WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Not only does Purdue Football have a rich history in the NFL, but also in the league's biggest game. That tradition continues on Sunday (Feb. 12) as George Karlaftis and the Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII (6:30 p.m. ET on FOX).
Karlaftis becomes the 43rd Boilermaker to play in the Super Bowl, bringing the total number of appearances by Purdue Football alumni to 72. Matt Light has made the most Super Bowls by a Boilermaker, reaching the game five times with the New England Patriots. Including Sunday night's matchup, at least one Purdue Boilermaker has participated in 23 of the last 24 Super Bowls.
"It's a blessing to be in this position with the opportunity to become a Super Bowl champion," said Karlaftis.
Keena Turner, a fellow member of the Den of Defensive Ends alongside Karlaftis, helped the San Francisco 49ers win four Super Bowls to set the standard for Pro Boilers. A Boilermaker has been on the Super Bowl-winning team 16 of the past 23 years, including Brycen Hopkins contributing to the Los Angeles Rams' victory last season.
Rod Woodson is one of only 11 players in NFL history to play in three Super Bowls with three teams – Pittsburgh Steelers (XXX), Baltimore Ravens (XXXV) and Oakland Raiders (XXXVII). Ricardo Allen (Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals) and Niko Koutouvides (Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots) have made Super Bowls with two different teams.
Unless he gets a scoop-and-score like he did for the Boilermakers in 2021 against Wisconsin or hauls in a pick-six, Karlaftis is unlikely to find the end zone in the Super Bowl. Mike Alstott scored the first Super Bowl touchdown by a Purdue alum in Super Bowl XXXVII, while three former Boilermaker quarterbacks have thrown touchdown passes in the Super Bowl – Len Dawson in Super Bowl I and IV, Bob Griese in Super Bowl VII and Drew Brees in Super Bowl XLIV.
Karlaftis has had a strong rookie season after the Chiefs selected the Boilermaker as the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He ranks third among rookies in sacks with 6.0 on the year, leading all AFC rookies and trailing only Aidan Hutchinson (9.5) and James Houston (8.0) of the Detroit Lions throughout the league. One of those sacks occurred in the AFC Championship game. His sack tally is second most on the Chiefs behind First Team All-Pro Chris Jones. Karlaftis has earned recognition of his own as the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) named him to the all-rookie team in January.
Playing in 27 games over his Purdue career, Karlaftis earned All-Big Ten honors following all three seasons as a Boilermaker. He was a second team honoree as a freshman and sophomore before becoming a consensus first team selection during his junior campaign. During the 2021 season, his final one wearing the Old Gold and Black, the hometown standout earned First Team All-America accolades from the AFCA to go along with second team honors from a variety of outlets.
Karlaftis becomes the 43rd Boilermaker to play in the Super Bowl, bringing the total number of appearances by Purdue Football alumni to 72. Matt Light has made the most Super Bowls by a Boilermaker, reaching the game five times with the New England Patriots. Including Sunday night's matchup, at least one Purdue Boilermaker has participated in 23 of the last 24 Super Bowls.
"It's a blessing to be in this position with the opportunity to become a Super Bowl champion," said Karlaftis.
Keena Turner, a fellow member of the Den of Defensive Ends alongside Karlaftis, helped the San Francisco 49ers win four Super Bowls to set the standard for Pro Boilers. A Boilermaker has been on the Super Bowl-winning team 16 of the past 23 years, including Brycen Hopkins contributing to the Los Angeles Rams' victory last season.
Rod Woodson is one of only 11 players in NFL history to play in three Super Bowls with three teams – Pittsburgh Steelers (XXX), Baltimore Ravens (XXXV) and Oakland Raiders (XXXVII). Ricardo Allen (Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals) and Niko Koutouvides (Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots) have made Super Bowls with two different teams.
Unless he gets a scoop-and-score like he did for the Boilermakers in 2021 against Wisconsin or hauls in a pick-six, Karlaftis is unlikely to find the end zone in the Super Bowl. Mike Alstott scored the first Super Bowl touchdown by a Purdue alum in Super Bowl XXXVII, while three former Boilermaker quarterbacks have thrown touchdown passes in the Super Bowl – Len Dawson in Super Bowl I and IV, Bob Griese in Super Bowl VII and Drew Brees in Super Bowl XLIV.
Karlaftis has had a strong rookie season after the Chiefs selected the Boilermaker as the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He ranks third among rookies in sacks with 6.0 on the year, leading all AFC rookies and trailing only Aidan Hutchinson (9.5) and James Houston (8.0) of the Detroit Lions throughout the league. One of those sacks occurred in the AFC Championship game. His sack tally is second most on the Chiefs behind First Team All-Pro Chris Jones. Karlaftis has earned recognition of his own as the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) named him to the all-rookie team in January.
Playing in 27 games over his Purdue career, Karlaftis earned All-Big Ten honors following all three seasons as a Boilermaker. He was a second team honoree as a freshman and sophomore before becoming a consensus first team selection during his junior campaign. During the 2021 season, his final one wearing the Old Gold and Black, the hometown standout earned First Team All-America accolades from the AFCA to go along with second team honors from a variety of outlets.
It may seem like a dream, but it's not. @TheGK3, you're Super Bowl bound! #KCvsPHI on FOX - Feb. 12 pic.twitter.com/EbQEwlAbId
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) January 30, 2023