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Bama in the NFL: San Francisco 49ers Drafted a Pair of Crimson Tide Pioneers

Originally posted on Alabama Crimson Tide on SI
By Christopher Walsh | Last updated 8/22/23

Even though the Alabama Crimson Tide has never had a former player named All-Pro or to a Pro Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers, the two football powers have a unique and interesting relationship over the years, especially in one historical respect.

Wilbur Jackson, of course, was first Black athlete to sign a football scholarship to play for the Crimson Tide, and the first to get into a game was John Mitchell. Two years ago, the pioneers were honored with a permanent plaque at the end of the Walk of Champions at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Both players were also drafted by the same NFL franchise, the 49ers. Mitchell was a seventh-round selection in 1973, and Jackson a first-round pick, No. 9 overall, a year later. Jackson ended up playing 94 games in the NFL, most with San Francisco (1974-79), and tallied 971 carries for 3,852 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Mitchell was was considered sort of a defensive 'tweener, too small for defensive end and too big to be a linebacker at the NFL level. When was released by the team prior to the start of the season, Mitchell could have tried to play in the World Football League, but instead opted to return to Alabama and attend law school. Fate had something else in mind, with Paul W. "Bear" Bryant hiring him to be the Crimson Tide's first African-American assistant coach.

He had some other stops as well, including at Arkansas and LSU, but Mitchell retired from coaching following the 2022 season after 28 years with the Steelers.

In terms of longevity with the 49ers, defensive lineman Larry Roberts set the standard. A second-round selection in the 1986 NFL Draft, he played in 89 games from 1986-93, with 34 starts, and was credited with 28 career sacks. He also participated in 12 postseason games for San Francisco, including two Super Bowls.

Jackson is the only other one to play more than four seasons with the franchise.

In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the 28th story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.

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