One of the premier defensive ends in professional football for nearly two decades, Alzado played 16 years (as defensive end and tackle) with three NFL (National Football League) American Conference teams––Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. 

Named All-Pro in 1977 with Cleveland, and 1978 and 1980 with Denver, Alzado won the Whizzer White Award as NFL Players’ Association Man of the Year in 1977 (voted by the NFL players), and American Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year the
same season. Alzedo's speciality was “sacks”, registering 97
in 196 career games.  

He was voted Comeback Player of the Year in 1982 (his first season with the Raiders) by Pro Football Weekly. In 1983,
when he sparked the Raiders to the Super Bowl Championship,
he was one of five finalists for NFL Man of the Year.