For the eighth consecutive season, the Alabama Crimson Tide had more former players on NFL rosters during opening weekend than any other school, continuing a trend that underscores the lasting impact of Nick Saban’s tenure.
Even though Nick Saban is no longer coaching in the NFL or running the Dolphins, his influence on the league is undeniable. His ability to develop NFL-caliber players has kept Alabama at the forefront of pro football talent production.
On Thursday, the NFL released its annual report on roster breakdowns for the opening weekend of the regular season. Once again, Alabama topped the list with 61 former players on active rosters—far ahead of Ohio State, which came in second with 51. This tally only includes active players, excluding those on injured reserve or practice squads.
This marks the eighth straight year that Alabama has led the nation in NFL talent. In previous years, the Crimson Tide placed the most players on opening day rosters in 2018 (44), 2019 (56), 2020 (53), 2021 (54), 2022 (58), and 2023 (57), with 2017 being a tie for first alongside LSU.
What’s even more remarkable is how Saban systematically built Alabama into the premier pipeline to the NFL. It took a decade for Saban’s Crimson Tide to surpass LSU, a program he also helped establish as a top NFL feeder during his tenure in Baton Rouge. From 2014 to 2016, LSU led the league in producing NFL talent, but since then, Alabama has consistently outpaced its rivals, making it the dominant force in college football when it comes to player development.
As Saban continues to recruit and develop elite talent, Alabama’s position as the top supplier of NFL players shows no signs of slowing down, reinforcing the program’s status as the gold standard for preparing players for the next level.