has two Super Bowl rings during his tenure with the Steelers, and assistant coaches John Mitchell (assistant head coach/defensive line), Bruce Arians (quarterbacks coach) and Amos Jones (special teams).
The Crimson Tide has 23 current NFL players, including 18 on active rosters and five more on practice squads or injured reserve.
The 2008 Alabama football team is well represented in the NFL as six players off last year's 12-2 SEC Western Division championship team have made their way on an NFL roster, including safety Rashad Johnson (Arizona Cardinals), center Antoine Caldwell (Houston Texans), running back Glen Coffee (San Francisco 49ers) and quarterback John Parker Wilson (Atlanta Falcons) on active rosters, while offensive tackle Andre Smith (Cincinnati Bengals) opens the year on injured reserve and defensive end Bobby Greenwood (Cincinnati Bengals) was signed to the practice squad.
There are 13 former Alabama players and/or coaches serving as assistant coaches in the NFL this season, including Sylvester Croom (St. Louis Rams), Freddie Kitchens (Arizona Cardinals) and Richard Williamson (Carolina Panthers).
The complete listing of players and coaches is as follows:
2009 NFL OPENING DAY ROSTERS
NFL Players:
Player Position Team
Mark Anderson DE Chicago Bears
Antoine Caldwell C Houston Texans
Glen Coffee RB San Francisco 49ers
Brodie Croyle QB Kansas City Chiefs
Rashad Johnson DB Arizona Cardinals
Wallace Gilberry DL Kansas City Chiefs
Cornelius Griffin DL Washington Redskins
Roman Harper DB New Orleans Saints
Jarret Johnson LB Baltimore Ravens
Rashad Johnson DB Arizona Cardinals
Evan Matthis OL Cincinnati Bengals
LeRon McClain FB Baltimore Ravens
Antwan Odom DL Cincinnati Bengals
DeMeco Ryans LB Houston Texans
Chris Samuels OL Washington Redskins
Justin Smiley OL Miami Dolphins
Deshea Townsend DB Pittsburgh Steelers
John Parker Wilson QB Atlanta Falcons
Anthony Bryant DL New York Giants (Practice Squad)
Jeremy Clark DL New York Giants (Waived/Injured)
Bobby Greenwood DL Kansas City Chiefs (Practice Squad)
Charlie Peprah DB Green Bay Packers (Injured Reserve)
Andre Smith OL Cincinnati Bengals (Injured Reserve)
NFL Coaches:
Coach Position Team
Bruce Arians OC Pittsburgh Steelers
Sylvester Croom RB St. Louis Rams
Jeff Fitzgerald LB Cincinnati Bengals
Amos Jones Sp. Tms Pittsburgh Steelers
Larry Kirksey WR Houston Texans
Freddie Kitchens TE Arizona Cardinals
John Mitchell DL Pittsburgh Steelers
Rip Scherer QB Carolina Panthers
Rory Segrest DL Philadelphia Eagles
Mike Shula QB Jacksonville Jaguars
Mike Solari OL Seattle Seahawks
Ricky Thomas TE Indianapolis Colts
Richard Williamson WR Carolina Panthers
