Tyler Booker shares heartfelt message to Ty Simpson on making it to NFL
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Tyler Booker was a mainstay on the offensive line for Alabama, playing in Tuscaloosa from 2022-24, which was just before Ty Simpson took over as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback in 2025.
So, technically, Booker never blocked for Simpson while he was the starting QB for Alabama. But both players still share a thick common bond. They were both Alabama players, and they both arrived in T-Town in 2022, so while Booker was starring on the offensive line and Simpson was waiting his turn for those first 3 seasons there, they were both driving toward the same goal after getting to Bama at the same time.
Booker is now a second-year guard for the Dallas Cowboys, and Simpson has now joined Booker in realizing his NFL dreams, being drafted in the first round, 13th overall, by the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. Now, Booker and Simpson share something else, in addition to their Bama bond. Booker is mighty proud of Simpson for being patient and getting to the NFL after waiting his turn in Tuscaloosa, and he shared a heartfelt message for Simpson on Sunday to congratulate him.
Ironically, Booker was also drafted in the first round, like Simpson, and was the 12th overall pick in the 2025 draft, so the pair of former Tide stars were almost taken at exactly the same point in back-to-back drafts.
“I’m very excited for you, very proud of you, for everything you’ve been through, everything you’ve gone through,” Booker said. “In a day and age when everybody could transfer, move, leave, you decided to stay (at Alabama). You’re a man of your word, you’re a man of God. I’ve felt blessed that God has given us this brotherhood that we share. … This is only the beginning. I’m always going to be there for you.”
Here is Booker’s entire message to Simpson, who responded to Booker in kind with a message of his own, calling Booker his best friend:
Booker and Simpson both were familiar with College Football Playoff games while at Alabama, and the current Crimson Tide team will be trying to make it back to the Playoff in 2026. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the top teams in the mix to be playing for everything come December:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
