The Best College Stars Who Have Performed in the Super Bowl
College football is the lifeblood of the NFL. During their student years, promising football players learn and develop their skills to the point where they can expect a future in the professional game.
From there, every year, there is an NFL draft where the 32 franchises select the best college talent and place it on their roster. Contracts are signed, and those pro careers are underway.
Getting into those playing squads is the first target for a rookie NFLer, but this is only the first step of the journey. The ultimate goal is to finish on the winning team in the Super Bowl…and many college players have influenced the sport’s biggest game.
The Greatest of All Time?
Not every Super Bowl winner is drafted in the first round. When quarterback Tom Brady progressed through the ranks at the University of Michigan, he had to wait until round six before the New England Patriots claimed him.
Brady was the 199th pick overall; few would have believed he could become an NFL great. When Tom Brady and the Patriots were at their peak, the team was a regular favorite in Super Bowl odds markets, and they went on to win six Vince Lombardi trophies.
After leaving New England in 2019, Brady went on to win another Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was the Most Valuable Player in five of his seven Super Bowl victories; and no other player has won the game on more occasions.
Wikimedia Commons: All Pro Reels
Haley the Frontrunner
Before Tom Brady came along to set a new benchmark, defensive end Charles Haley was the most successful player in NFL history, with five Super Bowl titles. He attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he developed his talent while playing for the Dukes.
Haley is another college player who was made to wait before he was drafted. Going into the 1986 draft, he was left until round four when the San Francisco 49ers picked him up.
Charles Haley played for twelve NFL seasons, and he won five Super Bowl titles. He was a reliable player for the 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys between 1992 and 1996.
Haley’s Super Bowl record stood for some time until Brady surpassed the milestone; he remains in second place on the all-time list of Super Bowl wins.
Charles Haley (1992-93 Topps Gold), Flickr via Keith Fujimoto
Miami Thrice
Surveys reveal that the college program with the most Super Bowl players is in Florida. The Miami Hurricanes have enjoyed success in the college setup, and as of 2024, over 120 of their former players have made a Super Bowl appearance.
Among those are three standout performers who have played in the NFL’s final game on four occasions each: Vince Wilfork, Ted Hendricks, and Jim Kelly.
Hendricks is the most notable; he won all four of his Super Bowl titles between 1970 and 1985. An accomplished linebacker, his career was split between the Baltimore Colts, the Green Bay Packers, and the Oakland Raiders. Hendricks was also selected for four All-Pro first teams.
Wilfork was an early beneficiary of the Tom Brady years; the nose tackle (considered one of the greatest) won two Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots in 2004 and 2014.
Completing the Miami trio is quarterback Jim Kelly, who spent his entire NFL career with the Buffalo Bills.
Miami Hurricanes. Wikimedia Commons: University of Miami
Golden Joe
Before Tom Brady came along to blow away the competition, there were several contenders for the unofficial title of greatest NFL quarterback of all time. Many fans would have put forward the name of Joe Montana, another player who has won four Super Bowl titles.
Montana graduated from Notre Dame, and while he shone in their college football side, he is another player who slid under the radar at the draft. At the 1979 NFL draft, Joe Montana’s name didn’t appear until the third round; he was the 82nd overall pick.
Montana went onto the San Francisco 49ers roster, and this is where he produced his best football. Those four Super Bowl wins all came in San Francisco between 1982 and 1990, and he was the MVP in three of those games.
Photo: Joe Monana, via Facebook
Not every player who plays in the NFL goes through the college system, but for the vast majority, this is the route to the top. Going through a college football program is an excellent way to gain skills, learn, garner a global audience, and now, earn money via NIL.
At every stage of their journey, the best college athletes are preparing for a life in the professional ranks. Not every player will enjoy a stellar career, but some will get the chance to make a mark in the Super Bowl and include their name in NFL history.