College Production of Super Bowl Winners

SoxJox

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Dec 22, 2003
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Wasn't sure where to put this...

Sporting News has compiled a ranked listing of those college programs producing the most Super Bowl winners. I believe, based on the note below, that this is the total number of players, not total number of rings.

I'm not sure what criteria they used to list a "notable" winner, but I was surprised to see Joe Theisman not listed for ND. Same with Matt Millen - who won four times. I'm sure there are other notables that could have been included.

(Note: Data, compiled from Pro Football Reference, does not reflect multiple rings won by individual players or inactive players at the time a team won the Super Bowl).

  • T-23rd: Pittsburgh (27)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Mike Ditka (6, 12)
Tony Dorsett (12)
Russ Grimm (17, 22, 26)

  • T-23rd: Texas (27)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Tex Schramm (6, 12)
Steve McMichael (20)
Priest Holmes (35)

  • T-23rd: Oregon (27)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Mel Renfro (6, 12)
Gary Zimmerman (32)
LeGarrette Blount (49, 51, 52)

  • T-23rd: Stanford (27)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Jim Plunkett (15, 18)
John Elway (32, 33)
Richard Sherman (48)

  • 22nd: California (28)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Tarik Glenn (41)
Aaron Rodgers (45)
Marshawn Lynch (48)

  • T-18th: Arizona State (29)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Curley Culp (4)
Mike Haynes (18)
Terrell Suggs (47)

  • T-18th: Florida (29)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Emmitt Smith (27, 28, 30)
Percy Harvin (48)
Dominique Easley (49)

  • T-18th: North Carolina (29)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Lawrence Taylor (21, 25)
Dre' Bly (34)
Hakeem Nicks (46)

  • T-18th: Oklahoma (29)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Ralph Neely (6, 12)
Spencer Tillman (24)
Tony Casillas (27, 28)

  • 17th: Nebraska (30)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Roger Craig (19, 23, 24)
Charles Mann (22, 26, 29)
Neil Smith (32, 33)

  • 16th: Clemson (31)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Jeff Bostic (17, 22, 26)
William Perry (20)
Michael Dean Perry (32)

  • T-13th: Washington (32)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Ray Mansfield (9, 10)
Kevin Gogan (27, 28)
Mark Brunell (45)

  • T-13th: Michigan State (32)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Herb Adderly (1, 2, 6)
Earl Morrall (5, 7, 8)
Plaxico Burress (42)

  • T-13th: Alabama (32)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Bart Starr (1, 2)
Joe Namath (3)
Ken Stabler (11)

  • 12th: Colorado (33)
Notable winners:
Boyd Dowler (1, 2)
Dick Anderson (7, 8)
Cliff Branch (11, 15, 18)

  • 11th: Georgia (35)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Terrell Davis (32, 33)
Richard Seymour (36, 38, 39)
Hines Ward (40, 43)

  • T-8th: LSU (37)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Jim Taylor (1)
Kevin Faulk (36, 38, 39)
Corey Webster (42, 46)

  • T-8th: Ohio State (37)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Paul Warfield (7, 8)
Orlando Pace (34)
Mike Vrabel (36, 38, 39)

  • T-8th: UCLA (37)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Randy Cross (16, 29, 23)
Troy Aikman (27, 28, 30)
Jonathan Ogden (35)

  • T-6th: Florida State (39)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Fred Biletnikoff (11)
Deion Sanders (29, 30)
Derrick Brooks (37)

  • T-6th: Michigan (39)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Desmond Howard (31)
Ty Law (36, 38, 39)
Tom Brady (36, 38, 39, 49, 51, 53, 55)

  • 5th: Penn State (43)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Jack Ham (9, 10, 13, 14)
Franco Harris (9, 10, 13, 14)
Michael Robinson (48)

  • T-2nd: Tennessee (44)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Reggie White (31)
Jamal Lewis (35)
Peyton Manning (41, 50)

  • T-2nd: Notre Dame (44)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Paul Hornung (1)
Rocky Bleier (9, 10, 13, 14)
Joe Montana (16, 19, 23, 24)

  • T-2nd: Miami (44)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Michael Irvin (27, 28, 30)
Ray Lewis (35, 47)
Warren Sapp (37)

  • 1st: USC (48)
Notable Super Bowl winners:
Lynn Swann (9,10, 13, 14)
Ronnie Lott (16, 19, 23, 24)
Marcus Allen (18)
 

DJnVa

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I think Tennessee surprises me on that list. Much higher than I would have thought.
 

Was (Not Wasdin)

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I thought Alabama would be higher as well.

Miami at T-2 is pretty amazing, given that they have only been playing at a "national" level since 79-80 or so (when Jim Kelly and Howard Schnellenberger got there). i'd be surprised if anyone from The U was in the first XII or XIII super bowls.
 

snowmanny

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Well 00 himself Jim Otto went to the U. So at least one.

edit I’m wrong. Played in one never won one.
 

Average Reds

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Along with the obvious omissions mentioned in the OP, Tex Schramm being listed as a Super Bowl winner for Texas tells you all you need to know about the accuracy of the list.
 

SoxJox

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Dec 22, 2003
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Along with the obvious omissions mentioned in the OP, Tex Schramm being listed as a Super Bowl winner for Texas tells you all you need to know about the accuracy of the list.
Agreed. While he did not play for them, he did graduate from UT. But including him here seems to violate the spirit / intent of the rankings (i.e., player production).
 

Plantiers Wart

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I thought Alabama would be higher as well.

Miami at T-2 is pretty amazing, given that they have only been playing at a "national" level since 79-80 or so (when Jim Kelly and Howard Schnellenberger got there). i'd be surprised if anyone from The U was in the first XII or XIII super bowls.
Ted Hendricks, The Mad Stork.