It will be a new chapter starting this upcoming season for former Alabama Crimson Tide superstar quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

With the Miami Dolphins beginning a rebuild under a new head coach and general manager, they made the decision at the start of this week to release the quarterback and eat the remaining salary on his contract, which will cost them approximately $100 million over the next two seasons.

Tagovailoa quickly landed on a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, which will pay him the league minimum, but he will still make more than $50 million this season from the Dolphins.

https://x.com/NFL/status/2031107177105207522

It’s been a rough go of it for Tagovailoa over the last couple of years, with injuries and poor play derailing his career as things bottomed out for Miami this past season.

Now, he gets a chance to reset his career and potentially battle for the starting job in Atlanta with Michael Penix Jr., who suffered a torn ACL near the end of last season.

Tagovailoa is most remembered at Alabama for coming into the national title game in 2018 as a true freshman and leading a comeback victory over Georgia, capped off by one of the most iconic plays in college football history with his bomb to DeVonta Smith on 2nd and 26 to secure the walk-off victory.

Across the next two seasons, he would rack up nearly 7,500 passing yards and 87 touchdowns, becoming the all-time program leader in passing scores. Eventually selected 5th overall by the Dolphins back in 2020, Tagovailoa has experienced serious highs and lows throughout his career.

With a fresh start back in the South, perhaps he can find his way once again and be able to get his career back on track.

Football season officially came to a close on Sunday night in a 29-13 Super Bowl victory for the Seattle Seahawks, and as it turns out, a few former Alabama and Auburn players will now be blinged out with Super Bowl rings.

A total of six players are repping the state of Alabama with their Super Bowl win, the most prominent name was former Tigers pass rusher Derick Hall, who had an absolutely massive game with two sacks and a forced fumble that effectively put things on ice in the second half.

https://x.com/PFF/status/2020684900253475268

Beyond Hall, former Alabama cornerback Josh Jobe had a big night in the secondary with six tackles and completely shutting down the opposition, holding New England below 100 total yards as an offense headed into the fourth quarter. Crimson Tide former defensive lineman Jarran Reed added two tackles of his own as well.

Nehemiah Pritchett — a Jackson native who played at Auburn — rotated in on special teams but was a key piece of the team this season.

Robbie Ouzts, who played tight end at Alabama but has moved to fullback, was inactive for the game but played in numerous contests for the team this year, and his quarterback Jalen Milroe was their third string this year as well.

It’s safe to say the state of Alabama had a ton to be proud of on Sunday night.

The Yellowhammer State is going to be very well represented in Santa Clara this Sunday when Super Bowl LX kicks off between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

Both teams feature several stars from both the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers, with a grand total of ten being former Iron Bowl standouts.

As for Alabama, three former players appear on the Patriots roster, the most prominent being defensive lineman Christian Barmore, who has become one of the best in football. Linebacker Anfernee Jennings also appears in a rotational role, while tight end CJ Dippre appeared in two games for the team this year.

Former Auburn standout cornerback Carlton Davis III plays a huge role in the New England defense, starting in a secondary which has been a huge part of getting the Patriots to this game.

As for the Seahawks, while Nehemiah Pritchett rotates in at cornerback, former Tigers superstar pass rusher Derick Hall has blossomed into a phenomenal player along a Seattle defensive line — a big reason they have made it to this stage.

In their secondary, former Alabama corner Josh Jobe has taken on a key role there, as has Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jarran Reed. Robbie Ouzts, who was a tight end at Alabama but has transitioned to fullback at the NFL level, has become a key part of the offense and has been active for most games this season, while Jalen Milroe has served as the team’s emergency third-string quarterback for most of the year as a rookie.

It should be a tremendous game on Sunday, and clearly Alabama and Auburn fans around the state have plenty of reason to tune in.

Every year in Mobile, the city gets to host one of its events of the year with NFL coaches and scouts descending upon the Gulf Coast for Senior Bowl week.

With three practices during the week before the game on Saturday, the best college football players from around the nation get the chance to show their skills in the first step of the draft process.

Coaches at the game knew what they were doing though when they pitted two of the stars from the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers against each other, and it produced one of the moments of the week so far.

Alabama superstar pass rusher faced off against Auburn standout offensive lineman Jeremiah Wright for an epic 1-on-1 rep which Wright got the better of Overton on.

https://x.com/seniorbowl/status/2016298477404258673?s=20

On game day, the two rivals will be wearing the same uniform of the American team taking on the National squad, but it’s clear that there’s no love lost between Overton and Wright after facing off wearing uniforms of the two most hated rivals in the sport.

Now at the Senior Bowl, that level of competitiveness has not changed, but the stars are fighting for draft status at the next level rather than just trying to beat their rival.

With the Super Bowl coming to television screens across America next weekend, fans all over the Alabama will be tuning into the NFL despite college football generally being the more popular sport by far in this part of the country.

