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Football Allen extends streak of former Hogs in the Super Bowl

NWAHutch

Hall of Fame
Staff
Apr 30, 2018
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Brandon Allen is going to the Super Bowl. Pretty impressive for a guy who only played at Arkansas because his dad was on staff... ;)

Cincinnati's game-winning field goal in overtime extended an impressive streak for Arkansas on Sunday.

The kick lifted the Bengals to a 27-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game and punched Brandon Allen's ticket to Super Bowl LVI.

It will be the 14th straight year the Razorbacks are represented in the Super Bowl, as Allen - who holds the UA record for career touchdown passes - is Cincinnati's backup quarterback, behind Joe Burrow.

Although he hasn't played much this season, Allen was 17 of 34 passing for 149 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season. Most of that came in his Week 18 start when Burrow got the day off.

This will actually be Allen's second Super Bowl experience, but his first as part of a 53-man roster. He was previously a member of the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad when they lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.

His presence in Super Bowl LV extends a streak that dates back to Super Bowl XLIII following the 2008 season, when former Arkansas assistant coach John Mitchell was the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive line coach in their win over the Arizona Cardinals.

A page in Arkansas’ annual football media guide is dedicated to listing all of those former Razorbacks who have reached the Super Bowl.

It’s a lengthy list broken into two main sections - players and coaches - but it could easily be divided further based on their roles and how frequently they made it to the Super Bowl.

For example, Trey Flowers is on an exclusive list of former Arkansas players who have won multiple titles, while Mitchell is one of several former assistants who've made the big game as an assistant.

This list tries to separate it out and provide clarity on what these former Razorbacks did in the Super Bowl…

Former Hogs with multiple Super Bowl wins

Steve Atwater


Arkansas’ career leader with 14 interceptions, Atwater was a part of the Broncos’ great teams of the 1990s with quarterback John Elway. As a rookie in 1989, he started at free safety when Denver was crushed by Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers 55-10, the largest blowout in Super Bowl history.

Near the end of his career, Atwater was a part of Denver’s back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998. He had a sack against the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII and seven tackles against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII. Until Flowers made it back this year, Atwater was the only former Arkansas player to appear in three Super Bowls.

Ravin Caldwell

Caldwell was a fifth-round pick out of Arkansas in 1986 and two years later, he recovered a fumble for the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII, helping them beat Atwater’s Broncos. He was also part of the Redskins’ win over Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVI, the second of four straight Super Bowl losses by the Bills. Caldwell did not start either game.

Trey Flowers

In one of the more dominant performances by a former Arkansas player in the Super Bowl, Flowers notched 2.5 sacks - fifth most in the game's history - to help the Patriots rally and beat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. He also had six tackles and five quarterback hits in the game. The following year, Flowers made five tackles - including one for loss - and had two quarterback hits in the Patriots’ Super Bowl LII loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

By reaching Super Bowl LIII last season, Flowers became the first former Arkansas player to appear in three straight Super Bowls and only the second to play in three during his career, joining Atwater. Despite not being quite as productive, finishing with three tackles - including one for loss - and two quarterback hurries, Flowers played all but four defensive snaps and still helped the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams to become the fifth former Arkansas player with multiple Super Bowl titles.

Dave Reavis

He did not start either game, but Reavis was a backup offensive lineman on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ back-to-back title teams in Super Bowls IX and X.

Dirt Winston

When the Steelers won their next back-to-back titles a few years later, another former Arkansas player was on their roster. Winston recovered a fumble in Super Bowl XIII and started at linebacker in Super Bowl XIV because future Hall of Famer Jack Ham was out with an injury.

Other former Hogs with multiple Super Bowl appearances

Alvin Bailey


In Super Bowl XLVIII, Bailey started and played 16 offensive snaps as a sixth offensive lineman, helping the Seattle Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos. He played just four special teams snaps in Seattle’s bid for a repeat in Super Bowl XLIX, which it lost to the Patriots.

Billy Ray Smith

Smith was the first former Arkansas player to appear in a Super Bowl, starting at defensive tackle in the Baltimore Colts’ famous Super Bowl III loss to the New York Jets, when Joe Namath guaranteed the upset victory. Two years later, the former All-SWC performer helped the Colts beat the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V.

Tony Ugoh

Ugoh was a backup offensive lineman in the Indianapolis Colts’ Super Bowl XLIV loss and the New York Giants’ Super Bowl XLVI win. He is the only former Arkansas player to make the Super Bowl with multiple teams.

Deatrich Wise Jr.

After playing only six defensive snaps as a backup and not recording any statistics in the New England Patriots' Super Bowl LII loss, Wise was a much bigger factor the following season. He started at defensive end and played nearly half (30 of 65) the defensive snaps, racking up five tackles and one quarterback hit to help the Patriots win Super Bowl LIII.

Other Hogs to win the Super Bowl

~Lance Alworth: Famous for Hall of Fame career with the San Diego Chargers, but played final two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys… Caught two passes for 28 yards, including a key third-down reception and a 7-yard touchdown, in Dallas’ Super Bowl VI win

~Cedric Cobbs: Lightly used backup running back as a rookie for the New England Patriots… Did not play in Super Bowl XXXIX win

~Steve Cox: Starting punter and kickoff specialist for the Washington Redskins… Punted four times for 150 yards and kicked off seven times with two touchbacks in Super Bowl XXII win

~Brett Goode: Starting long snapper for the Green Bay Packers… Snapped for six punts, four extra points and one field goal in Super Bowl XLV win

~Dan Hampton: Hall of Famer and starting defensive lineman on the Chicago Bears’ famed 1985 defense… Made one sack and one fumble recover in Super Bowl XX win

~Greg Lasker: Backup safety for the New York Giants as a rookie… Played on special teams in Super Bowl XXI win

~Jeremiah Ledbetter: Reserve defensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers... Inactive in Super Bowl LV win

~Mitch Petrus: Backup offensive lineman for the New York Giants… Played, but did not start, in Super Bowl XLVI win

~R.C. Thielemann: Starting offensive lineman for the Washington Redskins… Started at right guard in Super Bowl XXII win

~Bobbie Williams: Backup offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens… Played seven special teams snaps in Super Bowl XLVII win

Other Hogs to lose the Super Bowl

~Isaac Davis: Starting offensive lineman for the San Diego Chargers as a rookie… Started at left guard in Super Bowl XXIX loss

~Dre Greenlaw: Starting linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie... Started, played 73 of 79 defensive snaps and made 4 tackles (2 solo) in Super Bowl LIV loss

~Henry Ford: Backup defensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans… Played, but did not start, in Super Bowl XXXIV loss

~Ryan Hale: Backup defensive tackle for the New York Giants… Played, but did not start, in Super Bowl XXXV loss

~Madre Hill: Backup running back for the Oakland Raiders… Played, but did not start, in Super Bowl XXXVII loss

~Raylee Johnson: Backup defensive end for the San Diego Chargers… Did not start, but sacked Steve Young twice in Super Bowl XXIX loss

~Jim Lindsey: Backup running back for the Minnesota Vikings… Played, but did not start, in Super Bowl IV loss

~Ryan Mallett: Third-string quarterback for the New England Patriots… Inactive for Super Bowl XLVI loss

~Brison Manor: Backup defensive end for the Denver Broncos… Played, but did not start, in Super Bowl XII loss
 
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