Alabama Could Set QB Super Bowl Record
When it comes to producing Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, Alabama Football has quietly boasted some impressive success stories — though these feats might not be at the forefront of every college football fan’s mind. Let’s take a trip down memory lane to understand why Alabama’s Super Bowl legacy deserves a spotlight of its own.
First up is the legendary Bart Starr, who took center stage in the nascent years of the Super Bowl era. Earning MVP honors in both 1967 and 1968, Starr was at the helm of the Green Bay Packers’ victories in the first two ever Super Bowls.
However, it might surprise some to learn that Starr’s college career with the Crimson Tide wasn’t quite as illustrious. In fact, during his four-year stint, Starr threw fewer than 100 passes in three seasons, with a completion percentage of just 54.4%.
His final season with Alabama was particularly forgettable as the team failed to secure a single win.
The story most fans can’t forget is that of Joe Namath, arguably Alabama’s most famous Super Bowl alumnus. Namath’s iconic guarantee that his New York Jets would topple the heavily favored Baltimore Colts might be the most memorable pre-game prediction in football history.
His team delivered on that promise in 1969, earning Namath the Super Bowl MVP title. Despite enduring an NFL career plagued by knee injuries, Namath amassed an impressive over 27,000 passing yards, proving his mettle time and again.
Then there’s Ken Stabler, who in 1977 guided the Oakland Raiders to a 32-14 triumph over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. Stabler’s college years with Alabama saw him running the ball as much as he passed it, known more for his accuracy than arm strength.
Stabler wouldn’t flinch under pressure, a quality that carried him through a 15-season NFL career with nearly 28,000 passing yards. Before Tom Brady entered the scene, Stabler held the record for leading teams to consecutive conference championships, taking the Raiders to five straight from 1973 to 1977.
Bringing us to more contemporary connections, Tom Brady currently holds the record with seven Super Bowl wins. In contrast, Alabama’s trio of Starr, Namath, and Stabler have collectively notched up four victories for the Crimson Tide — a tally that holds its own yet lags behind Michigan’s count, courtesy of Tom Brady.
As we eye Super Bowl LIX, Alabama could potentially strike gold again. Entering this year’s game, only two universities can boast three Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks: Alabama and Purdue.
Purdue’s history includes champions like Len Dawson, Bob Griese, and Drew Brees. But if the Philadelphia Eagles manage to best the Kansas City Chiefs, Jalen Hurts could etch his name into history as Alabama’s fourth quarterback to raise the Lombardi Trophy, securing yet another notch in Alabama’s illustrious NFL belt.
