GLENDALE, Ariz. – A decade ago, George Karlaftis lived in Greece and never played a down of football. After moving to West Lafayette, Indiana, learning the game and becoming an All-American at Purdue, the Boilermaker alum is now a Super Bowl champion. Karlaftis wrapped up his rookie season by helping the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII (Feb. 12).
Karlaftis made NFL history by becoming the first Greek born player to win a Super Bowl. Making the 72nd appearance by a Boilermaker in a Super Bowl, he recorded a pair of tackles in the victory.
A Boilermaker has been on the Super Bowl-winning team 17 of the past 24 years, including back-to-back seasons after Brycen Hopkins won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams. Karlaftis joined fellow members of Purdue's Den of Defensive Ends that have won a Super Bowl: Cliff Avril, Rosevelt Colvin, Rob Ninkovich and Keena Turner.
Karlaftis 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 ranked 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 was second most on the Chiefs behind First Team All-Pro Chris Jones. Karlaftis earned recognition of his own when the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) named him to the all-rookie team.
Karlaftis made NFL history by becoming the first Greek born player to win a Super Bowl. Making the 72nd appearance by a Boilermaker in a Super Bowl, he recorded a pair of tackles in the victory.
A Boilermaker has been on the Super Bowl-winning team 17 of the past 24 years, including back-to-back seasons after Brycen Hopkins won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams. Karlaftis joined fellow members of Purdue's Den of Defensive Ends that have won a Super Bowl: Cliff Avril, Rosevelt Colvin, Rob Ninkovich and Keena Turner.
Karlaftis 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 ranked 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 was second most on the Chiefs behind First Team All-Pro Chris Jones. Karlaftis earned recognition of his own when the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) named him to the all-rookie team.