A former Penn State football player has appeared in every Super Bowl (except for five since 1967).ย
That will continue this Sunday when Miles Sanders ย of the Philadelphia Eagles carries the flag for the Blue & White.
While the world waits to see if Sanders will win a ring, here’s a look at past Penn State players who have.
*Note: Chris Hogan won’t be talked about here. He played Lacrosse at Penn State, not football.
Super Bowls I and II
DAVE ROBINSON, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Robinson’s name isn’t known to Penn Staters and Penn State fans as well as guys like Jack Ham, Franco Harris and LaVar Arrington are, but those who know their football history are aware of Robinson’s significance.ย
In 10 seasons with the Packers, Robinson became an integral part of Vince Lombardi’s dynasty as a linebacker.ย
Robinson pressured Don Meredith on the last play of the 1966 NFL Championship Game that forced the game-clinching interception that put the Packers in the first Super Bowl.
Robinson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.ย
Super Bowl III: Ralph Baker, New York Jets
Super Bowl VII and VIII: Bruce Bannon, Miami Dolphinsย
Super Bowl IX, X, XIII and XIV: FRANCO HARRIS AND JACK HAM, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Every Penn State fan knows these guys. Harris and Ham both played at Penn State in the late 60s and early 70s. Both were part of Joe Paterno’s second undefeated season in 1969. Both ended up as integral members of the Steelers dynasty of the 1970s, and both are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.ย
Harris scored the Steelers’ first touchdown of their first Super Bowl win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX. Harris finished that game with 158 yards on 34 carries and was named MVP.
Ham’s best Super Bowl performance came in Super Bowl XIII when he had eight tackles to lead all players.ย
Super Bowl XIย
TED KWALICK, DAVE ROW, OAKLAND RAIDERS
Kwalick was one of Paterno’s first stars, earning All-American honors in 1967 and ’68. He was no slouch in the NFL, either.
In nine seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, Kwalick made the Pro Bowl every year from 1971-73. By 1976, Kwalick was in the twilight of his career and only caught four passes that entire season. His season ended after Week 9, and Kwalick wasn’t a part of any of Oakland’s three playoff wins.
Super Bowl XII: Tom Rafferty, Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowls XIV, XV, XVIII and XXV
MATT BAHR, PITTSBURGH STEELERS/NEW YORK GIANTS, CHRIS BAHR, OAKLAND/LOS ANGELES RAIDERS
The Bahr brothers are the only pair of Penn State siblings to win Super Bowls.
Matt Bahr started in all three postseason games for the Steelers, and in Super Bowl XIV against the Rams, he went 4-for-4 with an extra point in the 31-19 win. A decade later, Bahr made two fields goals– including the game-winner– and two extra points as the Giants beat the Buffalo Bills in the famous “wide right” game.ย
Matt’s brother, Chris, missed a field goal in Super Bowl XV against the Eagles but made his other two field goals and went 3-for-3 in extra points. In Super Bowl XXIII against the Redskins, Chris Bahr went 5-for-5 in PAT’s and made a field goal.ย
Super Bowl XV
MATT MILLEN, OAKLAND RAIDERS
Millen is known to younger football fans for his work as a color commentator and his unsuccessful run as president and CEO of the Detroit Lions.ย
Before that, Millen was a star defensive tackle on Paterno’s late 70s Penn State powerhouses and wound up having a solid 12-year career in the pros, winning four Super Bowl rings on three teams.ย
Super Bowl XVI Pat Kugler, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XVII Larry Kubin, Rich Milot, Washington Redskinsย
Super Bowl XVIII: Matt Millen, Chris Bahr, Jim Romano, Los Angeles Raiders
Super Bowl XX
MATT SUHEY, MIKE HARTENSTINE, CHICAGO BEARSย
Neither Suhey nor Hartenstine is one of the first, oh, 20 names one would say when rattling off members of perhaps the most famous football team of all time.ย
Nonetheless, both of them have rings. Suhey is part of the “first family of Penn State football” that started with father Steve during World War II and has stretched to Matt’s son, Joe, who was a fullback for Penn State during Paterno’s final years.ย
Suhey is probably best known for his friendship with Walter Payton in the NFL’s world. Hard to believe as it may be, Suhey scored a touchdown in the Bears’ 49-10 win over the New England Patriots. Payton did not.ย
Super Bowl XXI: Brad Benson, New York Giants
Super Bowl XXII: Rich Milot, Washington Redskins
Super Bowl XXIII: Pete Kugler, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXIIV: Pete Kugler, Matt Millen, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXV: Bob Mrosko, New York Giants
Super Bowl XXVI: Andre Collins, Tim Johnson, Matt Millen, Washington Redskinsย
Super Bowl XXXI
MARCO RIVERA, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Rivera was part of the offensive line that allowed Kerry Collins, Ki-Jana Carter, Bobby Engram and Kyle Brady to tear up college football in 1994.ย
He played eight of his ten NFL seasons in Green Bay, making the Pro Bowl three times and twice being named All-Pro.ย
Super Bowl XXXVI
KIM HERRING AND SAM GASH, BALTIMORE RAVENS
An All-American at Penn State in 1996, Herring became the first– and, still, the only– former Nittany Lion to intercept a pass in the Super Bowl. The man he intercepted? Another Penn Stater, New York Giants quarterback Kerry Collins.ย
Kim Herring is the only former Nittany Lion to catch an interception in the Super Bowl.
