WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Football will be well represented in the upcoming NFL Playoffs as nine Boilermakers are on teams that advanced to the league's postseason. Eight of those Pro Boilers are on active rosters, the 12th-most among schools with players in the NFL.
Ricardo Allen (Cincinnati Bengals), Markus Bailey (Cincinnati Bengals), Ja'Whaun Bentley (New England Patriots), Anthony Brown (Dallas Cowboys), Brycen Hopkins (Los Angeles Rams), Dennis Kelly (Green Bay Packers), Ryan Kerrigan (Philadelphia Eagles), Rondale Moore (Arizona Cardinals) and Raheem Mostert (San Francisco 49ers) all have a chance to earn a Super Bowl ring as the playoffs begin this weekend.
Boilermakers could be seen in six of the seven games on Super Wild Card Weekend (Jan. 15-17). Allen, Bailey and the Bengals kick off the NFL Playoffs by hosting the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, NBC). As part of NBC's broadcast, legendary Purdue quarterback Drew Brees is slated to be on the call as the analyst for that game. Later that night, Bentley and the Patriots travel to Buffalo for an AFC East matchup against the Bills (8:15 p.m. ET, CBS).
In the first of three playoff games on Sunday, Kerrigan and the Eagles flock south to battle the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, FOX). Another NFC matchup follows (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS) as Brown and the Cowboys host the 49ers without Mostert, who underwent season-ending knee surgery after suffering an injury in the first game of the 2021 campaign. The only game of the opening round not featuring a Boilermaker is the Steelers taking on the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, NBC).
Closing out Super Wild Card Weekend, Moore and the Arizona Cardinals host Hopkins and the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN). The two were teammates at Purdue during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Playing for the Green Bay Packers, the top seed in the NFC, Dennis Kelly gets a weekend off before returning to action for the divisional round.
A former Purdue player has been on the Super Bowl-winning team 15 of the last 22 years. A total of 40 Boilermakers have appeared in the 55 Super Bowls throughout NFL history.
A total of 13 Boilermakers appeared on the gridiron during the 2021 NFL regular season. Stats from each Boilermaker can be found below.
Ricardo Allen (FS) – Cincinnati Bengals: After spending his first six NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Allen made the move to Cincinnati and helped the Bengals capture the AFC North title. The Boilermaker has played in 14 games, including one start, making 12 tackles.
Markus Bailey (LB) – Cincinnati Bengals: In his second season, Bailey played in 16 games for the Bengals. Alongside Allen on the defensive side of the ball, he made 34 tackles with three pass breakups as Cincinnati claimed the AFC North.
Derrick Barnes (LB) – Detroit Lions: Barnes made an immediate impact as a rookie, playing in all 17 games for the Lions which included six starts. He made 61 tackles with a pair of sacks, while breaking up two passes as well.
Ja'Whaun Bentley (LB) – New England Patriots: In his fourth season, all with the Patriots, Bentley has had the best season of his career. Starting all 16 games he has played in, Bentley has registered a career-high 92 tackles. He has forced three fumbles as well, ranking 13th in the league.
David Blough (QB) – Detroit Lions: As a backup quarterback for the Lions, Blough made one appearance during the 2021 season. He played in the Week 8 contest against the Eagles.
Anthony Brown (CB) – Dallas Cowboys: In his sixth NFL season, all in Dallas, Brown has started 16 games for the Cowboys to become a factor in the team's NFC East crown. The cornerback has recorded 68 tackles to go along with three interceptions, both career highs.
Tyler Coyle (S) – Dallas Cowboys: Coyle spent most of the season on the practice squad, but appeared in two games as a rookie. He made his first career tackle in the regular season finale against Philadelphia.
Brycen Hopkins (TE) – Los Angeles Rams: For the second consecutive season, Hopkins has played in five games for the Rams. He caught the first pass of his career in Week 15 against the Seahawks, hauling in a 9-yard reception.
Dennis Kelly (OT) – Green Bay Packers: Kelly is in his first season with the Packers after spending his first three years in Philadelphia followed by five seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Playing in 10 games, including four starts on the offensive line, Kelly helped Green Bay to an NFL-best 13-4 record.
Ryan Kerrigan (LB) – Philadelphia Eagles: The longest active career for a Boilermaker, Kerrigan returns to the playoffs in his 11th season. However, it's his first with the Eagles after a decade in Washington. The 2010 consensus All-American has appeared in 16 of the team's 17 games this season, which includes a pair of starts.
Rondale Moore (WR) – Arizona Cardinals: Showcasing his electric speed, Moore helped the Cardinals make the playoffs for the first time since 2015. In 14 games, including seven starts, the All-American Boilermaker has made 54 catches for 435 yards and one touchdown. He has also rushed the ball 18 times for 76 yards to collect more than 500 yards of total offense.
Raheem Mostert (RB) – San Francisco 49ers: Mostert's seventh season in the NFL was cut short after the running back suffered a knee injury during the opening week of the season. He underwent season-ending surgery and looks to bounce back in 2022.
David Steinmetz (OT) – Washington Football Team: In his second season in Washington, Steinmetz came off the practice squad on two occasions. He played in the Week 8 matchup against the Broncos before taking the field versus the Eagles in Week 15.
