Feb. 6, 2012
| Justin Tuck Super Bowl Coverage |
| READ: Tuck Stars In Super Bowl Again | Tuck in Spotlight Following Giants’ Super Victory AP: Tuck’s Pressure Keeps Brady in Check | CBS: Brady’s Play Night and Day After Tuck Sack Tuck’s Final Notre Dame Bio | Tuck Stars in Super Bowl XLII VIEW: Tuck & Brown at Super Bowl XLVI Gallery  WATCH: Coughlin, Tuck, Manning at Victory Rally  | Tuck and the Giants Sing “I Got a Ring” |
INDIANAPOLIS – Former Notre Dame defensive end Justin Tuck returned to the Hoosier State and played a key role in helping the New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots, 21-17, Sunday night in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Tuck, who played at Notre Dame from 2001-04, became the 11th former Notre Dame football player to win multiple Super Bowls in his career. Tuck helped the Giants defeat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII as he recorded six tackles, two sacks, two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble in 2008.
The other former Fighting Irish football players to be members of multiple Super Bowl champion teams are: Mark Bavaro, Rocky Bleier, Nick Buoniconti, Eric Dorsey, Dave Duerson, David Givens, Terry Hanratty, Bob Kuechenberg, Joe Montana and Steve Sylvester.
Tuck led New York’s defensive line with three tackles and recorded both sacks for the Giants. Tuck helped the Giants strike first in Super Bowl XLVI as pressure he brought to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on New England’s first offensive play from scrimmage led to Brady throwing the ball away to avoid a sack. Intentional grounding was called on the play and, because the penalty occurred in the end zone, the Giants were awarded two points for a safety.
Notre Dame director of player personnel Tim McDonnell also has a connection to the Super Bowl as his uncle, John Mara, is the president and chief executive officer of the Giants. McDonnell’s great-grandfather, Tim Mara, founded the Giants in 1925 and McDonnell’s grandfather, Wellington Mara, served as co-owner of the Giants from 1959-2005.
Tuck extends Notre Dame’s streak of at least one alumnus on a Super Bowl Champion to three years. At least one former Irish player has appeared on eight of the last nine Super Bowl champion rosters.
Of the 46 Super Bowls competed, only 14 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 vs. Dallas, 1971.
Super Bowl XLVI marked the 16th time both the AFC and NFC champions had at least one former Notre Dame football player on its roster. Sergio Brown, a safety at Notre Dame from 2006-09, played on special teams for the Patriots last night.
Former Notre Dame players year-by-year on Super Bowl champions –
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 – 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 – None
1970 – Kansas City – Jim Lynch
1969 – N.Y. Jets – None
1968 – Green Bay – None
1967 – 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
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
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; Los Angeles 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
Super Bowls that featured former Notre Dame players on rosters of both teams –
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)
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