There won't be a Buckeye on the field when the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers battle in Super Bowl LV, but Ohio State has a rich history in the game with some legendary performances.
Here's a look back at some of the best, most legendary Super Bowl performances from former Buckeye players, including some monster rushing games, electric receiving performances and a player doing it on both sides of the ball.
TOM MATTE AND MATT SNELL – BALTIMORE COLTS AND NEW YORK JETS – SUPER BOWL III
Buckeyes have been showing out in the Big Game since the early days of the NFL with former Ohio State running backs Tom Matte and Matt Snell dueling it out in Super Bowl III as the Baltimore Colts took on the New York Jets.
The Colts managed 324 yards of total offense in that game, and Matte accounted for over 45 percent of them, rushing for 116 yards on 11 carries with one 58-yard run and also added two receptions for 30 yards.
It was an impressive showing, but Matte wasn't the best Buckeye running back in the game that night.
Snell led the Jets to victory with 30 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown along with four receptions for 40 yards. Snell scored the Jets' only offensive touchdown to lead them to a 16-7 victory.
The pair combined for 306 yards and are still the two leading rushers among Ohio State alums in the Super Bowl. It was also the only time in history that running backs from the same school each rushed for over 100 yards in the same Super Bowl.
PAUL WARFIELD – MIAMI DOLPHINS – SUPER BOWLS VI, VII AND VIII
Paul Warfield reached three consecutive Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins between 1972 and 1974, and he led his team in receiving in every one of them.
Warfield finished with four receptions for 39 yards against the Cowboys in Super Bowl VI, three receptions for 36 yards against the Redskins in Super Bowl VII and two receptions for 33 yards against the Vikings in Super Bowl VIII, finishing with the most receiving yardage in all three games.
They're far from eye-popping numbers these days, but it's a feat that's unlikely to ever be matched.
EDDIE GEORGE – TENNESSEE TITANS — SUPER BOWL XXXIV
Though it wasn't quite enough to lead his Tennessee Titans to victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV, Eddie George had an absolutely monster game in his lone Super Bowl appearance.
George rushed for 95 yards and scored both of Tennessee's touchdowns in the 23-16 loss, also adding two receptions for 35 receiving yards out of the backfield to bring his yardage total to 130.
It came in a loss, but the performance capped off a dominant postseason run in which George averaged over 130 yards per game.
MIKE VRABEL – NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – SUPER BOWLS XXXVIII AND XXXIX
You don't see many two-way players in the NFL, much less in the Super Bowl, but Mike Vrabel made an impact on both sides of the ball in two consecutive Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.
In Super Bowl XXXVIII, Vrabel led the way on defense, finishing with two sacks, but his highlight of the game, and likely his career, actually came on offense. With just 2:51 remaining on the clock, Vrabel caught what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown to put the Patriots up 29-22.
A sack and a touchdown reception in the same Super Bowl is a feat difficult to match, but Vrabel actually did it again the following year. After recording a sack on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, which set up an interception, Vrabel hauled in another go-ahead touchdown pass to help give the Patriots a 24-21 win.
A sack and a touchdown catch in two consecutive Super Bowls – it's safe to say that's a damn near unmatchable accomplishment.
SANTONIO HOLMES – PITTSBURGH STEELERS – SUPER BOWL XLIII
Ohio State has had 59 alums play in a Super Bowl throughout the years, but only one of them was ever named the game's MVP. That honor goes to Santonio Holmes.
Holmes led his Pittsburgh Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XLIII, putting up 131 yards on nine catches, including his game-winning touchdown reception which remains one of the most iconic catches in Super Bowl history.
Everyone remembers the final catch, but Holmes put the team on his back with the game on the line, finishing with four catches for 73 yards on the Steelers' game-winning drive, including a 40-yard catch-and-run that put Pittsburgh in the red zone ahead of his memorable catch.