The league has found itself in hot water for woke stunts many times in recent years, and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) has always made it clear that he and his constituents are sick of it.

As the league trended on social media this week following the exclusion of legendary New England Patriots former head coach Bill Belichick from the Hall of Fame as a first ballot entry, Tuberville ripped everything wrong with professional football during an appearance on “The Scott Jennings Show.”

https://x.com/JenningsShow/status/2016605057307828517?s=20

“It’s a disgrace. The people that are on that committee that did not vote for him should step down immediately because they have no business being on there,” Tuberville said on Belichick before going into the Super Bowl and the controversial halftime show featuring Puerto Rican rapper “Bad Bunny”, along with all the other issues plaguing the league.

“The NFL is in a tailspin, they have been in a tailspin [since] Colin Kaepernick took a knee and all this woke nonsense. I don’t call this the Super Bowl with this rabbit or bunny guy or whatever he is at halftime. I call it the woke bowl. It’s all about money and getting out there not representing our country, but representing themselves and showing how great they are. It’s sad how we’ve let team sports get to this point,” Tuberville said.

The game will be played next Sunday, February 8 from Santa Clara, CA at Levi’s Stadium — home of the San Francisco 49ers — between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

Auburn fans are going to have something to watch very closely this upcoming weekend. The NFL is playing its conference title games to see who earns the right to go to the Super Bowl and a former Tiger will take the field.

In the AFC, the Denver Broncos are set to take on the New England Patriots at Mile High Stadium, while in the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams face off against the Seattle Seahawks.

For the Broncos, they might just have some interested parties from The Plains tuning in to watch their fellow orange brethren.

All season, Denver has been quarterbacked by former Auburn QB Bo Nix, who has established himself as one of the premier young gunslingers in football.

But during the final plays of the victory on Saturday over the Buffalo Bills, Nix broke his ankle and now will miss the rest of the season.

https://x.com/barstoolsports/status/2012710578012254649

The Tiger connection does not end with Nix, however.

As fate would have it, Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham is also an Auburn man, playing two seasons for the Tigers from 2017 to 2018. Throwing nearly 6,000 yards in 27 games, Stidham had 36 touchdowns in his Auburn career and led the Tigers to a dramatic 2017 Iron Bowl victory over Alabama.

Now, Stidham steps into an impossible situation after Nix’s huge season and will try to keep Denver’s Super Bowl hopes alive in front of a home crowd.

Stidham has already proven he can perform well in high-pressure games, dating back to his college career at Auburn, but this upcoming game is the toughest test he has ever faced.

Fortunately, he will have the support of both Nix and the entire Auburn family attempting to will him and the Broncos to victory.

The Alabama Crimson Tide has as many NFL stars as just about any program in the country, and fans down here get the chance each and every Sunday to cheer on those who used to wear Crimson.

The chief among them might just be 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, who has gone on for the last decade to become one of the best running backs in the history of the NFL, and certainly of his time.

Two years ago, many doubted whether Henry was going to continue his success after departing the Tennessee Titans in free agency for the Baltimore Ravens. Especially at a time in the NFL where running back careers are shorter than they have ever been. Expectations across the league for Henry with his new team were not all that high, yet he made history.

https://x.com/nflplus/status/2000311527384265047?s=46&t=S7xDregvxoY6bt7EmgMHLA

Henry became just the fourth player in league history to record 3,000 or more yards in his first two seasons with a new team after back-to-back huge campaigns for Baltimore. After totaling over 1,900 yards with 16 touchdowns in 2024, Henry logged his fourth consecutive and seventh overall 1,000-yard season, adding 10 more touchdowns this year.

After suffering from fumble issues early in the season, Henry has bounced back to establish himself once again as one of the best backs on the planet. Though he’s likely on the back nine of his career, the Alabama legend clearly can still get it done.

No matter what uniform he’s wearing, fans in Tuscaloosa will be watching and rooting for Henry for the remainder of his career.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) believes that members of Congress should use their oversight authority to investigate issues related to accountability and transparency in the sports industry.

Sports gambling drew fresh scrutiny this week as the FBI announced two new criminal cases involving six people, that includes current and former NBA players, arrested in an illegal betting and money laundering scheme, as well as a separate Brooklyn indictment that charged 31 defendants in a Mafia-linked poker cheating scheme.

The Justice Department says the schemes exploited insider information and positions of trust, jeopardizing the integrity of competition. The NBA has placed implicated personnel on leave while the inquiries proceed.

Britt reacted to the news Thursday during an appearance on the “Scott Jennings Radio Show.”

“Look, we absolutely have to take a look at all of this,” Britt said. “I am from the great state of Alabama, where we take SEC football very seriously. We have seen some interesting calls when it comes to refereeing over the last couple of weeks that I think need to be dug into that have changed the direction of the game. And I think we got to call it like we see it on that.”

