Tucson native and San Francisco 49ers linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles will become the latest former Arizona Wildcat to play in the Super Bowl Sunday when the 49ers face the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas.
Since the Super Bowl started in 1967, 31 Wildcats have played in the big game.
Hereβs who they are in alphabetical order:
Arizona receiver Brad Anderson catches a 31-yard pass from Tom Tunnicliffe as Arizona upset USC in Los Angeles on Oct. 10, 1981.
Brad Anderson
Position: Wide receiver
Team: Chicago Bears
Super Bowls played in: One β XX (1985)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: The Phoenix-area native β and BYU transfer β caught one touchdown in the NFL.
New Orleans Saints running back Mike Bell (21) runs for no gain against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, on Feb. 7, 2010.
Mike Bell
Position: Running back
Team: New Orleans Saints
Super Bowls played in: One β XLIV (2010)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: After finishing the regular season with 654 rushing yards, Bell had two carries for four yards during the Super Bowl.
Arizona's Vance Johnson, left, works out with mentor Theopolis "T" Bell at the UA on March 29, 1983.Β
Theopolis βTβ Bell
Position: Wide receiver
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowls played in: Two β XIII (1979), XIV (1980)
Super Bowl rings won: Two
Notable: Bell caught two passes for 21 yards in his first Super Bowl appearance. He returned two punts for a total of 17 yards in his second.
Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs looks on against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Championship football game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007, in Chicago.Β
Lance Briggs
Position: Linebacker
Team: Chicago Bears
Super Bowls played in: One β XLI (2007)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Briggs posted 11 tackles in the Bearsβ loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Tedy Bruschi appeared in a UA-record five Super Bowls as a member of the Patriots.
Tedy Bruschi
Position: Linebacker
Team: New England Patriots
Super Bowls played in: Five β XXXI (1997), XXXVI (2002), XXXVIII (2004), XXXIX (2005), XLII (2008)
Super Bowl rings won: Three
Notable: Along with Glenn Parker and Gronkowski, Bruschi is one of two Wildcats who have played in at least five Super Bowls.
St. Louis Rams' Trung Canidate (24) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter as New York Giants Jessie Armistead and Rams' Adam Timmerman (62) look on.
Trung Canidate
Position: Running back
Team: St. Louis Rams
Super Bowls played in: One β XXXVI (2002)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Canidate rushed for 441 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season but didnβt record any stats during the Super Bowl.
John Fina, former Salpointe Catholic High School player, celebrates a win as an Arizona lineman over ASU on Nov. 24, 1990. Photo by Rick Wiley / Tucson Citizen
John Fina
Position: Offensive line
Team: Buffalo Bills
Super Bowls played in: Two β XXVII (1992), XXVIII (1993)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Fina, one of the best UA offensive linemen in program history and a first-round draft pick, played alongside another former Wildcat, Glenn Parker.
Philadelphia Eagles' Corey Clement, bottom, celebrates his touchdown catch behind New England Patriots' Marquis Flowers during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Marquis Flowers
Position: Linebacker
Team: New England Patriots
Super Bowls played in: LII (2017)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: The Arizona native recorded one tackle for loss in the loss to Philadelphia.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (45) celebrates after an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Pittsburgh.Β
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Position: Linebacker
Team: San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowls played in: Two β LIV (2020), LVIII (2024)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Flannigan-Fowles, a Tucson native and former safety at the UA, has been a special teams contributor and is a backup linebacker for All-Pro selection Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. Flannigan-Fowles had a forced fumble against the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round this season.
Philadelphia Eagles' Nick Foles holds his daughter, Lily, after beating the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Nick Foles
Position: Quarterback
Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Super Bowls played in: One β LII (2018)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: On fourth-and-goal against the Patriots, the former UA quarterback walked over to the Eagles sideline, stared at head coach Doug Pederson and muttered, βYou want Philly, Philly?β Pederson replied, βLetβs do it.β When the Eagles lined up for the play, Foles pretended to call out audibles to his offensive line, running back Corey Clement took the direct snap and passed it to Foles, who ran a flat route for a touchdown. The famous play, known as βPhilly Special,β would be cemented in Eagles lore. Foles became the first ex-Wildcat to earn Super Bowl MVP honors.