| Super Bowl | Date | Name | Position | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Jan. 11, 1967 | Jim Tyrer | T | Kansas City Chiefs | L, 35-10 |
| III | Jan. 12, 1969 | Tom Matte | RB | Baltimore Colts | L, 16-7 |
| III | Jan. 12, 1969 | Bob Vogel | T | Baltimore Colts | L, 16-7 |
| III | Jan. 12, 1969 | Matt Snell | FB | N.Y. Jets | W, 16-7 |
| IV | Jan. 11, 1970 | Jim Tyrer | T | Kansas City Chiefs | W, 23-7 |
| IV | Jan. 11, 1970 | Jim Marshall | DE | Minnesota Vikings | L, 23-7 |
| V | Jan. 17, 1971 | Bob Vogel | T | Baltimore Colts | W, 16-13 |
| VI | Jan. 16, 1972 | Paul Warfield | WR | Miami Dolphins | L, 24-3 |
| VII | Jan. 14, 1973 | Paul Warfield | WR | Miami Dolphins | W, 14-7 |
| VIII | Jan. 13, 1974 | Jim Marshall | DE | Minnesota Vikings | L, 24-7 |
| VIII | Jan. 13, 1974 | Paul Warfield | WR | Miami Dolphins | W, 24-7 |
| IX | Jan. 12, 1975 | Jim Marshall | DE | Minnesota Vikings | L, 16-6 |
| XI | Jan. 9, 1977 | Len Willis | WR | Minnesota Vikings | L, 32-14 |
| XI | Jan. 9, 1977 | Jim Marshall | DE | Minnesota Vikings | L, 32-14 |
| XI | Jan. 9, 1977 | Jack Tatum | DB | Oakland Raiders | W, 32-14 |
| XI | Jan. 9, 1977 | Morris Bradshaw | WR | Oakland Raiders | W, 32-14 |
| XI | Jan. 9, 1977 | Neal Colzie | DB | Oakland Raiders | W, 32-14 |
| XII | Jan. 15, 1978 | Randy Gradishar | LB | Denver Broncos | L, 27-10 |
| XIV | Jan. 20, 1980 | Doug France | T | L.A. Rams | L, 31-19 |
| XIV | Jan. 20, 1980 | Bob Brudzinski | LB | L.A. Rams | L, 31-19 |
| XV | Jan. 25, 1981 | Morris Bradshaw | WR | Oakland Raiders | W, 27-10 |
| XVI | Jan. 24, 1982 | Pete Johnson | FB | Cincinnati Bengals | L, 26-21 |
| XVI | Jan. 24, 1982 | Ray Griffin | CB | Cincinnati Bengals | L, 26-21 |
| XVI | Jan. 24, 1982 | Archie Griffin | RB | Cincinnati Bengals | L, 26-21 |
| XVII | Jan. 30, 1983 | Tom Orosz | P | Miami Dolphins | L, 27-17 |
| XVII | Jan. 30, 1983 | Bob Brudzinski | LB | Miami Dolphins | L, 27-17 |
| XIX | Jan. 20, 1985 | Bob Brudzinski | LB | Miami Dolphins | L, 38-16 |
| XIX | Jan. 20, 1985 | John Frank | TE | San Francisco 49ers | W, 38-16 |
| XX | Jan. 26, 1986 | Shuan Gayle | S | Chicago Bears | W, 46-10 |
| XX | Jan. 26, 1986 | Mike Tomczak | QB | Chicago Bears | W, 46-10 |
| XXI | Jan. 25, 1987 | William Roberts | T | New York Giants | W, 39-20 |
| XXI | Jan. 25, 1987 | Pepper Johnson | LB | New York Giants | W, 39-20 |
| XXIII | Jan. 22, 1989 | John Frank | TE | San Francisco 49ers | W, 20-16 |
| XXV | Jan. 27, 1991 | William Roberts | T | New York Giants | W, 20-19 |
| XXV | Jan. 27, 1991 | Pepper Johnson | LB | New York Giants | W, 20-19 |
| XXVI | Jan. 26, 1992 | Joe Staysniak | OL | Buffalo Bills | L, 37-24 |
| XXVI | Jan. 26, 1992 | Jim Lachey | T | Washington Redskins | W, 37-24 |
| XXX | Jan. 28, 1996 | Mike Tomczak | QB | Pittsburgh Steelers | L, 27-17 |
| XXXI | Jan. 26, 1997 | William Roberts | G | New England Patriots | L, 35-21 |
| XXXI | Jan. 26, 1997 | Terry Glenn | WR | New England Patriots | L, 35-21 |
| XXXI | Jan. 26, 1997 | Keith Byars | FB | New England Patriots | L, 35-21 |
| XXXI | Jan. 26, 1997 | Tom Tupa | P | New England Patriots | L, 35-21 |