Senator Britt referenced another high-profile news item that swept the sports world this week in the almost unprecedented discipline taken against Southeastern Conference referee Ken Williamson following an official SEC review of he and his crew’s officiating during the Auburn-Georgia game.

The SEC has not released any statement or information related to Williamson’s ouster, nor any further potential personnel discipline, although ESPN has confirmed Williamson’s suspension.

Public scrutiny and confusion has fueled calls by fans for accountability and transparency from league officials.

Britt also has a personal perspective. Her husband Wesley played football in college for the University of Alabama before joining the New England Patriots in the NFL.

“Being the wife of a former professional athlete, my husband, having played for the New England Patriots, look, I know how much grit and grind goes into these games and preparedness for them,” She explained. “And so if you have people that are doing things unethical, absolutely 100% we’ve got to get to the bottom of it.”

“So I don’t know what the solution is,” she added, “but I know being a part of finding out, getting to the root cause, I think we absolutely have a role to play there.”

The senator said she’s especially worried about how the availability of gambling online could effect young people across the country.

“I do in particular being a mom of two school aged kids when it comes to everything from bullying to people buying things like fentanyl online. But additionally, now into gaming and gambling, and particularly sports betting, being thrust on the next generation, the addiction that comes to that, and all kinds of things, the cross-section that’s at play. I asked actually the Attorney General, I asked her to get to the bottom of it, working with [FBI Director] Kash Patel on that too,” Britt said.

“And so I think this is just the tip of the iceberg. And I think the issue that we have here in the country is much larger than this.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide and Hoover High School kicker Will Reichard has excelled since being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. Now at the start of the second year of his NFL career, he continues to make his home state proud.

Reichard had a stellar rookie campaign, converting 24 of his 30 field goal attempts and all 38 of his extra point attempts, which are twice as long in the NFL as they are in college.

Monday night, the Vikings made their season debut in primetime on the road against the Chicago Bears, and Reichard did not disappoint.

Late in the first half of Minnesota’s 27-24 win, Reichard booted a 59-yard field goal through the uprights. The kick broke the record for the longest field goal made by an Alabama alumnus in the NFL, which was previously 58 yards, set last year by Reichard.

https://x.com/AlabamaFTBL/status/1965249925610189271

Not only was it the longest field goal made by a Crimson Tider, it was tied for the longest field goal made by someone from the state of Alabama, pulling Reichard even with Cincinnati Bengals kicker and former Fort Payne star Evan McPherson, who made a 59-yarder during the 2022 season.

Reichard and McPherson will be battling for the record for years to come. However, Reichard has a lock on making folks in Tuscaloosa proud, as Alabama kickers do not had a storied history in the NFL. Previously, Van Tiffin was the only Alabama alumnus to make a 50-yard field goal, accomplishing the feat in 1987.

If Reichard can continue his early success, he has a chance to become the best Crimson Tide NFL kicker in history. The way things are going for him now, it certainly would not be a surprise if that proved to be the case.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide star cornerback Patrick Surtain II has been named the 2025 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced on Thursday night.

The Denver Broncos star, who played for the Tide from 2018-2020, beat out Steelers linebacker TJ Watt, Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, and Eagles linebacker Zack Baun to win the award. Surtain II received 26 first-place votes, as Hendrickson finished a distant second with 11 first-place votes.

Surtain II becomes the first Alabama alumnus to take home the honor. While in Tuscaloosa, he racked up 117 tackles, 27 passes defensed, and four interceptions over 41 career games. A stellar performance in 2020 earned him an All-American nod and the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year award. He was selected by the Broncos with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and has remained in Denver ever since.

https://x.com/AlabamaFTBL/status/1887687466146054501

Surtain II was dominant in coverage during the 2024-2025 season, posting a league-high Pro Football Focus grade of 87.4. He suffered no performance dropoff against the NFL’s elite, as he held Bengals receiver and former LSU star Ja’Marr Chase to three receptions for 27 yards and Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf to three receptions for 29 yards.

According to PFF, Surtain II was only targeted 52 times the entire season, a product of his reputation. Nevertheless, he still managed to rack up four interceptions, giving him a sky-high 7.7% interception rate per target. Surtain II returned one of those picks 100 yards for a touchdown.

https://x.com/RecruitsBama/status/1843031908495810892

Surtain II becomes the seventh cornerback ever and only the third since 2000 to be named the NFL’s DPOY.

“First and foremost, I want to give all the praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Surtain II said after accepting the award. “Without him, I wouldn’t be in this position. Secondly, I’d like to thank my family—mom, pops for setting the blueprint and turning a young man into a grown man and I want to thank y’all.”

“I’d also like to thank the Broncos organization for believing in me, trusting me, allowing me to grow and being the player I am today,” he added. “Lastly, I’d like to thank my teammates for helping me reach my full potential and being the best person I can be.”

https://x.com/Sports_Spectrum/status/1887713247538586037

Several teammates and coaches recorded a congratulatory video for Surtain II, including Nick Saban and former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix, now Surtain II’s teammate in Denver.

