Linebacker Reuben Foster hasn’t played in a football game since Oct. 28, 2018. But it’s been even longer since the former Crimson Tide All-America played in Alabama.

When Foster takes the field on Sunday with the Pittsburgh Maulers at Protective Stadium in Birmingham for Week 1 of the USFL season, he’ll be in his first game in his home state since the Iron Bowl on Nov. 26, 2016.

“Coming home Sunday,” Foster wrote on his Twitter account on Wednesday. “It’s going to feel good to be back in that Alabama atmosphere where it all started. I need all my Alabama fans to come support the Pitts Maulers and fill the stadium out on this Road Of Redemption. It’s been four years. I need to feel the crowd. Get your popcorn ready!”

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Foster made eight tackles and shared a sack as Alabama defeated Auburn 30-12 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa in that 2016 contest. A week later, Alabama won the SEC Championship Game on its way to a spot in the CFP national title contest.

Foster was soon to be named a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker. He joined the San Francisco 49ers as the 31st selection in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Foster made the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team. But after he was arrested and charged with first-degree domestic battery on Nov. 25, 2018, with the 49ers in Tampa, Florida, for a game against the Buccaneers, San Francisco waived him.

The charge was dropped less than six weeks later, but by that time, the Washington Redskins had claimed Foster off waivers, and he had been forced to the sidelines by the NFL, which placed him on the commissioner exempt list while the league investigated the situation.

The league restored Foster to Washington’s active roster on April 12, 2019. But on May 20, 2019, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in his left knee during an offseason practice.

After spending the 2019 season on Washington’s injured reserve, Foster returned to practice with the team on Aug. 9, 2020. But when Washington reduced its 80-player training-camp roster to the regular-season limit of 53 less than one month later, Foster returned to injured reserve for another season-long stay.

Foster became a free agent in March 2021 when his four-year rookie contract ended. He was out of football until joining the Maulers for the USFL’s second season.

“We know who he is and who he was, and we were very happy to get him,” Pittsburgh coach Ray Horton said. “He adds validity to our defense, to our team. One day the players were watching highlights, and it was amazing to watch. They were in awe. That was a cool moment for us to realize this guy is very, very good. Before he even walks in the door, people know him. He’s been a joy to be around.”

Pittsburgh will square off against the New Orleans Breakers at 5:30 p.m. CDT Sunday at Protective Stadium. FS1 will televise the game.

Last season, the USFL played all its regular-season games in Birmingham. This season, the USFL is playing in four cities, with the Breakers sharing Protective Stadium with the Birmingham Stallions. The Stallions kick off their season with a home game against the New Jersey Generals at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. FOX will televise the game.

The Maulers and the Generals will play their home games at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

Sunday’s game will be Foster’s only visit to Alabama this season. Pittsburgh will play the Stallions on May 7 in Canton.

Foster was the Class 6A Lineman of the Year and a Parade and Under Armour All-American at Auburn High School in 2012.

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