NFL playoffs: Alabama on course for its 50th Super Bowl player

After having more alumni play in the NFL’s 2024 regular season and having more former players on the rosters of the Wild-Card Weekend teams and the Divisional Round qualifiers than any other college program, Alabama is not the leader for players remaining in the NFL playoffs one step from the Super Bowl.

While there are nine former Alabama players remaining on the active rosters of the four teams involved in Sunday’s conference championship games, Georgia has 11 alumni still playing.

But after missing the Super Bowl last season, the Crimson Tide is assured of being represented again in the NFL championship game. Alabama doesn’t have a former player on the roster of the Kansas City Chiefs on the AFC side of the Super Bowl LIX bracket, but five Crimson Tide alumni play for the Philadelphia Eagles and three play for the Washington Commanders, the teams meeting in the NFC Championship Game.

While Alabama is assured of getting its 50th Super Bowl representative, four college programs are guaranteed to have a Super Bowl winner this season. Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and Wisconsin have at least one former player apiece on the active rosters of each of the four remaining teams.

The playoffs began with 65 players from Alabama high schools and colleges on the active rosters. Thirty-four were still playing during the Divisional Round. Sixteen remain for the conference-championship games.

Here are the players with Alabama football roots on the remaining postseason teams:

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

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

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
• Practice squad: Nicholas Morrow, linebacker, Huntsville
• 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

• Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper: ‘The pride is put aside for the sake of the team’
• Arrest made in death of former Alabama cornerback
• Browns offensive coordinator on draftable Alabama QB: ‘I have a lot of love for Jalen’

The top two seeds made it through to the AFC Championship Game, but by winning twice on the road, the No. 6 Commanders are in the NFC Championship Game against the No. 2 Eagles.

The results and schedule for the NFL postseason include (with all times CST):

WILD-CARD WEEKEND

Saturday, Jan. 11

Sunday, Jan. 12

Monday, Jan. 13

DIVISIONAL ROUND

Saturday, Jan. 18

Sunday, Jan. 19

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sunday, Jan. 26

• No. 6 Washington Commanders (14-5) at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (16-3), 2 p.m. (FOX) Line: Eagles by 6
• No. 2 Buffalo Bills (15-4) at No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (16-2), 5:30 p.m. (CBS) Line: Chiefs by 2

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.