Senior Bowl announces 75th anniversary team
Four players with Alabama football roots are members of the Senior Bowl 75th Anniversary Team, an all-star assemblage announced by the Mobile-based all-star game on Tuesday.
Alabama running back Shaun Alexander and outside linebacker Cornelius Bennett (Ensley High School), Chattanooga wide receiver Terrell Owens (Benjamin Russell High School) and Troy defensive end DeMarcus Ware (Auburn High School) are among the 41 players on the 75th anniversary team.
“What an honor to be on the 75th team,” Alexander said in a release from the Senior Bowl. “As I think about this team of legends that I played against or watched over the years, I am amazed that we all started our journey with this game. Our last time repping our college and at the same time being coached by the pros. I am thankful for the Senior Bowl and congratulations to all the players on the 75th anniversary team.”
The team features 19 players who are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The players on the team collectively went on from the Senior Bowl to win eight NFL Most Valuable Players awards and eight NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and earn 119 first-team All-Pro and 253 Pro Bowl selections.
“The history of our game means everything to us here at the Senior Bowl, so this is a special announcement,” said Jim Nagy, the executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl. “This 75th anniversary team includes many of the greatest players in NFL history, and they are all legendary players for their respective franchises. We look forward to bringing these all-time greats back to where their NFL journeys started, the city of Mobile, Alabama. The Senior Bowl is grateful for our partners at the NFLPA for helping to make this celebration happen.”
The first Senior Bowl was played in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1950. The next 73 were played in Mobile, where the 75th Reese’s Senior Bowl will be played at noon CST Feb. 3 at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
The theme for the 2024 all-star game is “The Legends Return,” and a halftime ceremony will honor the anniversary team. The NFL Players Association is the presenting sponsor for the celebration.
The Senior Bowl 75th Anniversary Team was chosen through an online fan vote, a poll of the 32 NFL general managers and input from the Senior Bowl’s selection committee.
The Senior Bowl chose a 50th anniversary team in 1999. To avoid duplication of those all-stars, players considered for the 75th anniversary team were Senior Bowl alumni active in the NFL from 1998 through 2023.
The players (with their Senior Bowl year) on the all-star game’s 75th anniversary team include:
Quarterbacks: Dan Marino, Pittsburgh 1983; Brett Favre, Southern Miss 1991.
Running backs: LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU 2001; Thurman Thomas, Oklahoma State 1988; Curtis Martin, Pittsburgh 1995; Shaun Alexander, Alabama, 2000.
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk, Harvard 2013.
Tight end: Jimmy Graham, Miami (Fla.) 2010.
Wide receivers: Terrell Owens, Chattanooga, 1996; Reggie Wayne, Miami (Fla.) 2001; Torry Holt, North Carolina State 1999; Hines Ward, Georgia 1998.
Offensive tackles: Joe Staley, Central Michigan, 2007; Terron Armstead, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 2013; Lane Johnson, Oklahoma 2013.
Guards: Larry Allen, Sonoma State 1994; Steve Hutchinson, Michigan 2001; Zack Martin, Notre Dame 2014.
Centers: Dermontti Dawson, Kentucky 1998; Kevin Mawae, LSU 1994.
Defensive tackles: Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh 2014; Bryant Young, Notre Dame 1994; Geno Atkins, Georgia 2010.
Defensive ends: DeMarcus Ware, Troy 2005; Michael Strahan, Texas Southern 1993; Jason Taylor, Akron 2007.
Outside linebackers: Von Miller, Texas A&M 2011; Cornelius Bennett, Alabama 1987.
Inside linebackers: Derrick Brooks, Florida State, 1995; Brian Urlacher, New Mexico, 2000; Patrick Willis, Ole Miss, 2007; Bobby Wagner, Utah State, 2012.
Safeties: Brian Dawkins, Clemson 1996; Bob Sanders, Iowa 2004; LeRoy Butler, Florida State 1990.
Cornerbacks: Richard Sherman, Stanford 2011; Patrick Surtain Sr., Southern Miss 1998; Aeneas Williams, Southern 1991.
Kicker: Phil Dawson, Texas 1998.
Punter: Pat McAfee, West Virginia 2009.
Return specialist: Darren Sproles, Kansas State 2005.
The 50th anniversary team included quarterback Joe Namath, tight end Ozzie Newsome (Colbert County High School) and linebackers Lee Roy Jordan (Excel High School) and Derrick Thomas from Alabama and running back Bo Jackson (McAdory High School) and center Tom Banks (John Carroll Catholic High School) from Auburn.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.