New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath became the first NFL or AFL player to pass for 4,000 yards in a season when he piled up 4,007 in 1967. No other quarterback reached 4,000 passing yards until 1979.

There have been 225 more 4,000-yard seasons since San Diego Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts followed Namath. But Namath’s number stood as the most passing yards for a former Alabama player until 2023.

This season, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards with 4,624.

Tagovailoa not only broke Namath’s 56-year-old single-season record for most NFL passing yards by a former Alabama player, he also surpassed the 47-year-old Crimson Tide mark for touchdown passes in an NFL season. Ken Stabler threw 27 touchdown passes for the Oakland Raiders in 1976. Tagovailoa had 29 TD passes in 2023.

Tagovailoa surpassed Mac Jones’ 2-year-old record for NFL completions with 388, too.

Tagovailoa was the only Crimson Tide record-breaker in 2023.

The oldest surviving single-season NFL superlative among Crimson Tide alumni was set by Don Hutson in 1942, when he caught 17 touchdown passes for the Green Bay Packers. Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley led Alabama’s NFL contingent in 2023 with eight touchdown receptions.

RELATED: ALABAMA’S TOP 10 NFL RUSHERS

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RELATED: ALABAMA’S TOP 10 NFL RECEIVERS

The single-season bests for Alabama alumni in the NFL through the 2023 season include:

Completions: 388 by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in 2023. Previous best: 352 by New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones in 2021.

Passing yards: 4,624 by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in 2023. Previous best: 4,007 by New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath in 1967.

Touchdown passes: 29 by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in 2023. Previous best: 27 by Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler in 1976.

Rushing attempts: 378 by Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry in 2020. 2023 leader: Henry with 280.

Rushing yards: 2,027 by Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry in 2020. 2023 leader: Henry with 1,167.

Rushing touchdowns: 27 by Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander in 2005. 2023 leader: 15 by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Receptions: 136 by Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones in 2015. 2023 leader: 81 by Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

Receiving yards: 1,871 by Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones in 2015. 2023 leader: 1,250 by Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper.

Receiving touchdowns: 17 by Green Bay Packers end Don Hutson in 1942. 2023 leader: 8 by Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

Touchdowns: 28 by Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander in 2005. 2023 leader: 15 by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Points: 168 by Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander in 2005. 2023 leader: 90 by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Yards from scrimmage: 2,141 by Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry in 2020. 2023 leader: 1,381 by Henry.

All-purpose yards: 2,141 by Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry in 2020. 2023 leader: 1,381 by Henry.

Kickoff-return yards: 1,176 by Minnesota Vikings wide receiver David Palmer in 1998. 2023 leader: 41 by Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris.

Punt-return yards: 444 by Minnesota Vikings wide receiver David Palmer in 1997. 2023 leader: None.

Field goals: 30 by Los Angeles Rams kicker David Ray in 1973. 2023 leader: None.

Punts: 101 by Buffalo Bills punter Chris Mohr in 1996 and Kansas City Chiefs punter Daniel Pope in 1999. 2023 leader: 75 by Los Angeles Chargers punter JK Scott.

Interceptions: 11 by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs in 2021. 2023 leaders: 3 by Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch and New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney.

Interception-return yards: 274 by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Mark McMillian in 1997. 2023 leader: 63 by Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch.

Passes defended: 21 by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs in 2021. 2023 leader: 13 by Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch.

Solo tackles: 126 by Houston Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans in 2006. 2023 leader: 81 by New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley.

Combined tackles: 168 by New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley in 2021. 2023 leader: 152 by Mosley.

Tackles for loss: 21 by Washington Redskins defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin in 2004. 2023 leader: 14 by New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings.

Sacks: 20 by Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Derrick Thomas in 1990. 2023 leader: 8.5 by New England Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore.

Forced fumbles: 8 by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey in 2020. 2023 leaders: 2 by New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley, Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne and New England Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson.

Not all individual stats have been recorded for all or even most of the NFL’s existence. The sack records date from 1960, tackles from 1987, solo tackles from 1994 and tackles for loss, forced fumbles and passes defended from 1999.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.