Drake Maye is the first UNC quarterback to ever play in a Super Bowl.
With more than 20 former Tar Heels having competed in NFL championship games, one of their greatest players also won a title for the Washington Redskins in 1945. Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice was a running back, passer and punt returner in the 15-14 win over the Los Angeles Rams. While he never played in a “Super Bowl”, Justice won an NFL title, making him one of UNC’s earliest football champions at the pro level.
That was more than 20 years before the NFL merged with the American Football League that resulted in the first Super Bowl. The best remembered NFL title game to date was on December 28, 1958, when the Baltimore Colts beat the New York Giants in overtime at Yankee Stadium 23-17 – often called the Greatest Game Ever Played – featuring future Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas. It is one of the most iconic and influential contests in pro football history.
When the Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders in 1967 and ’68, the Super Bowl was considered an exhibition game between the NFC champion and fledgling American Football League. That all changed in 1969 when Joe Namath and the New York Jets shocked the world by beating the Colts in Miami. The Super Bowl became an American classic.
Before Maye takes the field on Sunday, sixteen other Tar Heels have played in more than 20 Super Bowls and won. He will be joined by wide receiver Mack Hollins who played in the Eagles win over the Patriots in 2018.
Offensive tackle Harris Barton won three Super Bowls with the 49ers. Lawrence Taylor, considered the best defensive player in history, won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, under defensive coordinator and current Carolina head coach Bill Belichick. Safety Dexter Reid won two Super Bowls with the Patriots and Colts. Running back Willie Parker won two with the Steelers, as did punter Jeff Reed and long snapper Greg Warren. Fullback Madison Hedgecock, defensive tackle Russell Davis and wide receiver Hakeem Nicks also won Super Bowls for the Giants. Nate Hobgood-Chittick and linebacker Mike Morton won Super Bowls for the St. Louis Rams, defensive lineman Riddick Parker won one with the Patriots and Jeff Saturday was on the Colts when they beat New England. Running back T.J. Logan did so with the Buccaneers, and defensive lineman Sylvester Williams brought one home for the Broncos from Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara where Maye and the Pats will try to do the same thing Sunday.
Overall, UNC has had many players in the Super Bowl with 22 former lettermen winning a combined 29 titles. Another Tar Heel in the game Sunday is Seattle linebacker Chazz Surratt, who was activated from Injured Reserve and could see the field on special teams.
Featured image Associated Press/Brynn Anderson
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
