You need to know the Alabama ties of these 5 Super Bowl players

Super Bowl
There are five players on Super Bowl rosters who went to either high school or college in Alabama. (“Vince Lombardi Trophy” by Matt McGee is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0)

For the first time in more than a decade, no former University of Alabama or Auburn University players are on the active rosters for either team playing in the Super Bowl.

However, this year’s match-up in Las Vegas between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers features five players from Alabama colleges or high schools.

Alabama’s Super Bowl connection

Super Bowl Lviii
Neil Farrell Jr. (no. 92 for LSU) is on the Chiefs roster. (“LSUvsGASouth 729 (49079278602)” by Tammy Anthony Baker from Louisiana is licensed under CC BY 2.0)

Although no Crimson Tide players or Tigers will be on the sidelines for the game this weekend, here are some players with Alabama ties that will be on Super Bowl rosters:

  • Chiefs DL Neil Farrell Jr. (Murphy High School)
  • Chiefs RB La’Mical Perine (Theodore High School)
  • Chiefs WR Justyn Ross (Central-Phenix City)
  • Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney (Blount High School)
  • 49ers DB Darrell Luter Jr. (University of South Alabama)

Each team has players on their practice squads (but not on the active roster) who have Alabama ties, including:

  • Alabama TE Cameron Latu (49ers) and DL Isaiah Buggs (Chiefs)
  • Auburn OL Tega Wanogho (Chiefs)
  • UAB TE Gerrit Prince (Chiefs)
  • Samford QB Chris Oladokun (Chiefs) and WR Montrell Washington (Chiefs)

The state’s Super Bowl legacy

Super Bowl
Former Alabama QB Bart Starr was the MVP of Super Bowl I and II (“Vince Lombardi & Bart Starr” by sammykatz1951 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The state does have a pretty distinguished history with pro football’s biggest game, and has produced some of the most legendary players to play in the game.

In fact, the Most Valuable Players for the first three Super Bowls were former Crimson Tide quarterbacks — Bart Starr (Super Bowls I and II) and Joe Namath from (Super Bowl III).

Alabama A&M legend John Stallworth won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers and holds the Super Bowl records for career average per catch (24.4 yards) and single-game average (40.33 yards in Super Bowl XIV).

In all, 57 former Auburn Tigers have been on active Super Bowl rosters, and the University of Alabama has produced 49 players who were on rosters for the big game.

This year’s game is scheduled to kick off Sunday, Feb. 11 at 5:30PM.

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Michael Seale
Michael Seale
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