“Well Pat, I’d just like to congratulate you for winning 2024 Defensive Player of the Year,” Saban said. “All your hard work, your dedication, your commitment to a standard of excellence, being a great person who has shown leadership and character in everything that he did and how he influenced other people—it all comes to fruition, and it certainly has for you.”

“It’s no surprise to me because I get to see you work and train every day,” Nix said. “It’s like I tell you all the time: I’m glad you’re on my team.”

Amid much speculation, Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe has made a decision on his future, announcing via Instagram that he would be leaving Tuscaloosa and declaring for the NFL Draft:

https://x.com/SSN_Alabama/status/1874912485855412645

Milroe deciding to leave for the NFL felt like the most likely outcome throughout the season, but with late season struggles down the stretch, the idea of him returning to school for one more year was tossed around by some.

Ultimately, in what is an extremely weak draft class at the quarterback position, at least on paper, Milroe chooses to take his leave now and likely the best chance to be drafted highly by a quarterback-needy team. Milroe thanked teammates, coaches, fans, and everyone in between in his statement announcing his decision and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play at Alabama.

While his legacy will be complicated after two years as the starting quarterback and some extremely high highs with equally low lows, ultimately he loved the program and showed unquestioned loyalty amidst a seismic change at head coach a year ago.

As for where he could be drafted, it’s really anybody’s guess. Struggling as a consistent passer along with holding onto the ball doesn’t exactly breed NFL success, but there may be a team intrigued enough by his potential and athleticism to make him a Day 2 pick.

It now seems like NFL players overwhelmingly support President-Elect Donald Trump — at least in their choice of celebration. Players across the league, and professional sports as a whole, have been doing Trump’s iconic ‘YMCA’ dance to celebrate touchdowns and big plays.

Former Alabama star Calvin Ridley was seen after scoring a touchdown doing the dance as well as former Georgia legendary tight end Brock Bowers:

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https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/1858248889574515122

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Perhaps the biggest showing of the dance over the weekend however came on Saturday night’s UFC card which Trump was in attendance for as he often is.

Jon Jones, known around the sport as arguably the best fighter in history, not only performed the dance after his knockout of Stipe Miocic, but actually personally shouted out Trump and thanked him for being there:

https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/1858174040814374919

“I also wanna say a big big thank you to President Donald Trump for being here,” Jones said after his victory, starting a USA chant and asking the raucous crowd to ‘rate’ his dance. “I’m proud to be a great American champion, and I’m proud to be a Christian American champion.”

7. The NFL, a league with many convicted and suspected criminals, distanced itself from Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s commencement speech at Benedictine College, where he encouraged women to embrace homemaking and criticized the LGBTQ community and President Joe Biden’s abortion stance. Facing backlash, the NFL clarified that Butker spoke personally and reiterated its commitment to inclusion, stating his views do not represent the league.

6. Alabama State Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City) says he tells members of the public angry about his failed gambling bill to “Ask one of the 15 senators that voted against this legislation” after some found the Alabama Legislature’s conference committee expanded gambling too much, some found it didn’t expand it enough, and others felt it it was just riiiiight. Meanwhile, Auburn officials arrested two men on gambling charges after discovering an illegal operation at a local business, the penalty for this crime is $600 while the machines had almost $10,000 in them.

5. Another big ‘L” for Read Freely Alabama and other degenerate behavior defenders across the state as the Alabama Public Library Service votes to force libraries to remove inappropriate books or risk losing $7 million in funding. Board President John Wahl, who also leads the ALGOP, says, “Here in Alabama, I want to see libraries focus on books that encourage reading and strong moral values and really things that build character and let’s stay away from social indoctrination or sexually explicit material that is really harmful to our youth.”

4. Limestone County Schools has invested over $130,000 in vape detection systems for bathrooms and school areas in the past year. Schools Superintendent Randy Shearouse told WAFF that hundreds of students were caught vaping out of 5,000 in the district, with repeat offenders sent to alternative schools for support programs. Shearouse acknowledged that investigating vaping incidents is time-consuming for administrators, but believes the effort is worthwhile to deter students from vaping.

3. Mostly masked Democrat staffers on Capitol Hill are now openly protesting President Joe Biden’s Israel policy while on the clock, even though the Biden administration has actively worked to hamstring Israel for months. As for members of Congress, even 16 Democrat U.S. House members voted to slam Biden for his recent behavior and withholding weaponry.

2. Six illegal underage immigrant children were working at Mar-Jac Poultry, the largest employer in Walker County, and a judge is now considering halting sales of the products after the federal government requested it. Attorneys for Mar Jac Poultry stated in court filings that the employees had used forged documents to pass the E-verify system and were subsequently terminated when their actual ages were discovered, so there are undoubtedly more illegals working there.

