Crimson Tide Football Legend Woodrow Lowe Dead At 71

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Woodrow Lowe, a standout linebacker at the Alabama Crimson Tide and an 11-season veteran of the San Diego Chargers, died Thursday morning in Memphis at the age of 71.

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His brother, Eddie Lowe, serves as mayor of Phenix City and confirmed his death to numerous media outlets.

Lowe, a three-time All-American for the Crimson Tide from 1972 to 1975 under legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant was a key member of the 1973 national championship team before being selected in the fifth round of the 1976 NFL draft.

Born June 9, 1954, in Columbus, Georgia, Lowe attended Central High School in Phenix City before enrolling at Alabama, where he recorded 315 career tackles and set the single-season school record with 134 stops in 1973 — a mark that stands to this day.

Lowe ranks fourth all-time in tackles at Alabama behind only Wayne Davis (327), Tom Boyd (324) and C.J. Mosley (319).

During his NFL tenure from 1976-86, he appeared in 164 games and intercepted 21 passes, returning four for touchdowns.

After retiring from the NFL, Lowe spent six years in the NFL as a defensive assistant for the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs, before joining the staff at his high school alma mater as an assistant coach — a roll that saw him part of the coaching staff for the Red Devils' 1993 state championship.

He then spent five years coaching at UAB and returned to the high school ranks to became the head coach at Smiths Station High School until 2008. He went on to also coach at Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham, his high school alma mater as a head coach and as the head coach at Selma High School.

Lowe was also elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

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