Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Adam Schefter Provides Huge Update on Former Alabama Star

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Grant Bricker | Last updated May 15, 2025 7:44 PM ET

The Alabama Crimson Tide has 77 active players in the NFL heading into the 2025 season.

One of those players is New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore. Barmore played for former Alabama head coach Nick Saban from 2019-20.

ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed some excellent news for Barmore on Thursday. The defensive lineman was cleared for football activity after missing time last season due to blood clots.

The Patriots drafted Barmore with the 38th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has been with the organization for four seasons and had a career year in 2023.

The Patriots went 4-13 in 2024.

Barmore's blood clots were discovered in July, and he missed the first 10 games of the 2024 season. He played his first game last season in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Barmore finished the 2024 campaign with six total tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss.

His best season with the franchise was in 2023, when he recorded 64 total tackles, 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Barmore set career highs in all three stats.

Barmore is in the second year of a four-year, $83 million contract with the Patriots, per Spotrac. He signed the new deal in the 2024 offseason.

The Patriots' head coach changed in the offseason. The franchise fired Jerod Mayo and hired Mike Vrabel, whose last head coaching job was with the Tennessee Titans in 2023.

Changes have also happened in college football. Saban is no longer Alabama's head coach and is expected to join a college football commission. The commission will examine issues within the sport, such as NIL, the transfer portal, Title IX, and unregulated booster compensation for athletes.

Back at Alabama, the head coach is now Kalen DeBoer, who recently suffered a recruiting blow. Alabama lost the race for four-star receiver Corey Barber to the Ole Miss Rebels.

Barmore and the Patriots open the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 7.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: