Former Alabama long snapper Carson Tinker announces NFL retirement

Former Alabama long snapper Carson Tinker called it a career on Sunday. He forever made his mark as an inspirational figure in Crimson Tide football history. He played in the National Football League from 2013-2023, playing with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, and the Seattle Seahawks.

Tinker suffered a personal tragedy when his girlfriend Ashley Harrison, was tragically killed during the 2011 Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado. He was recognized for his part in helping the Tuscaloosa community rebuild after the tornado. Tinker was named as a finalist for the 2011 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. In May of 2014, he published his first book, “A Season to Remember: Faith in the Midst of the Storm.” The book discusses his experience in the 2011 Tuscaloosa tornado as well as the 2011-2012 Alabama football season.

More on Carson Tinker and his college and pro career

After he redshirted in the 2008 campaign, Tinker got to see his first game action in college football against Chattanooga in the 2009 season. For the 2010 season, he earned a role as the starting long snapper for the Tide, converting 121 of 123 snapping opportunities. For the 2011 campaign, he converted all 119 snapping opportunities on his way to the 2011 National Championship.

For the first four seasons of his time with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Tinker played as a member of the team but as a walk-on. Before the start of his senior season in Tuscaloosa, the Tennessee native was awarded a full scholarship by head coach Nick Saban. The legendary football coach decided to honor Tinker’s accomplishments both on and off the field for the team. In 2012, he once again was the starting long snapper for the Tide, converting 133 out of 135 snapping opportunities.

He went undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft, but was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tinker went on to win the starting long snapper job with the Jags in August of 2013. But, he battled a number of injuries during his time with the franchise, including tearing his ACL in August of 2017. He also had to deal with an undisclosed knee injury in October of 2018.

His time with the Buccaneers, Raiders, Rams, and Seahawks was very short lived. But he did win a Super Bowl ring during his first stint with the Rams after they defeated the Bengals. He had very brief second stints with both the Rams (August of 2023) and Jaguars.