| XXXIII | Jan. 31, 1999 | William White | S | Atlanta Falcons | L, 34-19 |
| XXXIV | Jan. 30, 2000 | Chris Sanders | WR | Tennessee Titans | L, 23-16 |
| XXXIV | Jan. 30, 2000 | Eddie George | RB | Tennessee Titans | L, 23-16 |
| XXXIV | Jan. 30, 2000 | Orlando Pace | T | St. Louis Rams | W, 23-16 |
| XXXIV | Jan. 30, 2000 | Lorenzo Styles | LB | St. Louis Rams | W, 23-16 |
| XXXIV | Jan. 30, 2000 | Joe Germaine | QB | St. Louis Rams | W, 23-16 |
| XXXVI | Feb. 3, 2002 | Orlando Pace | T | St. Louis Rams | L, 20-17 |
| XXXVI | Feb. 3, 2002 | Mike Vrabel | LB | New England Patriots | W, 20-17 |
| XXXVI | Feb. 3, 2002 | Ryan Pickett | DT | St. Louis Rams | L, 20-17 |
| XXXVII | Jan. 26, 2003 | Tom Tupa | P | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W, 28-21 |
| XXXVII | Jan. 26, 2003 | Rickey Dudley | TE | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W, 28-21 |
| XXXVIII | Feb. 1, 2004 | Mike Vrabel | LB | New England Patriots | W, 32-29 |
| XXXIX | Feb. 6, 2005 | Mike Vrabel | LB | New England Patriots | W, 24-21 |
| XL | Feb. 5, 2006 | Rodney Bailey | DE | Seattle Seahawks | L, 21-10 |
| XLI | Feb. 4, 2007 | Mike Doss | DB | Indianapolis Colts | W, 29-17 |
| XLI | Feb. 4, 2007 | Tyler Everett | S | Chicago Bears | L, 29-17 |
| XLII | Feb. 3, 2008 | Mike Vrabel | LB | New England Patriots | L, 17-14 |
| XLIII | Feb. 1, 2009 | Santonio Holmes | WR | Pittsburgh Steelers | W, 27-23 |
| XLIV | Feb. 8, 2010 | Malcolm Jenkins | CB | New Orleans Saints | W, 31-17 |
| XLIV | Feb. 8, 2010 | Will Smith | DE | New Orleans Saints | W, 31-17 |
| XLV | Feb. 6, 2011 | Will Allen | DB | Pittsburgh Steelers | L, 31-25 |
| XLV | Feb. 6, 2011 | AJ Hawk | LB | Green Bay Packer | W, 31-25 |
| XLV | Feb. 6, 2011 | Ryan Pickett | DL | Green Bay Packer | W, 31-25 |
| XLV | Feb. 6, 2011 | Matt Wilhelm | LB | Green Bay Packer | W, 31-25 |
| XLVI | Feb. 5, 2012 | Jim Cordle | C | New York Giants | W, 21- 17 |
| XLVI | Feb. 5, 2012 | Jake Ballard | TE | New York Giants | W, 21- 17 |
| XLVII | Feb. 3, 2013 | Alex Boone | OT | San Francisco 49ers | L, 31-34 |
| XLVII | Feb. 3, 2013 | Larry Grant | LB | San Francisco 49ers | L, 31-34 |
| XLVII | Feb. 3, 2013 | Ted Ginn | WR | San Francisco 49ers | L, 31-34 |
| XLVII | Feb. 3, 2013 | Donte Whitner | S | San Francisco 49ers | L, 31-34 |
| XLIX | Feb. 1, 2015 | Nate Ebner | DB | New England Patriots | W, 28-24 |
| L | Feb. 7, 2016 | Andrew Norwell | OL | Carolina Panthers | L, 24-10 |
| L | Feb. 7, 2016 | Ted Ginn Jr. | WR | Carolina Panthers | L, 24-10 |
| L | Feb. 7, 2016 | Corey Brown | WR | Carolina Panthers | L, 24-10 |
| L | Feb. 7, 2016 | Bradley Roby | DB | Denver Broncos | W, 24-10 |
| LI | Feb. 5, 2017 | Nate Ebner | DB | New England Patriots | W, 34-28 |
| LII | Feb. 4, 2018 | Malcolm Jenkins | S | Philadelphia Eagles | W, 41-33 |
| LIII | Feb. 3, 2019 | Jake McQuaide | LS | Los Angeles Rams | L, 13-3 |
| LIII | Feb. 3, 2019 | Nate Ebner | DB | New England Patriots | W, 13-3 |
| LIII | Feb. 3, 2019 | John Simon | DE | New England Patriots | W, 13-3 |
| LIV | Feb. 2, 2020 | Darron Lee | LB | Kansas City Chiefs | W, 31-20 |
| LIV | Feb. 2, 2020 | Nick Bosa | DE | San Francisco | L, 31-20 |
