Alabama
NFL playoffs: Alabama still No. 1 in postseason players
After having the most players on the active rosters of the playoff teams for the Wild-Card Weekend of any college program, Alabama will have the most representation in the Divisional Weekend, too.
With 31 former players on the original 14 postseason teams, Alabama now has 19 on the active rosters of the NFL playoffs’ remaining eight teams – and that doesn’t include Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, but only those players who went directly from the Crimson Tide to the NFL. Hurts played a season at Oklahoma between his three at Alabama and his second-round selection by Philadelphia.
But it’s still possible for Super Bowl LIX to go off without an Alabama alumnus because neither the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC nor the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC have a former Crimson Tide player on their roster.
The playoffs started with Florida and Michigan as the college programs guaranteed to have a representative at this season’s NFL championship game. The results of the Wild-Card Weekend assured six other college programs of having an alumnus in Super Bowl LIX – Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma, Penn State, Washington and Wisconsin.
But no college program is guaranteed of having an alumnus on the winning team yet.
In addition to Alabama, colleges with at least 10 alumni remaining on the playoff teams’ active rosters are Georgia with 15, Oklahoma with 12, Florida, Ohio State and Penn State with 11 apiece and Notre Dame with 10.
The Wild-Card Weekend results were hard on other colleges’ representation. For example, former Hewitt-Trussville standout and Washington Commanders cornerback Noah Igbinoghene is the only Auburn alumnus still playing. Five of the six teams that lost on Wild-Card Weekend had Auburn alumni on their active rosters, and former Tigers offensive tackle Jack Driscoll was placed on injured reserve by the Philadelphia Eagles.
The playoffs began with 65 players from Alabama high schools and colleges on the active rosters. Now there are 34. Here are the players with Alabama football roots on the remaining postseason teams:
Baltimore Ravens
- Reserve/injured: Jalyn Armour-Davis, cornerback, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Alabama
- Practice squad: Malik Cunningham, wide receiver, Park Crossing
- Practice squad: Darrian Dalcourt, guard, Alabama
- Derrick Henry, running back, Alabama
- Marlon Humphrey, cornerback, Hoover, Alabama
- Michael Pierce, defensive tackle, Daphne, Samford
Buffalo Bills
- Amari Cooper, wide receiver, Alabama
- Tylan Grable, offensive tackle, Jacksonville State
- Practice squad: Kareem Jackson, safety, Alabama
- Practice squad: Tyrell Shavers, wide receiver, Alabama
- Javon Solomon, edge, Troy
Detroit Lions
- Terrion Arnold, cornerback, Alabama
- Brian Branch, defensive back, Alabama
- Reserve/injured: Carlton Davis, cornerback, Auburn
- Jahmyr Gibbs, running back, Alabama
- Brodric Martin, defensive lineman, Northridge, North Alabama
- Za’Darius Smith, defensive end, Greenville
- Jameson Williams, wide receiver, Alabama
Houston Texans
- Will Anderson Jr., defensive end, Alabama
- Practice squad: Anthony Averett, cornerback, Alabama
- Nico Collins, wide receiver, Clay-Chalkville
- Reserve/injured: Tank Dell, wide receiver, Alabama A&M
- Christian Harris, linebacker, Alabama
- Tytus Howard, offensive lineman, Monroe County, Alabama State
- Kamari Lassiter, cornerback, American Christian
- John Metchie III, wide receiver, Alabama
- Irv Smith Jr., tight end, Alabama
- Henry To’oTo’o, linebacker, Alabama
- Reserve/injured: Jimmie Ward, safety, Davidson
- Practice squad: Kilian Zierer, offensive tackle, Auburn
Kansas City Chiefs
- Practice squad: Chris Oladokun, quarterback, Samford
- Practice squad: Justyn Ross, wide receiver, Central-Phenix City
- Practice squad: Montrell Washington, wide receiver, Samford
Los Angeles Rams
- Darious Williams, cornerback, UAB
Philadelphia Eagles
- Reed Blankenship, safety, West Limestone
- Practice squad: Khari Blasingame, fullback, Buckhorn
- Reserve/injured: James Bradberry, cornerback, Pleasant Grove, Samford
- Landon Dickerson, guard, Alabama
- Reserve/injured: Jack Driscoll, offensive lineman, Auburn
- Bryce Huff, defensive end, St. Paul’s Episcopal
- Jalen Hurts, quarterback, Alabama
- Eli Ricks, cornerback, Alabama
- DeVonta Smith, wide receiver, Alabama
- Tyler Steen, offensive lineman, Alabama
- Reserve/injured: C.J. Uzomah, tight end, Auburn
- Reserve/injured: Byron Young, defensive tackle, Alabama
Washington Commanders
- Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle, Alabama
- Noah Igbinoghene, cornerback, Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn
- Daron Payne, defensive tackle, Shades Valley, Alabama
- Jeremy Reaves, defensive back, South Alabama
- Brian Robinson Jr., running back, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Trent Scott, offensive lineman, Lee-Huntsville
The Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs take the field for the postseason this weekend. The No. 1 seeds on each side of the Super Bowl LIX bracket, they received a first-round bye through the Wild-Card Weekend.
