Top 5 college football programs with the most players on 2025 NFL playoff rosters

The 2025 NFL playoffs got underway Saturday afternoon with the Los Angeles Chargers visiting the Houston Texans.

As is usually the case, there will be no shortage of former Alabama football players on NFL playoff rosters on Wild Card weekend. That’s not surprising given that Nick Saban sent an NCAA record 47 players to the NFL as first-round draft picks while in Tuscaloosa.

The Texans, coached by former Crimson Tide stud linebacker DeMeco Ryans (2002-05), feature five former Alabama players on their active playoff roster, while the Chargers have three. The Texans tie the Philadelphia Eagles for the most Alabama players on their playoff roster.

Elsewhere in the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Baltimore Ravens in what some consider the best rivalry in the NFL. The Ravens have been a popular landing spot for many Alabama players over the years, perhaps due to the presence of Crimson Tide legend Ozzie Newsome, the team’s longtime general manager.

As Roll Tide Wire mentioned on a separate list, a total of 33 players on NFL rosters played football for Saban at Alabama. As for where that total ranks, here are the five college football programs with the most former players on an active 2025 NFL playoff roster.

(This list does include players who are listed on the practice squad or on injured/reserved lists.)

5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a gold Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Former Irish on Active NFL Playoff Rosters: 18

Notre Dame is well-represented in the playoffs with 18 former players on active rosters, including the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in Chargers offensive tackle Joe Alt. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, a former first-round pick (No. 14 overall in 2022), and Vikings safety Harrison Smith are two others.

For coverage of Notre Dame, visit Fighting Irish Wire.

4. Oklahoma Sooners

Nov 3, 2018; Lubbock, TX, USA; An Oklahoma Sooners helmet on the sidelines during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Former Sooners on Active NFL Playoff Rosters: 21

Oklahoma boasts five players on the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs’ active roster, including starting center Creed Humphrey. Elsewhere, Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is annually in the discussion for the best tight end in the NFL. Then there’s former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts, who spent three seasons in Tuscaloosa before transferring to Norman for his senior season.

For coverage of the Oklahoma Sooners, visit Sooners Wire.

3. Florida Gators

Oct 16, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Florida Gators helmet on a water jug during the game against LSU Tigers during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Former Gators on Active NFL Playoff Rosters: 23

Florida was fifth on this list a season ago and they’re up two spots this year with 23. Among the former Gators players on active NFL postseason rosters are Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone and Philadelphia Eagles defensive back CJ Gardner-Johnson.

For coverage of the Florida Gators, visit Gators Wire.

2. Georgia Bulldogs

Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A detailed view of a Georgia Bulldogs helmet during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Former Bulldogs on Active NFL Playoff Rosters: 27

Sunday’s Packers vs. Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia will feature 11 former Georgia players (five for Green Bay, six for Philadelphia). Outside of that game, there’s Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith and Steelers receiver George Pickens among others.

For coverage of the Georgia Bulldogs, visit UGA Wire.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

(Getty Images)

Former Crimson Tide on Active NFL Playoff Rosters: 33

Alabama makes the definitive case as “NFLU” with this total. The Ravens’ Derrick Henry and the Eagles’ DeVonta Smith are at the top of this list as far as Crimson Tide legends go; both won the Heisman Trophy en route to the national championship.

The Steelers’ Najee Harris, who was one of three Alabama players to finish in the top five in Heisman voting in the Tide’s star-studded 2020 season, is Alabama’s all-time leading rusher with 3,843 yards, surpassing Henry’s 3,591-yard total from 2013-15.

Harris’ teammate with the Steelers, Minkah Fitzpatrick, was a crucial figure in Alabama’s secondary and was one of the players Nick Saban trusted with the title of “quarterback” on defense.

Vikings rookie kicker Will Reichard is the all-time leader in points scored — not only at Alabama but in all of college football history. Reichard ended his college career with 547 points scored.

Jalen Hurts hopes to become the first former Alabama quarterback to win a Super Bowl since Ken Stabler led the 1976 Oakland Raiders past the Vikings in Super Bowl XI at the Rose Bowl.