Nearly four decades have passed since Cornelius Bennett stood at the heart of one of the most iconic moments in Iron Bowl history.
As a junior and All-American linebacker for Alabama in 1985, Bennett helped lead the Crimson Tide to a dramatic 25-23 victory over Auburn at Birmingham’s Legion Field. The game, now a classic in the storied rivalry, saw four lead changes in the fourth quarter before Van Tiffin’s unforgettable 52-yard game-winning field goal, known simply as “The Kick.”
“Wow, I didn’t realize it had been that long,” Bennett remarked earlier this month during his appearance at the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame banquet, where he was first inducted in 1993. “All I remember is that we won — that’s what mattered most. The rivalry, Coach Bryant’s passing, Coach Perkins stepping in — we were trying to maintain that legacy.”
Bennett added, “We managed to beat Auburn twice, and I’m proud of that — especially since they had that No. 34 over there.”
That “No. 34,” of course, was Bo Jackson. Like Bennett, Jackson was from the Birmingham area and starred in four Iron Bowls. Jackson’s Auburn squads won in 1982 and 1983, while Bennett’s Alabama team took the victories in 1984 and 1985.
Bennett, a standout from Ensley High School, faced Jackson three times. The Auburn running back posted big numbers in those matchups, including 256 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 1983 alone.
“He was the total package,” Bennett said of Jackson. “They could’ve used him more in the passing game — he was that good. If they had, I don’t know how you’d stop him.”
But Bennett’s own legacy is just as impressive. He recorded 38 tackles across four Iron Bowls, became a three-time first-team All-American (joining only Woodrow Lowe in Alabama history), won the prestigious Lombardi Award in 1986, and earned SEC Player of the Year honors the same season. That year, he also delivered his legendary sack of Notre Dame quarterback Steve Beuerlein in a commanding 28-6 victory.
In his final two seasons at Alabama, Bennett formed a fearsome linebacker duo with the late Derrick Thomas, another Tide legend. Thomas would go on to win the Butkus Award in 1988 and terrorize offenses with 27 sacks that season.
“Derrick was always late — Coach Croom had him doing extra runs constantly,” Bennett joked. “But on the field, he gave everything. You just accepted it.”
Thomas, who tragically passed away in 2000 after a car accident, was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bennett, despite an outstanding 14-season NFL career, has yet to receive that honor.
Bennett played for the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons, and Indianapolis Colts, earning five Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro nods, and appearing in five Super Bowls. He was named to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1990s.
Although nearing the end of his eligibility on the regular ballot, Bennett remains hopeful for a future induction as a seniors candidate.
“I don’t lose sleep over it,” he said. “But do I believe I belong there? Absolutely. I may not have 100 sacks, but I did everything my teams needed. I was unselfish, moved around, did what it took to win. That’s just who I am, and I’d do it all over again.”
Bennett now resides in South Florida with his wife Kimberly. The couple has three adult children and four grandchildren, who affectionately call him “P-paw.”
His son, Kivon Bennett, made headlines himself when he signed with Tennessee — one of Alabama’s biggest rivals — in 2017. Kivon spent four years with the Volunteers and finished his college career at Arkansas State before joining the Jacksonville Sharks of the Indoor Football League.
Now, with his upcoming Hall of Fame induction, Cornelius Bennett’s legacy as one of Alabama’s greatest players is being further cemented — a long-overdue recognition for a career defined by dominance, sacrifice, and team-first leadership.
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