1. The star witness in former President Donald Trump’ “hush money” trial had his “knees chopped out,” according to CNN legal analyst Elie Honig who called Michael Cohen’s cross-examination by Donald Trump’s defense team “devastating.” Trump’s attorney Todd Blanche exposed inconsistencies in Cohen’s testimony regarding a crucial phone call on Oct. 24, 2016, where Cohen alleged he discussed hush money payments with Trump. Blanche, however, presented text messages indicating the call was actually about prank calls from a 14-year-old, significantly undermining Cohen’s credibility.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and from 10-11 a.m. on Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440, with a rebroadcast Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.

Former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix, who transferred to Oregon prior to the 2022 season, was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

The Denver Broncos selected Nix with the No. 12 overall pick in the draft:

https://twitter.com/oregonfootball/status/1783680830659031064

Bo Nix’s message to Broncos Country:

“I am so excited to be a Bronco. This is such a dream come true. From Day 1, Denver was my No. 1”

“Broncos Country, let’s go!”

(Via @BoNix10 IG) pic.twitter.com/847Hnl8z63

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) April 26, 2024

Nix was the sixth quarterback off the board in the draft, coming in the first half. The number tied the overall first round record of six, which was set in 1983.

It wasn’t a huge shock to see Nix selected at the point he was after the Atlanta Falcons shockingly made Nix’s former rival, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 overall selection and Nix was the only first-round talent left on the board.

Nix was a standout at Pinson Valley High School before playing his first three college seasons at Auburn where his father was a star quarterback.

Things never fully clicked for him on The Plains, however, and injuries derailed his final season at Auburn.

After transferring to Oregon, Nix’s college career took off under head coach Dan Lanning.

Following a solid 2022 in which he threw for nearly 3,600 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, Nix seemed poised to break out in 2023 and he did just that.

RELATED: It just means more? Bo Nix describes SEC fandom as ‘unhealthy obsession’

He put up mind boggling numbers this past season with 4,500 yards, 45 touchdowns, and just three interceptions along with another six rushing touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named a Heisman finalist where he finished third behind winner Jayden Daniels and second place Penix Jr.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that Nix was the quarterback he wanted all along and praised Nix’s accuracy, arm strength, and intelligence after Denver made the selection.

Nix will enter a situation in Denver in which he will immediately compete for the staring job in a room with another former Auburn gunslinger in Jarrett Stidham as well as former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson, whose career with the Jets flamed out after three seasons.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

Since Nick Saban retired as head coach of Alabama and Bill Belichick parted ways with the New England Patriots, many have speculated as to what each will do next.

Saban last month already signed a deal with ESPN to join the College Gameday broadcast as an analyst.

Belichick, meanwhile, still wants to coach but did not get a job this cycle and discussion has been had as to whether he would want to do media.

Now, Peyton Manning and his production company Omaha Productions, who are largely responsible for the popular Monday Night Football alternate ‘ManningCast’ broadcast, are reportedly trying to make a similar style with Saban and Belichick a reality.

RELATED: Saban joins ‘College Gameday’ and other ESPN coverage

Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported that Manning is heavily pursuing Belichick and that the idea if he were to land the legendary coach would be to pair him with Nick Saban on another alternate broadcast.

Saban and Belichick previously have worked together while Belichick was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns and having hired Saban as his defensive coordinator.

The two have been friends for over 30 years. A potential broadcast with the pair would be something millions of football fans would likely tune into.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

Former Alabama Crimson Tide pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. has been named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Take the stage 51‼️ pic.twitter.com/8U2XaFsOTL

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) February 9, 2024

Anderson, who was selected by the Houston Texans as the No. 3 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, had 45 total tackles, seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss. His efforts set a Texans’ rookie record for sacks in a season.

Got that dawg in him 😤 pic.twitter.com/McxrEJv3Cl

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) February 9, 2024

Anderson is one of the best defensive players in Alabama history, ranking second in program history in sacks with 34.5 in just three years at Alabama trailing Derrick Thomas.

He was twice awarded the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive player.

Houston teammate and quarterback CJ Stroud, who was the No. 2 pick in the same draft class, was awarded with the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Previously, the Pro Football Writers of America named Anderson’s coach, another former Alabama defensive star, DeMeco Ryans Coach of the Year.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

Houston Texans head coach and former Alabama Crimson Tide star linebacker DeMeco Ryans has been named the NFL Coach of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America.

Ryans was named a finalist for the AP NFL Coach of the Year as well, which will not be announced until February 8th.

Ryans led Houston to a 10-7 record and their first playoff appearance since 2019 in his first year as an NFL head coach. Previously, he served as the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator, where he was named the AP Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022 before getting the Texans job. 

He also helped to guide Alabama rookie pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. to a successful rookie season, with Anderson being nominated for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award as well.

Ryans played at Alabama from 2002-05 and won a number of accolades during his time in crimson, including being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year and consensus All-American in 2005.

In his final game at Alabama, he was named the defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl against Texas Tech, a game the Tide won 13-10.