Mike Freeman
Position: Offensive line
Team: Denver Broncos
Super Bowls played in: Two β XXI (1987), XXII (1988)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Freeman was the Broncosβ starting center.
Ron Gardin
Position: Wide receiver
Team: Baltimore Colts
Super Bowls played in: One β V (1971)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: Gardin was the Coltsβ punt returner. He called for three fair catches in Super Bowl V and returned one punt for four yards.
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski celebrates after the Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Rob Gronkowski
Position: Tight end
Team: New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowls played in: XLVI (2012), XLIX (2015), LI (2016), LII (2017), LIII (2018), LV (2021)
Super Bowl rings won: Four
Notable: The last Super Bowl Gronk played in wasnβt exactly a display of offensive fireworks between the Patriots and Rams, but the tight end made one of the most impactful plays of the game, when he hauled in a 29-yard catch to set up New England for the first touchdown of the game. Patriots won 13-3. Gronkowski came out of retirement to reunite with longtime teammate and quarterback Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gronk and Brady helped the Bucs win a Super Bowl over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. Gronkowski has the most Super Bowl rings among former UA players.
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski holds up Vince Lombardi Trophy while celebrating with quarterback Tom Brady after the Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in NFL Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz.
Brad Henke
Position: Defensive tackle
Team: Denver Broncos
Super Bowls played in: One β XXIV (1990)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Denverβs 45-point loss to the 49ers is the worst loss in Super Bowl history.
Mitch Hoopes
Position: Punter
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowls played in: One β X (1976)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: One of Hoopesβ punts during the game was blocked, resulting in a safety.
Arizona defensive line coach Ricky Hunley claps while the Wildcats stretch during a fall training practice at the Dick Tomey Practice Fields on Aug. 7, 2022.
Ricky Hunley
Position: Linebacker
Team: Denver Broncos
Super Bowls played in: Two β XXI (1987), XXII (1988)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Hunley, arguably the greatest defensive player in UA football history, started at inside linebacker in both of his Super Bowls.
New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk (33) is tackled by New York Giants' Antonio Pierce, left, and Michael Johnson during the third quarter of the Super Bowl XLII football game at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Michael Johnson
Position: Defensive back
Team: New York Giants
Super Bowls played in: One β XLII (2008)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: Johnson recorded one tackle during the game, which was decided by David Tyreeβs miracle catch in the fourth quarter.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Vance Johnson (82) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks Darrin Miller (91) and Joe Nash (72) upon receiving a pass from Broncos quarterback John Elway, not shown, in first quarter action of the American Bowl, pre-season exhibition game, at the Tokyo Dome indoor stadium, Aug. 5, 1990. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
Vance Johnson
Position: Wide receiver
Super Bowls played in: Three β XXI (1987), XXII (1988), XXIV (1990)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: In his first Super Bowl in 1987, βThe Vanceβ grabbed five catches for 121 yards and a touchdown.
St. Louis Rams tight end Brandon Manumaleuna (86) catches a pass from quarterback Mark Bulger against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Farrior (51) in the third quarter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Oct. 26, 2003.
Brandon Manumaleuna
Position: Tight end
Team: St. Louis Rams
Super Bowls played in: One β XXXVI (2002)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Manumaleuna played against former Wildcat Tedy Bruschi in the 2002 Super Bowl.
Baltimore Ravens Keith Washington (93) and Chris McAlister (21) celebrate the Ravens Super Bowl win over the New York Giants in Tampa, Fla. Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001. The Ravens beat the Giants 34-7 in the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/David Phillip)
Chris McAlister
Position: Cornerback
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowls played in: One β XXXV (2001)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: McAlister intercepted a Kerry Collins pass during the Ravensβ 27-point Super Bowl win.
