PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Three NFL Knights punched their tickets to Super Bowl LVIII after NFL Championship Sunday. DL Sebastian Joseph-Day (San Francisco), RB Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City) and DB Logan Ryan (San Francisco) will all represent Rutgers football when the Chiefs play the 49ers on Sunday, February 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.
Joseph-Day, Pacheco and Ryan will make it 41 appearances for former Rutgers football players in the Super Bowl, with a Scarlet Knight guaranteed to secure a Super Bowl ring for the third consecutive season. This will be the third Super Bowl appearance for both Joseph-Day and Ryan, while Pacheco will play in the big game for the second consecutive season. All three have already won at least one Super Bowl during their professional careers.
Pacheco rushed 24 times for 68 yards and a touchdown to help Kansas City to a 17-10 win over Baltimore in the AFC Championship on Sunday. In three playoff games for the Chiefs this season, Pacheco tallied 63 carries for 254 yards and three scores while also setting the Kansas City franchise record for career playoff rushing yards.
Joseph-Day and Ryan both played for San Francisco in its 34-31 win over Detroit in the NFC Championship on Sunday, with Ryan producing two tackles. After both signing late in the season with the 49ers, Joseph-Day and Ryan are set to make Super Bowl appearances after each previously advanced to the big game with different teams. Joseph-Day won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams, and Ryan won both Super Bowl XLIX and LI as a member of New England.
This year's Super Bowl will feature the most NFL Knights since four Scarlet Knights – Joseph-Day, Duron Harmon, Devin McCourty and Jason McCourty – competed in Super Bowl LIII. Rutgers is one of just eight schools with three or more former active players set to compete in the Super Bowl – Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Middle Tennessee State, Oklahoma, Penn State and TCU.
| Name |
Team |
Super Bowl |
Years at Rutgers |
| Michael Burton |
Kansas City Chiefs |
LVII |
2011-14 |
| Isiah Pacheco |
Kansas City Chiefs |
LVII |
2018-21 |
| Sebastian Joseph-Day |
Los Angeles Rams |
LVI |
2013-17 |
| Duron Harmon |
New England Patriots |
LIII |
2009-12 |
| Devin McCourty |
New England Patriots |
LIII |
2005-09 |
| Jason McCourty |
New England Patriots |
LIII |
2005-08 |
| Duron Harmon |
New England Patriots |
LI |
2009-12 |
| Devin McCourty |
New England Patriots |
LI |
2005-09 |
| Logan Ryan |
New England Patriots |
LI |
2010-12 |
| Jonathan Freeny |
New England Patriots |
LI |
2008-11 |
| Duron Harmon |
New England Patriots |
XLIX |
2009-12 |
| Devin McCourty |
New England Patriots |
XLIX |
2005-09 |
| Logan Ryan |
New England Patriots |
XLIX |
2010-12 |
| Tim Wright |
New England Patriots |
XLIX |
2009-12 |
| Ray Rice |
Baltimore Ravens |
XLVII |
2005-07 |
| Alex Silvestro |
Baltimore Ravens |
XLVII |
2007-10 |
| Brandon Bing |
New York Giants |
XLVI |
2007-10 |
| Darnell Stapleton |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
XLIII |
2005-06 |
| Shaun O'Hara |
New York Giants |
XLII |
1997-99 |
| Gary Brackett |
Indianapolis Colts |
XLI |
1999-02 |
| Harry Swayne |
Baltimore Ravens |
XXXV |
1983-86 |
| Harry Swayne |
Denver Broncos |
XXXIII |
1983-86 |
| Harry Swayne |
Denver Broncos |
XXXII |
1983-86 |
| James Jenkins |
Washington |
XXVI |
1987-90 |
| Bill Pickel |
Los Angeles Raiders |
XVIII |
1979-82 |