Ryans would go on to have a decade long NFL career, where he was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 and first team All-Pro in 2007 for the Texans, the team he currently coaches.

After an extremely successful year one as a head coach and just 39 years old, Ryans is considered one of the brightest young minds in the NFL today.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP

Former Alabama and current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is having quite the season, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 22 touchdowns with his name being thrown around MVP circles as well.

But the latest headline surrounding Tagovailoa has nothing to do with a touchdown to Tyreek Hill or fellow Crimson Tider Jaylen Waddle, and actually not his trademark left arm either.

It was the right arm of Tagovailoa that made headlines during the Black Friday matchup against the Jets, with a chunk of skin apparently getting ripped off during a play in the game. Take a look at your own risk:

https://twitter.com/_MLFootball/status/1728151287601017171

When asked after the game about the crazy injury, Tua joked that it was a big chunk that came off, so “is someone finds that it’s yours.”

He also said it would be a great story to tell his son, Ace:

“It’ll be a great story for Ace when he grows up. I saved three people in the ocean and got bit by a shark. 500 pound shark and I killed it,” Tua said with a smirk.

Former NFL player and Alabama football standout, Wallace Gilberry, has announced his Republican candidacy for the U.S. House, representing Alabama’s newly-drawn 2nd Congressional District.

Gilberry, who says he grew up as a Democrat, formally launched his campaign on Wednesday, pledging to support former President Donald J. Trump’s agenda, and in the meantime, “fire Joe Biden.”

I’ve played on great teams – at Bama, 9 seasons in the NFL. Now, my team is you! I’m fighting to hold our Republican Majority and I need you on my team to do it! Join us today — https://t.co/wk7F6RWbtG pic.twitter.com/U8087Wvhep

— Wallace Gilberry (@WallaceGilberry) November 29, 2023

After a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that threw out the 2021 reapportionment map drawn by the Alabama Legislature, federally-imposed district lines will go into effect in 2024 that encompasses the 2nd Congressional District with a Black voting age population of 48.7% — intended to enhance competitiveness for the eventual Democratic nominee.

RELATED: Albritton, Brewbaker, Dobson qualify for GOP primary in redrawn CD2

“A Black man is going to win this race – but it’ll be me, a conservative Republican who puts Alabama first,” Gilberry told FOX.

“My focus is on lifting up the people of Alabama. I’ve been blessed with incredible success, success that came from playing football. I’m running to have a platform to help create opportunities for young men who look like me that go beyond sports,” he said.

“More jobs at local businesses, helping entrepreneurs thrive, keeping our communities safe. In order to do that we have to get rid of career politicians, get rid of Joe Biden, and elect people focused on putting the people of Alabama first.”

RELATED: Anthony Daniels releases first video ad highlighting Bullock County roots

Gilberry played defensive end for the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2004 to 2007. In the years since, he’s had an NFL career that’s brought him outsized longevity in professional sports, only recently retiring from the league in late 2017.

Gilberry’s journey began with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2008, before joining the Kansas City Chiefs later in the year. In 2011, during his time with the Chiefs, he earned a victory he can still appreciate to this day: Tackling New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

“I’ve sacked Brady, Biden won’t be a problem,” he says.

The Alabama Republican Primary election will be held March 5, 2024.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270

In a much-anticipated face-off, former Crimson Tide quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Bryce Young met on the field when the Miami Dolphins played the Carolina Panthers in Week 6.

While Tagovailoa emerged victorious in their first NFL encounter, he fully anticipates Young will have a successful career in the league.

They shared a powerful postgame moment and the Tide legends opened up about what they shared in passing.

WATCH:

“Bryce Young is doing a tremendous job,” Tagovailoa told reporters when the dust settled. “There are going to be rookie mistakes. He will continue to grow. I told him the naysayers are an external factor. Believe in yourself.”

https://twitter.com/schadjoe/status/1713652483380109823

“Yeah, the conversation that I felt like, if I was on the other side of the ball, I would want someone to tell me,” he said. “I think he’s doing a tremendous job. There’s going to be times where you’re going to make mistakes because you’re a rookie, and there’s things that when he plays the next game that he wished he knew this game, and he’ll continue to grow from that. I just told him to keep the press, the naysayers, other people, that’s just external factors.

“They’re going to say what they’re going to say, but you continue to believe in yourself, you continue to do the right things, you’re going to go far.”

Young said of Tua, “Great player, great person. Obviously, there were things said between us that I’ll keep between us. 

“But again, great guy, great competitor, great player.”

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270

Tuskegee University has one of the most iconic football stadiums among Historically Black Colleges and Universities – if not anywhere – with its “shed.”

Now, architecture students at the university will have a chance to design their own fictional stadium with the NFL’s assistance.

Tuskegee’s Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science is partnering with the National Football League to design an innovative, state-of-the-art, fictional football stadium. the school announced.

