Pretty much everyone at The Kids Wear Crowns has ties to Birmingham: whether we’re from there originally (Deondra, Courtney, Ebony), lived there for a certain amount of time (myself and AJ), or formed a lot of friendships there (Ron). As a result we all have love for the city, are proud of its recent rise and love to support its people. Any time someone from Birmingham is putting on, especially if it’s Roy Wood Jr. (who has appeared multiple times on our signature Podcast, DCIP, you should check those episodes out). The city tends to push forward people with talent a level of humility to them, and there’s no better example of that than one Joe Webb.
Webb attended Ensley High School until he transferred to Wenonah during his senior year where he put together a standout campaign. He became a UAB Blazer in 2005 and redshirted while waiting behind QB Sam Hunt (yes, that Sam Hunt) and receiving some playing time as a Wide Receiver during his sophomore year. Things changed once Webb took the starting role as he would eventually set NCAA QB passing/rushing records. When he was drafted to the NFL in 2010 it was as a QB/WR prospect (which I’ve had gripes about but hey) to the Minnesota Vikings it was a project player who would eventually backup NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre. When the team drafted Christian Ponder, Webb remained a great teammate and forever humble, taking advantage of opportunities to play whenever they came.
By far Joe’s crowning achievement in his time in Minnesota was the famous Tuesday Night Football game that took place in Philadelphia after the Metrodome’s roof collapsed. Webb played against Michael Vick and the Eagles to the tune of 226 total yards and a beauty of a rushing touchdown. Webb also infamously started one playoff game after the 2012 season against Green Bay and although it started well with some read-option plays that led to early success, the team moved away from this style of playcalling that resulted in one of the worst playoff performances we’ve ever seen.
After the 2013 season Joe left Minnesota to join the Carolina Panthers as the #3 QB and Kick Returner playing in Super Bowl 50 as a Kick Returner. He spent 3 seasons with the Panthers before being cut and picked up by the Buffalo Bills for one season where he got one more chance to shine in 2017.
Joe has since been picked up by the Houston Texans for the 2018 season where he serves as a special teams player and the team’s emergency QB. All in all, Joe hasn’t had the most stellar professional career, but it has been solid. He’s been a reliable special teams player, a skilled emergency QB and has been around future Hall of Famers. All while just smiling and being a great locker room guy for almost a decade.
The man has been to London, always finds his way in front of the TV camera (unintentionally) on the sidelines. That and he’s incredibly humble.
I got the chance to know Joe when I worked for UAB’s team as an Equipment Manager, he’s as great of a guy as he seems on TV. When you meet people like him, you want to room for him, even if you know he’ll never get a real shot in the pros. His career is winding down but he’s continued his efforts to give back to his hometown in so many ways. These are the kinds of guys you root for, the success stories that aren’t really glamorous, but still all kinds of inspiring. Even though Joe isn’t going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame he’s set for life financially and has stories to tell his kids and grandchildren for years to come.
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