Penn State players have earned 54 Super Bowl rings

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Jan. 8, 2015 – As the National Football League playoffs begin this weekends, seven former Nittany Lions begin their quest to compete for the Super Bowl 50 title. The Penn Staters dot the rosters of six NFL teams in the playoff hunt.

A total of 26 Penn State football alumni are populating the active rosters of 19 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions annually are among the top 20 programs nationally in producing players in the NFL.

Among the Nittany Lions on NFL rosters are: tight end Andrew Quarless (Green Bay), offensive lineman Garry Gilliam (Seattle), defensive tackle Jordan Hill (Seattle), linebacker Tamba Hali (Kansas City), tight end Jesse James (Pittsburgh), wide receiver Jordan Norwood (Denver) and offensive lineman A.Q. Shipley (Arizona).

Quarless has battled injuries during his sixth NFL season with Green Bay. He had four receptions for 31 yards in just five games this season as he battled a knee injury all season. The Packers will visit the Redskins in the Wild Card Playoffs Sunday at 4:40 p.m. on Fox.

A pair of former Nittany Lions – Gilliam and Hill – are on the Seattle Seahawks. Hill is making his third NFL playoff appearance, while Gilliam is making his second. Hill had a career-high 24 tackles in the regular season despite playing in only 10 games, while Gilliam started all 16 games on the offensive line. The Seahawks, who are the sixth seed in the NFC after posting a 10-6 record, will travel to the NFC North Champion Minnesota Vikings Sunday at 1:05 p.m. on NBC.

NFL veteran Hali led the Kansas City Chiefs to an 11-5 record and their first playoff berth since 2013. This is the fourth playoff bid for Hali. He saw time in 15 games with 14 starts en route to 48 tackles, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Hali was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fifth consecutive season. The Chiefs visit the Texans in the Wild Card Playoffs Saturday at 4:35 p.m. on ESPN.

James and the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the AFC North Champion Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round of the playoffs Saturday at 8:15 p.m. on CBS. James played in eight games with two starts during his rookie campaign, finishing the regular season with eight catches for 56 yards and a touchdown.

Norwood helped the Denver Broncos to the AFC West title and the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Broncos earned the bye and will host a Divisional Playoff game Sunday, Jan. 17 at 4:40 p.m. on CBS. Norwood appeared in 11 games with five starts this season. He had 22 receptions for 207 yards. Norwood also returned six punts for 51 yards.

Shipley, the 2008 Rimington Trophy winner, and the Arizona Cardinals won the NFC West and are the No. 2 seed. They earned a first round bye and host the Divisional Playoff game on Sunday, Jan. 17. Shipley played in 12 games for the Cardinals this season with three starts.

In addition to the seven players, four former Nittany Lions are members of NFL coaching staffs participating the playoffs: Sam Gash (Green Bay, running backs); Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Munchak (Pittsburgh, offensive line); Paul Pasqualoni (Houston, offensive line) and Darren Perry (Green Bay, safeties).

Super Bowl XLIX marked the 44th time in the NFL Championship contest’s 49-game history that at least one Penn State alumnus was a member of one of the participating teams. Former Nittany Lion standouts Jordan Hill and Garry Gilliam helped Seattle to advance to Super Bowl XLIX before falling to the Patriots. In all, 37 former Nittany Lions have earned a total of 54 Super Bowl rings.