Five players from Alabama high schools and colleges threw for more than 2,000 yards during the 2024 NFL season, led by Denver Broncos rookie Bo Nix. The former Pinson Valley High School and Auburn quarterback had 3,775 passing yards.
If Nix can maintain that pace for 16 more seasons, he will surpass the current leader in NFL passing yards among players from Alabama high schools and colleges. With 63,440, Philip Rivers has the sixth-most passing yards in NFL history and almost twice as many as any other player with Alabama football roots.
Joining Nix as 2,000-yard passers in 2024 were former Alabama quarterbacks Jalen Hurts for the Philadelphia Eagles, Tua Tagovailoa for the Miami Dolphins and Bryce Young for the Carolina Panthers and former Hueytown High School star Jameis Winston for the Cleveland Browns.
Winston, Tagovailoa and Hurts already are among the 10 most prolific NFL passers, as judged by yards, among players with Alabama football roots. By throwing for 1,672 yards for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, former Alabama QB Mac Jones became the 11th player from an Alabama high school or college to surpass 10,000 in the NFL.
Winston holds the Alabama roots single-season record for NFL passing yards with 5,109 in 2019.
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Minnesota Vikings v Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers takes the snap during an NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 15, 2019, in Carson, Calif.Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
The top 10 NFL passers with Alabama football roots (ranked by passing yards):
1. Philip Rivers, Athens High School: 63,440 passing yards
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers 2004-2019, Indianapolis Colts 2020: Completed 5,277-of-8,134 passes with 421 touchdowns, 209 interceptions and a 95.2 passing-efficiency rating. Eight-time Pro Bowler.
2. Cam Newton, Auburn: 32,382 passing yards
Carolina Panthers 2011-2019, 2021, New England Patriots 2020: Completed 2,682-of-4,474 passes with 194 touchdowns, 123 interceptions and an 85.2 passing-efficiency rating. One-time All-Pro, three-time Pro Bowler and 2015 NFL MVP.
3. Ken Stabler, Foley High School, Alabama: 27,938 passing yards
Oakland Raiders 1970-1979, Houston Oilers 1980-1981, New Orleans Saints 1982-1984: Completed 2,270-of-3,793 passes with 194 touchdowns, 222 interceptions and a 75.3 passing-efficiency rating. One-time All-Pro, four-time Pro Bowler, 1974 NFL MVP, one-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame member.
4. Joe Namath, Alabama: 27,663 passing yards
New York Jets 1965-1976, Los Angeles Rams 1977: Completed 1,866-of-3,762 passes with 173 touchdowns, 220 interceptions and a 65.5 passing-efficiency rating. One-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler, 1968 and 1969 AFL Player of the Year, one-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame member.
5. Bart Starr, Sidney Lanier High School (Montgomery), Alabama: 24,718 passing yards
Green Bay Packers 1956-1971: Completed 1,808-of-3,149 passes with 152 touchdowns, 138 interceptions and 80.5 passing-efficiency rating. One-time All-Pro, four-time Pro Bowler, 1966 NFL MVP, five-time NFL champion, two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame member.
6. Jameis Winston, Hueytown High School: 24,225 passing yards
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2015-2019, New Orleans Saints 2020-2023, Cleveland Browns 2024: Has completed 1,944-of-3,178 passes with 154 touchdowns, 111 interceptions and an 86.4 passing-efficiency rating. One-time Pro Bowler.
7. Richard Todd, Davidson High School (Mobile), Alabama: 20,610 passing yards
New York Jets 1976-1983, New Orleans Saints 1984-1985: Completed 1,610-of-2,967 passes with 124 touchdowns, 161 interceptions and a 67.6 passing-efficiency rating.
8. Jason Campbell, Auburn: 16,771 passing yards
Washington Redskins 2005-2009, Oakland Raiders 2010-2011, Chicago Bears 2012, Cleveland Browns 2013, Cincinnati Bengals 2014: Completed 1,519-of-2,518 passes with 87 touchdowns, 60 interceptions and an 81.7 passing-efficiency rating.
9. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama: 15,506 passing yards
Miami Dolphins 2020-2024: Has completed 1,387-of-2,037 passes with 100 touchdowns, 44 interceptions and a 97.9 passing-efficiency rating. One-time Pro Bowler.
10. Jalen Hurts, Alabama: 14,667 passing yards
Philadelphia Eagles 2020-2024: Has completed 1,248-of-1,939 passes with 85 touchdowns, 39 interceptions and a 93.5 passing-efficiency rating. Two-time Pro Bowler.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.
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