Ricardo Allen (Cincinnati Bengals), Markus Bailey (Cincinnati Bengals), Ja'Whaun Bentley (New England Patriots), Anthony Brown (Dallas Cowboys), Brycen Hopkins (Los Angeles Rams), Dennis Kelly (Green Bay Packers), Ryan Kerrigan (Philadelphia Eagles), Rondale Moore (Arizona Cardinals) and Raheem Mostert (San Francisco 49ers) all have a chance to earn a Super Bowl ring as the playoffs begin this weekend.
Boilermakers could be seen in six of the seven games on Super Wild Card Weekend (Jan. 15-17). Allen, Bailey and the Bengals kick off the NFL Playoffs by hosting the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, NBC). As part of NBC's broadcast, legendary Purdue quarterback Drew Brees is slated to be on the call as the analyst for that game. Later that night, Bentley and the Patriots travel to Buffalo for an AFC East matchup against the Bills (8:15 p.m. ET, CBS).
In the first of three playoff games on Sunday, Kerrigan and the Eagles flock south to battle the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, FOX). Another NFC matchup follows (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS) as Brown and the Cowboys host the 49ers without Mostert, who underwent season-ending knee surgery after suffering an injury in the first game of the 2021 campaign. The only game of the opening round not featuring a Boilermaker is the Steelers taking on the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, NBC).
Closing out Super Wild Card Weekend, Moore and the Arizona Cardinals host Hopkins and the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC, ESPN). The two were teammates at Purdue during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Playing for the Green Bay Packers, the top seed in the NFC, Dennis Kelly gets a weekend off before returning to action for the divisional round.
A former Purdue player has been on the Super Bowl-winning team 15 of the last 22 years. A total of 40 Boilermakers have appeared in the 55 Super Bowls throughout NFL history.
A total of 13 Boilermakers appeared on the gridiron during the 2021 NFL regular season. Stats from each Boilermaker can be found below.
Ricardo Allen (FS) – Cincinnati Bengals: After spending his first six NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Allen made the move to Cincinnati and helped the Bengals capture the AFC North title. The Boilermaker has played in 14 games, including one start, making 12 tackles.
Markus Bailey (LB) – Cincinnati Bengals: In his second season, Bailey played in 16 games for the Bengals. Alongside Allen on the defensive side of the ball, he made 34 tackles with three pass breakups as Cincinnati claimed the AFC North.
Derrick Barnes (LB) – Detroit Lions: Barnes made an immediate impact as a rookie, playing in all 17 games for the Lions which included six starts. He made 61 tackles with a pair of sacks, while breaking up two passes as well.
Ja'Whaun Bentley (LB) – New England Patriots: In his fourth season, all with the Patriots, Bentley has had the best season of his career. Starting all 16 games he has played in, Bentley has registered a career-high 92 tackles. He has forced three fumbles as well, ranking 13th in the league.
David Blough (QB) – Detroit Lions: As a backup quarterback for the Lions, Blough made one appearance during the 2021 season. He played in the Week 8 contest against the Eagles.
Anthony Brown (CB) – Dallas Cowboys: In his sixth NFL season, all in Dallas, Brown has started 16 games for the Cowboys to become a factor in the team's NFC East crown. The cornerback has recorded 68 tackles to go along with three interceptions, both career highs.
Tyler Coyle (S) – Dallas Cowboys: Coyle spent most of the season on the practice squad, but appeared in two games as a rookie. He made his first career tackle in the regular season finale against Philadelphia.
Brycen Hopkins (TE) – Los Angeles Rams: For the second consecutive season, Hopkins has played in five games for the Rams. He caught the first pass of his career in Week 15 against the Seahawks, hauling in a 9-yard reception.
Dennis Kelly (OT) – Green Bay Packers: Kelly is in his first season with the Packers after spending his first three years in Philadelphia followed by five seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Playing in 10 games, including four starts on the offensive line, Kelly helped Green Bay to an NFL-best 13-4 record.
Ryan Kerrigan (LB) – Philadelphia Eagles: The longest active career for a Boilermaker, Kerrigan returns to the playoffs in his 11th season. However, it's his first with the Eagles after a decade in Washington. The 2010 consensus All-American has appeared in 16 of the team's 17 games this season, which includes a pair of starts.
Rondale Moore (WR) – Arizona Cardinals: Showcasing his electric speed, Moore helped the Cardinals make the playoffs for the first time since 2015. In 14 games, including seven starts, the All-American Boilermaker has made 54 catches for 435 yards and one touchdown. He has also rushed the ball 18 times for 76 yards to collect more than 500 yards of total offense.
Raheem Mostert (RB) – San Francisco 49ers: Mostert's seventh season in the NFL was cut short after the running back suffered a knee injury during the opening week of the season. He underwent season-ending surgery and looks to bounce back in 2022.
David Steinmetz (OT) – Washington Football Team: In his second season in Washington, Steinmetz came off the practice squad on two occasions. He played in the Week 8 matchup against the Broncos before taking the field versus the Eagles in Week 15.