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