Will Nick Scott become the second to do so on Sunday? pic.twitter.com/T8YFCeIF8M
— Seth Engle (@bigsengtweets) February 9, 2022
Herring played nine seasons in the NFL with the Ravens, Rams and Bengals. Additionally, Gash played 13 seasons in the league and made two all-pro teams as a fullback.ย
Super Bowl XXXVII
JOE JEREVICIUS, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERSย
Jurevicius played in three Super Bowls, losing two of them with the Rams and Seahawks, respectively. He finally got his ring against the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII. Jurevicius caught four passes for 78 yards in Tampa’s 48-21 win.ย
He ended up playing 11 seasons in the league.ย
Super Bowl XXVIII: Shawn Mayer, New England Patriots
Super Bowl XXXIX: Justin Kerpeikis, New England Patriotsย
Super Bowl XL
JEFF HARTINGS, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Penn State’s ’94 center had to wait 10 seasons to get to the Super Bowl. He finally got there in February of 2006, and his Steelers got the job done, beating the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 to get the elusive “one for the thumb.” Two of Hartings’ teammates, Jerevicius and Bobby Engram, were on the losing side of Super Bowl XL.
Super Bowl XLII: Jay Alford, Kareem McKenzie, New York Giants
Super Bowl XLIII: Sean McHugh, Scott Paxson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XLV: Andrew Quarless, Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XLVI: Jimmy Kennedy, Kareem McKenzie, New York Giants
Super Bowl XLVIII
MICHAEL ROBINSON, JORDAN HILL, SEATTLE SEAHAWKSย
What Burton Michael Robinson did for Penn State football in 2005 won’t be forgotten by Nittany Lion fans any time soon. He didn’t have a shabby pro career, either.
Moving from quarterback to fullback, Robinson carved out eight NFL seasons– the last four in Seattle– making it to the Pro Bowl in 2011.
The Super Bowl win over the Broncos turned out to be Robinson’s last NFL game. What a way to go out.ย
Super Bowl 50: Jordan Norwood, Denver Broncos
Super Bowl LII
STEFEN WISNIEWSKI, PHILADELPHIA EAGLESย
Wisniewski’s father, Leo, played at Penn State in the late 70s and early 80s. His uncle, Steve, was a two-time All-American at Penn State in the late 80s and ended up having an excellent 13-year pro career with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, making eight Pro Bowls and eight All-Pro teams.ย
Stefen was also an All-American at Penn State, and although he didn’t match Uncle Steve’s success in the NFL, he’s the only one in his family with a Super Bowl ring, and he has two, with the Eagles and Chiefs.
Wisniewski retired this past August after 11 seasons.
Super Bowl LIV: Stefen Wisniewski, Jordan Lucas, Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl LV
CHRIS GODWIN, DONOVAN SMITH, A.Q. SHIPLEY, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERSย
Both Godwin and Smith started on James Franklin’s first Penn State team in 2014, and both started on Tom Brady’s last Super Bowl team in 2020.
Godwin only caught two passes for nine yards in the big game but had a massive role in getting the Bucs there. Smith started the game at tackle, and Shipley, the pride of Moon Township, ended his playing career on top.
Super Bowl LVII
NICK SCOTT, GRANT HALEY, LA RAMS
The pair of former Nittany Lions and current Los Angeles Rams were part of the most recent Super Bowl winning team. LA beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to win Super Bowl LVII. Scott had two tackles in the Super Bowl win, including one of Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase on the final Cincinnati offensive drive of the game. Haley and Scott received the 64th and 65th Super Bowl rings among former Penn Staters.
