Feb. 1, 2014
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Former University of Notre Dame teammates Golden Tate (Seattle) and David Bruton (Denver) now find themselves on opposite sides of Super Bowl XLVIII. The tandem will continue the long history of success for the Irish on Super Bowl Sunday. Either Tate or Bruton will become the 39th different former Notre Dame football player to earn a Super Bowl title.
Bruton (’09), who was selected by the Broncos in the fourth round (114th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft, has played in 77-of-80 possible regular-season games over his five-year NFL career (all with Denver). Bruton was voted a season captain for the first time of his career in 2013, and tied for second on the team with seven special-teams tackles. He appeared in all 16 regular-season games in 2012, leading the Broncos in special-teams plays (376) and was named a third alternate for the AFC Pro Bowl squad as a special-teamer.
Tate, who was selected by the Seahawks in the second round (60th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft, has established NFL career highs this season in receptions (64) and receiving yards (898). Tate has recorded five touchdown catches and developed into arguably the top punt return man in the NFL. He has averaged 11.5 yards per punt return (51 for 585), including a career-long 71-yard punt return against Tampa Bay on Nov. 3, 2013.
Notre Dame-Super Bowl Connections
- Super Bowl XLVIII will mark the 17th time both the AFC and NFC champions had at least one former Irish football player on its roster. Tate or Bruton guarantees at least one former Notre Dame player will have appeared on nine of the last 11 Super Bowl champion rosters. Tate and Bruton are the 10th pair of Notre Dame teammates to square off on opposite sides of a Super Bowl.
- Of the 48 Super Bowls, only 15 teams have won the event without an Irish player on the roster. Looking at both participating team rosters, there have only been five Super Bowls that did not feature at least one former Notre Dame player on either team’s roster – Denver vs. Atlanta, 1999; Dallas vs. Buffalo, 1994; Washington vs. Denver, 1988; Dallas vs. Denver, 1978; and Baltimore Colts vs. Dallas, 1971.
- Twenty-eight of the 38 former Notre Dame players to earn Super Bowl rings actually participated in the game, which ranks tied for fifth all-time among FBS schools according to Stats, Inc. That contingent has combined to capture 43 titles, which ranks third all-time among FBS schools according to Stats, Inc.
- Entering Sunday’s game, a Notre Dame player has participated in the Super Bowl on 72 occasions, which ranks sixth all-time among FBS schools according to Stats, Inc.
Super Bowls That Featured Former Notre Dame Players On Rosters Of Both Teams
Super Bowl XLVIII (2014) – Seattle (Golden Tate) vs. Denver (David Bruton)
Super Bowl XLVI (2012) – N.Y. Giants (Justin Tuck) vs. New England (Sergio Brown)
Super Bowl XLV (2011) – Green Bay (Ryan Grant) vs. Pittsburgh (Arnaz Battle)
Super Bowl XLII (2008) – N.Y. Giants (Jerome Collins, Marcus Freeman and Justin Tuck) vs. New England (Mike Richardson)
Super Bowl XLI (2007) – Indianapolis (Rocky Boiman and Hunter Smith) vs. Chicago (Mark LeVoir)
Super Bowl XXXIX (2005) – New England (David Givens) vs. Philadelphia (Paul Grasmanis)
Super Bowl XXXIV (2000) – St. Louis (Todd Lyght) vs. Tennessee (Hunter Smith)
Super Bowl XXIX (1995) – San Francisco (Junior Bryant, Anthony Peterson, Ricky Watters and Bryant Young) vs. San Diego (John Carney, Willie Clark and Rodney Culver)
Super Bowl XVIII (1984) – L.A. Raiders (Steve Sylvester) vs. Washington (Joe Theismann)
Super Bowl XVII (1983) – Washington (Joe Theismann) vs. Miami (Bob Kuechenberg)
Super Bowl XVI (1982) – San Francisco (Bobby Leopold and Joe Montana) vs. Cincinnati (Ross Browner)
Super Bowl XIV (1980) – Pittsburgh (Rocky Bleier) vs. L.A. Rams (Mike Fanning)
Super Bowl XI (1977) – Oakland (Dave Casper and Steve Sylvester) vs. Minnesota (Alan Page)
Super Bowl IX (1975) – Pittsburgh (Rocky Bleier and Terry Hanratty) vs. Minnesota (Alan Page)
Super Bowl VIII (1974) – Miami (Nick Buoniconti and Bob Kuechenberg) vs. Minnesota (Alan Page)
