Former Alabama running back Ahmaad Galloway -- who rushed for 17 touchdowns in his Crimson Tide career -- has died ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.
He was just 42 years old.
According to principal Susan Reid at Compton-Drew Middle School in St. Louis, where Galloway was teaching eighth grade English, Galloway was found dead on Monday.
Reid tells us the former tailback, who was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2003, failed to show up to work ... prompting concerned school leaders to ask for a welfare check at his home.