“This is the first time the NFL has utilized architecture and construction science students in this way,” said Walter P. Cooper Sr., director of Tuskegee’s Career Education/Leadership Development Center. “They see the connections between engaging students at the collegiate level and allowing them to explore future career opportunities with the NFL.”

The partnership is a multi-disciplinary initiative that is creating opportunities for students in several schools, the NFL said.

“To conform to the National Architectural Accrediting Board accreditation criteria, we will use this project in the 4th-year and 5th-year architecture studios to design an NFL Stadium in Birmingham,” said Dr. Carla Jackson Bell, dean of the Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science. “For this project, we will target two student criteria – Design and Leadership and Collaboration – during the fall and spring semesters.”

Arthur McAfee III, the NFL’s senior vice president of Football Operations, said the project was developed from discussions around Hall of Famers and their experiences as student athletes.

“To support their institutions, we started doing work with HBCU conferences,” he said. “With football, comes student athletes, the band and players. What’s a better way to continue to highlight on the field activities, than off the field? We have several initiatives where we introduce career opportunities.”

McAfee said typically the NFL works with three or four institutions around the country to answer a particular question. This year, they worked on a question as if they were going to hire people to design a stadium, with a focus on the fan experience, the player experience, architectural design, engineering, construction and a business pitch to sell the project.

“We picked Birmingham because there is no professional team there. The Commanders in D.C. are also looking for a new site,” he said.

“Partnering with organizations like the NFL prepares our students for real-world problem-solving that allows them to use the skills they’ve learned in the classroom in meaningful ways,” said Tuskegee President Dr. Charlotte P. Morris. “I am proud to know that our programs continue to garner the respect and attention of organizations like the NFL in ways that our students see a direct benefit.

“I am looking forward to seeing what they develop.”

“She’s a real personality. Kind of a drama queen because she’s very talkative and loves being the center of attention, almost like she’s saying, ‘look at me, look at me,’” said Auburn University’s Raptor Center Director Wade Stevens.

And that’s exactly what almost 70,000 Philadelphia Eagles fans did at Lincoln Financial Field last Thursday night — watch Independence, better known as “Indy,” soar across the field, eliciting the awe of bystanders and ushering in another Eagles home game.

Stevens said he might get in trouble with Indy’s handler, Amanda Sweeney, for calling her a drama queen, but her outgoing personality is partially why she was the perfect bald eagle for this Eagles pregame flight — she knows how to put on a good show.

Raptor center review 

One of a few university-based raptor centers in the U.S., the raptor center is a division of Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The center’s mission is to “provide the highest quality medical care and rehabilitation for wild raptors, support raptor conservation efforts, expand the public’s knowledge about raptors, inspire their passion for raptor ecosystems and embolden the Auburn spirit.”

This education and rehabilitation center has grown steadily for five decades, and it achieves its mission through intentional outreach, modern facilities and innovative program offerings, including around 400 activities throughout southeastern states.

Stevens joined the center one year ago as its first full-time director.

“We are currently reviewing what the raptor center is doing now, considering alternative methods to achieve outcomes, and drafting plans for successful implementation — this is how the partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles came about,” he said.

Pregame stadium flight raises awareness

Even with minimal knowledge of college football, chances are most people know about Auburn’s pregame stadium flight tradition.

The tradition started in the early 2000s. The raptor center saw the resident eagle’s pregame flight as an opportunity to connect to Auburn’s battle cry history, as well as to raise awareness about raptor conservation.

“It’s common in the raptor rehabilitation world to take unreleasable raptors, those that cannot learn to hunt or feed in the wild and use them for educational purposes,” Stevens said. “Having free-flighted educational shows at football games has drawn attention to our cause and our mission.

“Granted, we are not out there explaining the natural history of an eagle, but people will see a flight and then look up the center to find out more about our program. The same will be true for our experience in Philadelphia.”

Enter the Philadelphia Eagles 

When first arriving at Auburn, Stevens had big dreams of taking the raptor center to the national level — to market its services beyond Auburn, to expand the center’s outreach and to elevate its rehab facility and educational programs, all to a national level.

Stevens credits his staff handlers’ relationships with initiating conversations with Philadelphia Eagles’ leadership. Some birds started to retire and back off service, and their handlers would refer the client to Auburn, like with Challenger of the American Eagle Foundation.

This is how the Eagles partnership began.

“The bald eagle is one of our country’s greatest symbols of freedom, strength and pride,” said Brian Papson, vice president of marketing for the Philadelphia Eagles. “While it represents so much and is viewed with profound reverence and admiration, the bald eagle also serves as the foundational element on which the identity of our franchise was built, 90 years ago.

“The Auburn University Raptor Center is a nationally recognized, mission-driven institution committed to the conservation efforts of one of our planet’s most breathtaking animals. Watching Indy descend upon Lincoln Financial Field in ceremonial fashion during the National Anthem is an exciting moment for our fans to take in and adds another important layer to our gameday experience.”

