The day has come for the biggest spectacle in American sports as the Seattle Seahawks will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Arizona. New England Patriots’ rookie center Bryan Stork, last season’s Rimington Award winner, is the lone former Seminole playing in the big game, but throughout the history of the Super Bowl, a number of former FSU players have made an impact. Here’s a look at the top 10 performances by Seminoles in the Super Bowl:
10. Deion Sanders, CB
San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXIX
The first Super Bowl appearance in the career of legendary cornerback Deion Sanders came in Super Bowl XXIX as the 49ers dominated the San Diego Chargers in Miami, 49-26. The former All-American for Florida State was a key contributor to San Francisco’s dominant effort, recording an interception of San Diego’s Stan Humphries.
9. Walter Jones, T
Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowl XL
Hall of Fame tackle and 9-time Pro Bowler, Walter Jones’ only appearance in the Super Bowl didn’t result in a win, but Jones played very well in the Seahawks’ 21-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL. The Seahawks put up nearly 400 yards against Pittsburgh, but missed field goals and a poor third down conversion rate kept Seattle from winning its first Super Bowl.
8. Brad Johnson, QB
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl XXXVII
Defense was the story of Super Bowl XXXVII, but former two-sport athlete at Florida State, Brad Johnson, became the first starting quarterback from FSU to win the Super Bowl. Johnson went 18-for-34 passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Oakland Raiders 48-21.
26 Jan 1997: Quarterback Drew Bledsoe #11 of the New England Patriots is sacked by defensive back Leroy Butler #36 of the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mandatory Credi
7. LeRoy Butler, S
Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XXXI
Best known for being the guy who ran “puntrooskie” during his Florida State career, LeRoy Butler was a 4-time Pro Bowler as a member of the Green Bay Packers. In a 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, Butler was among the game’s leading tacklers and had a sack in the victory.
6. Michael Boulware, S
Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowl XL
A linebacker at Florida State, Michael Boulware spent four seasons playing safety in the NFL. In Seattle’s 21-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL, Boulware was among the defensive standouts for Seattle, finishing with five tackles and an interception in the loss.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 03: Anquan Boldin #81 of the Baltimore Ravens makes a 13-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter from Joe Flacco #5 against Donte Whitner #31 of the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
5. Anquan Boldin, WR
Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl XLVII
A high school quarterback who made the switch to receiver upon arriving at Florida State, Anquan Boldin has gone on to play in three Pro Bowls at the NFL level. In Super Bowl XLVII, Boldin caught six passes for 104 yards including the game’s first touchdown to help the Baltimore Ravens outlast the San Francisco 49ers, 34-31.
4. Derrick Brooks, LB
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl XXXVII
After leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in tackles in 2002, linebacker Derrick Brooks recorded just three stops in Super Bowl XXXVII, but found the end zone in the only Super Bowl appearance of his Hall of Fame career as Tampa Bay defeated Oakland 48-21. With the Buccaneers leading 34-21 with under two minutes to play, Brooks intercepted Oakland’s Rich Gannon and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown to cement the first world championship in Bucs’ franchise history.
3. Fred Biletnikoff, WR
Oakland Raiders
Super Bowl XI
An All-American at Florida State, Fred Biletnikoff went on to have a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Oakland Raiders. In a 32-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI, Biletnikoff caught four passes for 79 yards and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
TAMPA, FL – FEBRUARY 01: Darnell Dockett #90 of the Arizona Cardinals sacks quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
2. Darnell Dockett, DE
Arizona Cardinals
Super Bowl XLIII
Former Florida State defensive tackle Darnell Dockett put forward one of the finest defensive performances by a defensive lineman in the history of the Super Bowl. For the Arizona Carinals in Super Bowl XLIII, Dockett recorded six tackles and three sacks in a 27-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the history of the Super Bowl, only L.C. Greenwood recorded more sacks in a Super Sunday contest.
1. Dexter Jackson, S
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl XXXVII
Against the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ safety Dexter Jackson, a former Seminole, headlined one of the more dominant defensive team performances in Super Bowl history. Jackson had two of Tampa Bay’s five interceptions and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
