History of former Hogs in the Super Bowl

A page in Arkansas’ annual football media guide is dedicated to listing all of the former Razorbacks who have reached the biggest game at the biggest level of the sport - 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, in this year’s game, Trey Flowers is making his third Super Bowl appearance and Deatrich Wise Jr. is making his second. Brandon Allen, Dan Skipper and Cody Hollister will also make the list for Super Bowl LIII even though they won’t actually play in the game.

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

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.

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.

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.

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, Flowers will be 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. If the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams, he’ll be the fifth player to join the list above with multiple Super Bowl titles.

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.

~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

~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

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

~Deatrich Wise Jr.: Backup defensive end for the New England Patriots… Played six defensive snaps, but did not start, in Super Bowl LII loss… He’ll join the list of players who have made it to multiple Super Bowls with the Patriots making it to Super Bowl LIII

~Chris Akins: Transferred to UAPB… Made one special teams tackle and defended a pass in the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl XXXVIII win

~Mike Cherry: Transferred to Murray State… Backup quarterback in the New York Giants’ Super Bowl XXXV loss

~Michael Coe: Transferred to Alabama State… On injured reserve for the New York Giants’ Super Bowl XLVI win

~Tarvaris Jackson: Transferred to Alabama State… Took three snaps and threw an incomplete pass in the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl XLVIII win and did not play in their Super Bowl XLIX loss

This year’s Super Bowl will mark the fourth time in five seasons that there is at least one former Arkansas player on the practice squad for one of the teams in the game. Quarterback Brandon Allen has been on the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad since Week 3, while offensive lineman Dan Skipper was added to the New England Patriots’ practice squad at the beginning of the postseason.

Last year, wide receiver Cody Hollister was on the Patriots’ practice squad when they lost Super Bowl LII. Previously, Super Bowl 50 champion Denver had offensive lineman Cameron Jefferson and Super Bowl XLIX champion New England had defensive end Jake Bequette.

A trio of former Razorbacks were on teams that reached the Super Bowl, but missed out on playing in the game because of injuries.

~Shawn Andrews: Won the starting right guard job as a rookie in 2004, but broke his leg in Week 1 and missed the Philadelphia Eagles’ run to Super Bowl XXXIX, which they lost to the New England Patriots

~Ken Hamlin: Started the first six games of the 2005 season at safety, but an off-the-field injury forced him to miss the Seattle Seahawks’ run to Super Bowl XL, which they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers

~Jason Peters: Started the first seven games of the 2017 season at left tackle before suffering a torn ACL and MCL that landed him on injured reserve and kept him out of the Philadelphia Eagles’ run to Super Bowl LII, which they won

Hollister, who was on the Patriots’ practice squad for Super Bowl LII, is currently on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list for New England, so he can also be added to this group.

~Raymond Berry: Known for his Hall of Fame career as a wide receiver for the Baltimore Colts, but went into coaching after his playing career… Former wide receivers coach at Arkansas (1970-72)… Head coach of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX loss

~Pete Carroll: Former graduate assistant at Arkansas (1977)… Head coach of the Seattle Seahawks for Super Bowl XLVIII win and Super Bowl XLIX loss

~Joe Gibbs: Former running backs coach at Arkansas (1971-72)… Head coach of the Washington Redskins for Super Bowl XVII, XXII and XXVI wins and Super Bowl XVIII loss

~Jimmy Johnson: Former Arkansas player (lettered 1962-64, All-SWC guard and team captain in 1964) and defensive coordinator (1973-1976)… Head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for Super Bowl XXVII and XXVIII wins

~Barry Switzer: Former Arkansas player (lettered 1957-59, team captain in 1959) and running backs coach (1961-65)… Head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for Super Bowl XXX win

~Don Breaux: Former assistant at Arkansas (1968-71)… Running backs coach for the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVII and XXII wins and Super Bowl XVIII loss, and offensive coordinator in Super Bowl XXVI win

~Nick Caley: Former graduate assistant at Arkansas (2013)… Offensive assistant for New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI win, and tight ends coach for the Patriots in Super Bowl LII loss and Super Bowl LIII appearance

~Dave Hanner: Former player at Arkansas (lettered 1949-51, All-SWC tackle in 1950 and '51, team captain in 1951)... Defensive line coach for Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I and II wins

~Bill Johnson: Former defensive line coach at Arkansas (1990-91, 2000)… Defensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV win

~John Mitchell: Former defensive line coach at Arkansas (1977-82)… Defensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL and XLIII wins and Super Bowl XXX and XLV losses

~Pat Ruel: Former offensive line coach at Arkansas (1977)… Offensive line coach for the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII win and Super Bowl XLIX loss

~Fred von Appen: Former Arkansas assistant (1969) and defensive line coach (1981)… Special teams coach for the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XIX and XXIII wins

Only two people don’t really fall into any of the previous categories, so we’ll list them here

~Bret Bielema: Former Arkansas head coach (2013-17)… Consultant to New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for Super Bowl LIII

~Jerry Jones: Former Arkansas player (lettered 1962-64, team captain in 1964)… Owner and general manager of Dallas Cowboys for Super Bowl XXII, XXVIII and XXX wins