FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks will extend a lengthy Super Bowl streak today in Miami.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, one of the top rookie defenders in the NFL, will give the University of Arkansas a representative in the game for the 11th consecutive season. There are no ex-Razorbacks on the roster for the Kansas City Chiefs, the AFC representative in Miami.
The Razorbacks’ Super Bowl streak, which includes practice squad players, dates back to Super Bowl 44, also played in Miami, with offensive tackle Tony Ugoh on the roster for the Indianapolis Colts, who lost 31-17 to the New Orleans Saints.
Five former Razorbacks and ex-coach Bret Bielema were on the rosters for last year’s Super Bowl combatants. Defensive linemen Trey Flowers and Deatrich Wise and receiver Cody Hollister were on the roster for the victorious New England Patriots, while quarterback Brandon Allen and offensive lineman Dan Skipper were on the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad. Bielema served as a special assistant to New England Coach Bill Belichick, whose Patriots beat the Rams 13-3.
Greenlaw is the 16th Razorback to make a Super Bowl during the 11-year streak.
Arkansas has had 33 former players on Super Bowl rosters, dating back to Billy Ray Smith for the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl 3. Ten ex-Razorback assistant coaches have appeared in the Super Bowl, with Joe Gibbs, Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer combining for six Super Bowl wins as head coaches in seven appearances.
Additionally, Jerry Jones — a starting guard and teammate with Johnson on the Razorbacks’ 1964 national championship team — has overseen three Super Bowl champions as owner of the Dallas Cowboys. Johnson and Switzer combined to coach all three of those victories.
Another Arkansas-related twist to today’s game comes from San Francisco backup quarterback Nick Mullens. The second-year pro and Southern Miss graduate is the nephew of Scott Tabor, the former Arkansas pitcher and a Little Rock McClellan High School product. Tabor pitched for Coach Norm DeBriyn’s 1979 Razorbacks, the College World Series runner-up. Mullens is the son of Suzanne Tabor Mullens, who is also a McClellan alum.
Super Bowl Hogs
Arkansas has been represented by players in each of the past 11 Super Bowls. A look at the former Razorbacks to appear on the rosters of Super Bowl teams during the streak:
Super Bowl - Ex-Hog, Team, Result
54 - Dre Greenlaw, 49ers, TBD
53 - Trey Flowers, Patriots, W 13-3
53 - Deatrich Wise, Patriots, W 13-3
53 - Cody Hollister*, Patriots, W 13-3
53 - Brandon Allen*, Rams, L 13-3
53 - Dan Skipper*, Rams, L 13-3
52 - Jason Peters, Eagles, W 41-33
52 - Deatrich Wise, Patriots, L 41-33
52 - Cody Hollister*, Patriots, L 41-33
51 - Trey Flowers, Patriots, W 34-28 (OT)
50 - Cam Jefferson*, Broncos, W 24-10
49 - Jake Bequette*, Patriots, W 28-24
49 - Alvin Bailey, Seahawks, L 28-24
48 - Alvin Bailey, Seahawks, W 43-8
48 - Tavares Jackson, Seahawks, W 43-8
47 - Bobbie Williams, Ravens, W 34-31
46 - Mitch Petrus, Giants, W 21-17
46 - Tony Ugoh, Giants, W 21-17
46 - Ryan Mallett, Patriots, L 21-17
45 - Brett Goode, Packers, W 31-25
44 - Tony Ugoh, Colts, L 31-17
*-Denotes practice squad player