Super Bowl VII (1973) – Miami (Nick Buoniconti and Bob Kuechenberg) vs. Washington (Myron Pottios)
Super Bowl IV (1970) – Kansas City (Jim Lynch) vs. Minnesota (Mike McGill and Alan Page)
Most Combined Super Bowl Games Played Most Different Players to Play in a Super Bowl Win1.) USC 92 1.) USC 392.) Miami, Fla. 91 2.) Miami, Fla. 323.) UCLA 78 3.) Penn State 294.) Penn State 75 Tennessee 295.) Michigan 74 5.) Notre Dame 286.) Notre Dame 72 Michigan 287.) Colorado 68 7.) Ohio State 268.) Tennessee 68 8.) Florida State 259.) Ohio State 67 UCLA 2510.) Nebraska 66 10.) Michigan State 24
Most Combined Super Bowl Wins1.) USC 542.) Miami, Fla. 493.) Notre Dame 434.) Penn State 425.) UCLA 416.) Michigan 387.) Colorado 378.) Tennessee 359.) Georgia 3310.) Ohio State 32
Former Notre Dame Players Year-By-Year On Super Bowl Champions
2014 – Seattle – Golden Tate OR Denver – David Bruton
2013 – Baltimore Ravens – none
2012 – N.Y. Giants – Justin Tuck
2011 – Green Bay Packers – Ryan Grant
2010 – New Orleans Saints – John Carney
2009 – Pittsburgh Steelers – None
2008 – N.Y. Giants – Jerome Collins, Justin Tuck
2007 – Indianapolis – Rocky Boiman, Hunter Smith
2006 – Pittsburgh – Jerome Bettis
2005 – New England – David Givens
2004 – New England – David Givens
2003 – Tampa Bay – None
2002 – New England – Marc Edwards, Brock Williams, Jabari Holloway
2001 – Baltimore Ravens – None
2000 – St. Louis – Todd Lyght
1999 – Denver – None
1998 – Denver – None
1997 – Green Bay – Derrick Mayes, Aaron Taylor, Lindsay Knapp, Craig Hentrich
1996 – Dallas – None
1995 – San Francisco – Ricky Watters, Junior Bryant, Bryant Young, Anthony Peterson
1994 – Dallas – None
1993 – Dallas – Steve Beuerlein
1992 – Washington – None
1991 – N.Y. Giants – Mark Bavaro, Eric Dorsey, Tom Rehder, Dave Duerson
1990 – San Francisco – Joe Montana
1989 – San Francisco – Joe Montana
1988 – Washington – None
1987 – N.Y. Giants – Mark Bavaro, Eric Dorsey
1986 – Chicago – Dave Duerson, Tom Thayer
1985 – San Francisco – Joe Montana
1984 – L.A. Raiders – Steve Sylvester
1983 – Washington – Joe Theismann
1982 – San Francisco – Joe Montana, Bobby Leopold
1981 – Oakland – Steve Sylvester
1980 – Pittsburgh – Rocky Bleier
1979 – Pittsburgh – Rocky Bleier
1978 – Dallas – None
1977 – Oakland – Steve Sylvester, Dave Casper
1976 – Pittsburgh – Rocky Bleier, Terry Hanratty
1975 – Pittsburgh – Rocky Bleier Terry Hanratty
1974 – Miami – Nick Buoniconti, Bob Kuechenberg
1973 – Miami – Nick Buoniconti, Bob Kuechenberg
1972 – Dallas – None
1971 – Baltimore Colts – None
1970 – Kansas City – Jim Lynch
1969 – N.Y. Jets – None
1968 – Green Bay – None
1967 – Green Bay – Paul Hornung, Red Mack
Former Irish Players With Super Bowl Championships
Mark Bavaro – New York Giants – 1987, 1991
Jerome Bettis – Pittsburgh – 2006
Steve Beuerlein – Dallas – 1993
Rocky Bleier – Pittsburgh – 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980
Rocky Boiman – Indianapolis – 2007
Junior Bryant – San Francisco – 1995
Nick Buoniconti – Miami – 1973, 1974
John Carney – New Orleans – 2010
Dave Casper – Oakland – 1977
Jerome Collins – New York Giants – 2008
Eric Dorsey – New York Giants – 1987, 1991
Dave Duerson – Chicago – 1986; New York Giants – 1991
Marc Edwards – New England – 2002
David Givens – New England – 2004, 2005
Ryan Grant – Green Bay – 2011
Terry Hanratty – Pittsburgh – 1975, 1976
Craig Hentrich – Green Bay – 1997
Jabari Holloway – New England – 2002
Paul Hornung – Green Bay – 1967
Lindsay Knapp – Green Bay – 1997
Bob Kuechenberg – Miami – 1973, 1974
Bobby Leopold – San Francisco – 1982
Todd Lyght – St. Louis – 2000
Jim Lynch – Kansas City – 1970
Red Mack – Green Bay – 1967
Derrick Mayes – Green Bay – 1997
Joe Montana – San Francisco – 1982, 1985, 1989, 1990
Anthony Peterson – San Francisco – 1995
Tom Rehder – New York Giants – 1991
Hunter Smith – Indianapolis – 2007
Steve Sylvester – Oakland – 1977, 1981; L.A. Raiders – 1984
Aaron Taylor – Green Bay – 1997
Tom Thayer – Chicago – 1986
Joe Theismann – Washington – 1983
Justin Tuck – New York Giants – 2008, 2012
Ricky Watters – San Francisco – 1995
Brock Williams – New England – 2002
Bryant Young – San Francisco – 1995
— ND —