Lawless Republic
Fansided

BYU Football’s strong Super Bowl history by the numbers

By Shaun Gordon

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 30: Detail of the Lombardi Trophy and the helmets of the New England Patriots (left) and the Los Angeles Rams priot to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaking during a press conference during Super Bowl LIII Week at the NFL Media Center inside the Georgia World Congress Center on January 30, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 30: Detail of the Lombardi Trophy and the helmets of the New England Patriots (left) and the Los Angeles Rams priot to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaking during a press conference during Super Bowl LIII Week at the NFL Media Center inside the Georgia World Congress Center on January 30, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

BYU Football has had a strong presence in the Super Bowl over the years, and Kyle Van Noy continues that tradition in this year’s edition.

When Kyle Van Noy takes the field for New England in Sunday’s Super Bowl LIII, it’ll be the 60th appearance by a former BYU Football player in the sport’s biggest game. And that’s not even counting the eight coaching appearances from former Cougars.

For Van Noy it’s becoming a common occurence, as he’s now appeared in the last three. That’s the longest streak of consecutive Super Bowl appearances by a former Cougar and tied for the most overall appearances. Gordon Gravelle, Steve Young, Bart Oates, Chris Hoke, Brett Kiesel, and current BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe all have three appearances as players as well.

Young, Oates, and Holmoe all have three Super Bowl wins as players, and if you count Holmoe’s appearance as a DB Coach for the 49ers in 1995 too, the Cougar AD has the most overall appearances and rings with four.

Gravelle has the honor of being the first former BYU player to play in a Super Bowl, suiting up on the offensive line for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl IX. Since the Steelers won that one he’s also the first Cougar with a win.

Counting Sunday’s game, former Cougars have played or coached in 33 of the 53 Super Bowls. 22 different former Cougars have won a total of 37 Super Bowl rings as players, and four former BYU players have won one ring apiece as coaches. 11 different NFL teams have won titles with BYU players.

With nine Cougars currently on NFL active rosters and more on the way (we’re looking at you, Sione Takitaki), there’s no reason to believe that BYU’s strong Super Bowl tradition won’t continue.

Home/BYU Football