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 Sunday (Feb. 9) as George Karlaftis and the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVIX (6:30 p.m. ET on FOX). Making his third Super Bowl in three seasons, Karlaftis looks to help the Chiefs become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls.
A total of 44 Boilermakers have played in a Super Bowl, and Karlaftis will bring the total number of appearances by Purdue Football alumni to 75. 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 25 of the past 26 Super Bowls.
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 a Super Bowl Champion 39 times, including 18 of the past 25 editions of the Big Game. With a win Sunday, Karlaftis would join Light and Turner as the only Boilermakers that have won at least three Super Bowls.
Throughout the history of the Super Bowl, Boilermakers have left their mark. 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. Dawson was the MVP of Super Bowl IV, while Brees collected the honor at Super Bowl XLIV after leading the New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl crown.
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.
Boilermakers have been a part of Super Bowl runs for the Chiefs throughout history. Along with Karlaftis, becoming the first NFL defensive lineman to win two Super Bowls in his first two seasons, Dawson and Hank Stram guided Kansas City to the first Super Bowl before leading the organization to a win in Super Bowl IV.
Karlaftis has been off to an outstanding start to his career after being the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, he ranked third among rookies in sacks with 6.0 on the year, leading all AFC rookies, before becoming the first Greek born player to win a Super Bowl. In his sophomore season, Karlaftis finished 16th in sacks, tied with teammate and all-pro defensive tackle Chris Jones with 10.5. In chase of the three-peat this year, Karlaftis has a league-leading seven QB hits in the playoffs after tying for third with 28 throughout the regular season. He has made 11.0 sacks this season, including 3.0 in two playoff games. No one has rushed the passer more than Karlaftis this year (619 snaps).
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 to earn his spot in the Den of Defensive Ends.
A total of 44 Boilermakers have played in a Super Bowl, and Karlaftis will bring the total number of appearances by Purdue Football alumni to 75. 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 25 of the past 26 Super Bowls.
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 a Super Bowl Champion 39 times, including 18 of the past 25 editions of the Big Game. With a win Sunday, Karlaftis would join Light and Turner as the only Boilermakers that have won at least three Super Bowls.
Throughout the history of the Super Bowl, Boilermakers have left their mark. 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. Dawson was the MVP of Super Bowl IV, while Brees collected the honor at Super Bowl XLIV after leading the New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl crown.
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.
Boilermakers have been a part of Super Bowl runs for the Chiefs throughout history. Along with Karlaftis, becoming the first NFL defensive lineman to win two Super Bowls in his first two seasons, Dawson and Hank Stram guided Kansas City to the first Super Bowl before leading the organization to a win in Super Bowl IV.
Karlaftis has been off to an outstanding start to his career after being the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, he ranked third among rookies in sacks with 6.0 on the year, leading all AFC rookies, before becoming the first Greek born player to win a Super Bowl. In his sophomore season, Karlaftis finished 16th in sacks, tied with teammate and all-pro defensive tackle Chris Jones with 10.5. In chase of the three-peat this year, Karlaftis has a league-leading seven QB hits in the playoffs after tying for third with 28 throughout the regular season. He has made 11.0 sacks this season, including 3.0 in two playoff games. No one has rushed the passer more than Karlaftis this year (619 snaps).
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 to earn his spot in the Den of Defensive Ends.