Indy says “Look at me”

Last Tuesday, Indy took an airline flight to Philadelphia in preparation for her grand stadium soar. Arriving at Auburn at age 2, bald eagle Indy has been with the raptor center for five years prepping for her moment to shine, which includes watching her figure — currently a flight-optimal seven and a half pounds.

“With birds trained for free-flighted performance, weight management is important,” Stevens said. “Their activity, intake and output are closely monitored to ensure the proper flying weight.”

Stevens confirmed Indy was at “fighting weight” for this flight.

Of course, training also is essential.

Auburn’s eagles fly four to six days per week during the football season to maintain their training. In fact, hundreds of hours go into training for both the birds and their handlers.

The raptor center has a dedicated staff and group of volunteers. Normally with long-term intentions, student volunteers enter the program and are assigned either an owl, hawk, falcon or vulture; they learn about the care and husbandry of that bird and assist with training the eagles at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

For Indy’s Philadelphia flight, raptor center advocates Stevens, Sweeney, Andrew Hopkins and Dr. Amberly Sokoloff were in attendance.

Philadelphia Eagles + Auburn: Future of flight  

The Auburn University Raptor Center sees Indy’s flight with the Eagles as just the beginning. Since the ink dried on an agreement, the center teemed with anticipation of and preparation for the Eagles vs. Vikings game.

“We are really excited about our new relationship with the Eagles. If all goes well, we hope this flight becomes a more regular occurrence,” Stevens said.

After all the talk of logistics and schedules, Indy flew one of the biggest flights of her life — delivering the Auburn University Raptor Center, and its mission of raptor conservation, to a brand-new audience.

It was fitting Thursday that an eagle named Independence would soar over Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field to before an Eagles’ game.

But, here’s the kicker. The eagle is a mascot of Auburn University and is used to flying at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Just a couple of miles from where the Declaration of Independence was signed, “Indy” was released from her carrier high in the stadium seats and soared down to the field during the National Anthem.

The only thing missing were thousands of voices chanting “Waaarrrr Eagle! Hey!” Though the crowd was cheering as Indy circled downward toward her handler Amanda Sweeney on the turf.

Fly Eagle Fly

?| @AuburnU pic.twitter.com/Ac3EJKzKSs

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 15, 2023

“Watching Indy descend upon Lincoln Financial Field in ceremonial fashion during the National Anthem is an exciting moment for our fans to take in and adds another important layer to our gameday experience,” said Brian Papson, vice president of marketing for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Independence, or Indy for short, came to the center in 2018 from a Florida rehabilitation center where she was admitted as a baby with a wing injury, according to the Auburn resident raptors web page.

Although her wing healed, Indy imprinted on people during her time in rehab and therefore, is non-releasable. She now serves as an ambassador and helps educate people about the importance of raptors.

She flew before an AHSAA high school championship game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2019 and made her debut Auburn pre-game flight during the 2021 football season.

Indy weighs around 7 pounds and has a roughly 6-foot wingspan.

She wasn’t the only Auburn connection that night. Former Tigers lineman Jack Driscoll and punter Aryn Siposs play for the Eagles, who beat the Vikings 34-28.

“We are really excited about our new relationship with the Eagles,” said Auburn University’s Raptor Center Director Wade Stevens. “If all goes well, we hope this flight becomes a more regular occurrence.”

One Alabama man’s road to the NFL was almost ended after a confrontation at a parking lot party.

DeMarcus Ware played football for Auburn High School, eventually going on to play at Troy University where he was a two-time All Sunbelt Conference selection.

During the 2005 NFL Draft, he was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 20th overall pick in the first round.

His career was capped Saturday with his induction into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.

And he gave an induction speech that won’t soon be forgotten.

At the ceremony, he talked in particular about the life changing moment that fueled and inspired his professional career.

While visiting home during his time at Troy, Ware went to a party that very well could have killed him.

“My uncle was in his car and, without warning, was knocked across the head with a gun,” Ware said. “A knife dropped to the ground and I picked it up. And when I looked up, all I could see was the potential shooter’s eyes and a gun barrel pressed against my head. All I heard was my family say, ‘Don’t kill him.’

“There was an eerie silence after which I simply said, ‘This isn’t me,’ and I dropped the knife. At that moment I knew God gave me a second chance and I had to do something with it. That was my turning point. The memories of those parking-lot lights and the sounds of those screams, ‘Don’t kill him,’ became the fire that empowered me. You can imagine how many years that night echoed in my head.”

ALL Glory goes to GOD!!! Gold Jacket Ceremony ? pic.twitter.com/T7PzRQnBOG

— D-Ware (@DeMarcusWare) August 5, 2023

Ware said that he used football to rid himself of negativity.

“When I trained, I was motivated by the memories of those parking lot lights,” he said. “And when I ran onto the field and the crowd cheered, those memories of those screams began to fade.

“Every sack I made helped to ease the memory of that frightful night and replaced it with positive energy.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.