The results and schedule for the NFL postseason include (with all times CST):
WILD-CARD WEEKEND
Saturday, Jan. 11
- AFC: No. 4 Houston Texans 32, No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers 12
- AFC: No. 3 Baltimore Ravens 28, No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers 12
Sunday, Jan. 12
Monday, Jan. 13
- NFC: No. 4 Los Angeles Rams 27, No. 5 Minnesota Vikings 9
DIVISIONAL WEEKEND
Saturday, Jan. 18
- AFC: No. 4 Houston Texans (11-7) at No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (15-2), 3:30 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)
- NFC: No. 6 Washington Commanders (13-5) at No. 1 Detroit Lions (15-2), 7 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Jan. 19
- NFC: No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (11-7) at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (15-3), 2 p.m. (NBC)
- AFC: No. 3 Baltimore Ravens (13-5) at No. 2 Buffalo Bills (14-4), 5:30 p.m. (CBS)
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sunday, Jan. 26
- NFC, 2 p.m. (FOX)
- AFC, 5:30 p.m. (CBS)
SUPER BOWL LIX
Sunday, Feb. 9
- AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 5:30 p.m. at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans (FOX)
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
Former Alabama star Will Anderson Jr. has reportedly signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Houston Texans, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Anderson instantly solidified himself as one of the top defensive players in football throughout his rookie campaign in 2023. The star defensive end was named as the Rookie of the Year in 2023, as Anderson’s extension will officially keep him in Houston long-term, as well as make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Anderson recorded an impressive 12 sacks on the Texans’ defensive line in 2025, as the former Alabama star has made history following his head turning extension with Houston.
Anderson was nothing short of a superstar throughout his time at Alabama. Houston drafted the talented lineman with the third overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, as Anderson was widely regarded as one of the top overall selections from his class.
The former Crimson Tide superstar has officially inked a massive extension with the Texans, as Anderson will undoubtedly continue playing a critical role on Houston’s defensive line over the coming seasons.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn said that No. 4 Texas would be “hungry” against the No. 11Crimson Tide coming off its first series loss of the season to Texas A&M.
The Longhorns certainly were, as they pounced all over Vaughn’s team, striking out 17 Alabama batters en route to a 10-2 win.
“The story of the game was they just kind of kicked our tail in every phase tonight,” Vaughn said.
Alabama starter Tyler Fay had been elite over his past four starts, dating back to his complete-game no-hitter against Florida, allowing just six earned runs over the 26.0 innings pitched in those games. That changed instantly on Friday evening, as leadoff batter Aiden Robbins opened the game with a double and catcher Carson Tinney took him deep for a two-run blast moments later.
Texas added a third run in the first off an Ethan Mendoza RBI double, setting the tone for a dominant day. Alabama did not record a hit until the fourth inning as Longhorn ace Dylan Volantis tore through batters, striking out 12 over six innings.
Fay ended up going 5.1 innings, just the second time he did not make it through the sixth. The other, against Auburn, was only due to Vaughn wanting to keep his pitch count down in the wake of the no-hitter. He allowed season-highs of seven earned runs and 12 hits in the loss.
The Longhorns added a run each in the third and the fifth, before Alabama put the slightest amount of pressure on Texas in the top of the sixth. Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron scored on the basepaths off an error and a wild pitch, respectively, to cut the Texas lead to three runs.
“You’ve got to find ways to score,” Vaughn said. “Those two guys just created two runs for us, and did a great job creating those runs and we crawl back in at 5-2, and it’s like, ‘Let’s go back to work…’ So thought we had that chance in those middle innings.”
The Longhorns effectively put the game to bed in the next frame, responding with three runs as Fay was relieved by Connor Lehman. Texas would add two more runs on the day, with the only silver lining coming in the fact that Alabama avoided a run-rule.
The Crimson Tide has now lost four straight SEC games after winning three consecutive series. Zane Adams takes the mound with the series on the line on Saturday, in a game that has been moved up to 12 p.m. CT due to anticipated rain in Austin.
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WBMA) — Alabama’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.7% in February, according to preliminary data released by the Alabama Department of Workforce. The figure matches January’s rate and is lower than the 3.0% recorded in February 2025.
The latest data shows 64,831 people unemployed across the state, a slight increase from 64,057 in January but down from 71,929 one year ago. Meanwhile, the number of employed individuals rose by 14,603 over the year, bringing total employment to 2,321,473. The state’s civilian labor force also grew to 2,386,304, an increase of 7,505 people year-over-year.
Wage and salary employment increased by 12,000 over the month to 2,195,300. Gains were seen across several sectors, including leisure and hospitality, government, and private education and health services.
State officials pointed to continued job growth and rising wages as signs of economic strength. Average weekly wages increased by $62.71 over the year, reaching a record high of $1,175.01. Alabama also recorded one of the largest wage increases nationally, with an 8% rise over the same period.
Several industries reported new record-high wages, including manufacturing, trade and transportation, financial activities, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.
At the county level, Shelby County reported the lowest unemployment rate at 2.5%, followed by Elmore County at 2.6%. Limestone, Chambers, and Blount counties each recorded rates of 2.7%. The highest unemployment rates were reported in Perry County at 7.1%, Monroe County at 6.6%, and Greene and Wilcox counties at 6.5%.
Among major cities, Pelham posted the lowest unemployment rate at 2.2%, while Vestavia Hills followed at 2.3%. Trussville, Hoover, and Alabaster each recorded rates of 2.4%. The highest city unemployment rates were seen in Prichard at 6.5%, Selma at 5.2%, and Anniston at 4.6%.
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