Frank Middleton
Position: Offensive line
Team: Oakland Raiders
Super Bowls played in: One β XXXVII (2003)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Middleton started at left guard in the 2003 Super Bowl.
New England Patriots punter Josh Miller works on his kicks during the second day of the football team's mini-camp in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday morning, June 6, 2007. Miller has returned after missing much of last season because of an injury. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Josh Miller
Position: Punter
Team: New England Patriots
Super Bowls played in: One β XXXIX (2005)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: Miller played alongside former Wildcat Tedy Bruschi in the 2005 Super Bowl.
Baltimore Ravens' Edwin Mulitalo signs souvenir footballs Thursday, July 29, 2004, for a charity auction after reporting to the first day of preseason training camp in Westminster, Md. (AP Photo/Timothy Jacobsen)
Edwin Mulitalo
Position: Offensive line
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowls played in: One β XXXV (2001)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: Mulitalo was the starting left guard for the Ravens. Teammate Chris McAlister, another former Wildcat, started on defense.
Glenn Parker
Position: Offensive line
Team: Buffalo Bills, New York Giants
Super Bowls played in: Five β XXV (1991), XXVI (1992), XXVII (1993), XXVIII (1994), XXXV (2001)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Parker made five trips to the Super Bowl, tied for second-most among UA players, but did not win a ring.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) stands next to New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce (58) during the Super Bowl XLII football game at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Antonio Pierce
Position: Linebacker
Team: New York Giants
Super Bowls played in: One β XLII (2008)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: Pierce, now head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, recorded 10 tackles in the Giantsβ Super Bowl win over the Patriots. Another former Wildcat, Michael Johnson, played safety for New York in that game.
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Brooks Reed (50) rushes in against the Carolina Panthers offense during an NFL game, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta.
Brooks Reed
Name: Brooks Reed
Position: Linebacker
Team: Atlanta Falcons
Super Bowls played in: One β LI (2017)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Reed had three tackles in Atlantaβs crushing Super Bowl loss to New England. Falcons frittered a 28-3 lead in the second half and lost in overtime.
Jose Portilla
Position: Offensive line
Team: Atlanta Falcons
Super Bowls played in: One β XXXIII (1999)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Portilla only played two seasons in the NFL before the Falcons cut him. He played in the XFL in 2001.
Former University of Arizona defensive back and Casa Grande native Randy Robbins, left, and his college teammate Ricky Hunley share a laugh at the Coaches for Charity Kickoff Classic, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, in Tucson.
Randy Robbins
Position: Safety
Team: Denver Broncos
Super Bowls played in: Three β XXI (1987), XXII (1988), XXIV (1990)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Robbins came off the bench in all three Super Bowls.
Former UA player and coach Joe Salaveβa said Dick Tomey was the first coach to embrace all kinds of different Polynesian football players.
Joe Salaveβa
Position: Defensive tackle
Team: Tennessee Titans
Super Bowls played in: One β XXXIV (2000)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Salaveβa came off the bench in the 2000 Super Bowl, which ended with the Rams stopping Tennessee from scoring the game-winning touchdown on the 1-yard line.
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Joe Tafoya gets ready to slap a blocking dummy during training camp on Aug. 16, 2006, at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Wash.
Joe Tafoya
Position: Defensive end
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowls played in: One β XL (2006)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Tafoya came off the bench in the 2006 Super Bowl.
Ernie Jones of the New York Giants pulls down the Los Angeles Rams Jackie Wallace, right, to stop a punt runback and save a touchdown in the first quarter at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Dec. 5, 1978. Rams then kicked a field goal. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
Jackie Wallace
Position: Cornerback
Team: Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams
Super Bowls played in: Two β VII (1974), XIII (1979)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: During the 1978 season, Wallace led the NFL with 52 punt returns for 618 yards.
