The University of Alabama is a football powerhouse, and the Arizona Cardinals have looked to the school for help over the years
Long before Bruce Arians became the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, a job was offered to him that he had to have. Much to his wife Christine’s chagrin, the 28-year old assistant had accepted the position without knowing what the salary was. It just didn’t matter.
Paul “Bear” Bryant had asked Arians to join his staff at the University of Alabama, and the decision was a no-brainer. He was appointed running backs’ coach, and would spend the 1981-82 seasons learning from perhaps the greatest coach in college football history. Bryant’s portrait hangs in Arians’ office to this day, an indication of how valuable the experience was to the up and coming offensive guru.
Alabama’s influence on Arians is just one example of the institution’s contributions to the Cardinals.
A player who was just leaving Alabama when Arians got there was linebacker E.J. Junior. Drafted in the first round in 1981 by the then St. Louis Cardinals, Junior twice represented the club in the Pro Bowl (1984-85). He was a big-time defensive presence for the Cards through the 1988 campaign, the team’s first year in Arizona.
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Rashad Johnson was drafted by Arizona in the third round in 2009, starting 51 games during his seven years in the desert. The Alabama alum racked up 344 tackles, 15 interceptions and 30 passes defensed for Big Red. The safety left the Cardinals as a free agent following the 2015 season.
Current Cards’ defensive end Ed Stinson attended Alabama from 2009 until he was drafted in ’14. He was a part of three National Championship teams before coming to play in Arizona. He hasn’t seen the field much, but that could change this year following the departure of Calais Campbell.
Linebacker Keith McCants starred at Alabama but had an underwhelming pro career. The fourth-overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) played his final two seasons with the Cardinals (1994-95). He was a favorite of then Cards’ head coach Buddy Ryan, scoring two defensive touchdowns for the squad during his time in the Valley of the Sun.
The late Benny Perrin roamed Alabama’s secondary while Arians was the running backs’ coach in 1981. The following year he became a member of the Cardinals’ franchise, while they were residing in St. Louis. Perrin committed suicide this past February after years of suffering, brought on by the numerous head injuries the safety had endured during his playing career.
Some other players from the Crimson Tide who wore a Cards’ uniform during their time in the league; FB Tim Castille, G Anthony Steen, LB Wayne Davis and DE Kenny King. With the success the University of Alabama is continuing to have, there should be plenty more to follow in the upcoming years.