In the realm of NFL statistics, the player with Alabama football roots who holds the record for the most sacks is Kevin Greene. With a total of 160 sacks, Greene ranks third in official NFL history and first among players whose primary position was linebacker. However, when considering unofficial statistics that date back to 1960, he moves to fourth place, trailing behind Bruce Smith, Reggie White, and Deacon Jones.
The official sack statistic was introduced by the NFL in 1982. Before this time, sacks were not officially recorded. In 2021, John Turney and Nick Webster from the Pro Football Researchers Association published research providing an unofficial accounting of sack stats dating back to 1960.
Buck Buchanan, a former Parker High School star and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is credited with 70.5 sacks during his career with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1962 to 1975 according to these research statistics. This would place him ninth on Alabama’s list if unofficial numbers are considered.
During the 2024 NFL season, Will Anderson Jr., a defensive end for the Houston Texans and an Alabama alumnus, led players with Alabama roots by recording 11 sacks. Za’Darius Smith followed closely with nine sacks while playing for both the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions. Smith’s performance brought his career total to 69 sacks.
The single-season sack record for players from Alabama high schools or colleges stands at 20. This record was set by Derrick Thomas in 1990 and matched by DeMarcus Ware in 2008.
Kevin Greene’s career spanned several teams including the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, and Carolina Panthers. He played in a total of 228 games and was selected by the Rams as the 113th overall pick in the fifth round of the 1985 NFL Draft.
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