Alabama Roots: Top 10 in NFL Sacks

During the 2023 NFL season, the rankings for career sacks by players hailing from Alabama high schools and colleges remained steady. This applies to both the official and unofficial lists of sack statistics.

The NFL recognizes two sets of sack statistics – the official records starting from 1982 and an unofficial record stretching back to 1960.

Sacks became an official NFL statistic in 1982. However, thanks to the detailed work of John Turney and Nick Webster from the Pro Football Researchers Association, published in 2021, there’s now a comprehensive, though unofficial, accounting of sack records dating back to 1960.

The top 10 Alabama high school and college players with the most NFL sacks change slightly when considering these unofficial statistics that add 22 seasons to the records.

Former Parker High School star and Pro Football Hall of Famer Buck Buchanan played his entire career with the Kansas City Chiefs before sacks were officially recorded. The research credits Buchanan with 70.5 sacks from 1962 through 1975, placing him ninth on the unofficial Alabama list.

On both lists, the player from an Alabama high school or college with the most NFL sacks is Kevin Greene, with 160. Officially, Greene ranks third in NFL history and holds the record for the most sacks by a linebacker. Unofficially, he ranks fourth, trailing Bruce Smith, Reggie White, and Deacon Jones (who played defensive end).

During the 2023 NFL season, Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Hines-Allen (Abbeville) led Alabama players in sacks with 17.5, tying for the second-highest total in the league.

The single-season sack record for a player from an Alabama high school or college stands at 20, a record shared by Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Derrick Thomas (Alabama) in 1990 and Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (Auburn High, Troy) in 2008.

The active sack leader among Alabama players is Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith (Greenville) with 60.

Here are the top 10 players with Alabama football roots and their official NFL sack totals:

1. Kevin Greene, Auburn: 160 sacks

   • Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1985-1992), Pittsburgh Steelers (1993-1995), San Francisco 49ers (1997), Carolina Panthers (1996, 1997-1998)
   • Achievements: Third-highest sack total in NFL history, led NFL in sacks in 1994 and 1996, two-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler, Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

2. DeMarcus Ware, Auburn High School, Troy: 138.5 sacks

   • Teams: Dallas Cowboys (2005-2013), Denver Broncos (2014-2016)
   • Achievements: Ninth-highest sack total in NFL history, led NFL in sacks in 2008 and 2010, four-time All-Pro, nine-time Pro Bowler, Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

3. Derrick Thomas, Alabama: 126.5 sacks

   • Team: Kansas City Chiefs (1989-1999)
   • Achievements: 17th on NFL’s all-time sack list, led NFL in sacks in 1990, holds NFL record for most sacks in a game with seven, two-time All-Pro, nine-time Pro Bowler, Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

4. Robert Mathis, Alabama A&M: 123 sacks

   • Team: Indianapolis Colts (2003-2016)
   • Achievements: Led NFL in sacks in 2013, ranks 20th in league history, one-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler.

5. Trace Armstrong, John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham: 106 sacks

   • Teams: Chicago Bears (1989-1994), Miami Dolphins (1995-2000), Oakland Raiders (2001-2003)
   • Achievements: Defensive end, career high of 16.5 sacks in 2000, Pro Bowl spot in 2000, ranks 31st in league history.

6. Osi Umenyiora, Auburn High School, Troy: 85 sacks

   • Teams: New York Giants (2003-2012), Atlanta Falcons (2013-2014)
   • Achievements: Defensive end for two Super Bowl winners with the Giants, one-time All-Pro, two-time Pro Bowler.

7. Tim Harris, Woodlawn High School in Birmingham: 81 sacks

   • Teams: Green Bay Packers (1986-1990), San Francisco 49ers (1991-1992, 1994-1995), Philadelphia Eagles (1993)
   • Achievements: All-Pro outside linebacker in 1989, started prep career at Woodlawn before finishing at Catholic High School in Memphis.

8. Cornelius Bennett, Ensley High School in Birmingham, Alabama: 71.5 sacks

   • Teams: Buffalo Bills (1987-1995), Atlanta Falcons (1996-1998), Indianapolis Colts (1999-2000)
   • Achievements: Outside linebacker, five Super Bowl appearances, one-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler.

9. Mario Addison, Tarrant High School, Troy: 68 sacks

   • Teams: Chicago Bears (2011), Indianapolis Colts (2011-2012), Washington Redskins (2012), Carolina Panthers (2012-2019), Buffalo Bills (2020-2021), Houston Texans (2022)
   • Achievements: Defensive end, career high of 11 sacks in 2017, at least nine sacks in each season from 2016 through 2019.

10. Justin Tuck, Central High School in Rockford: 66.5 sacks

    • Teams: New York Giants (2005-2013), Oakland Raiders (2014-2015)
    • Achievements: Defensive end, one-time All-Pro, two-time Pro Bowler, teammate of Osi Umenyiora on two Super Bowl-winning Giants teams. His official sack total doesn’t include four sacks made in those two Super Bowl victories.

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