Illini Super Bowl History | Illini in the NFL

Former Fighting Illini offensive lineman Ted Karras is in Minneapolis this week representing Illinois and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, which takes place Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018 at 5:30 pm CT on NBC.

The second-year veteran played in all 16 games for the Patriots during the regular season as well as both of the playoff games, mostly blocking on field goals and PATs. He did make two starts at center during weeks 10 and 11, playing 100 percent of offensive snaps in those two games. For the season, Karras was in on 252 snaps (154 on offense and 98 on special teams). 

It marks the 58th time a former Illini player will suit up for the Super Bowl, and the 32nd time in the last 20 years. Karras is looking to become the 31st Fighting Illini Super Bowl Champion. Entering this year's game, 24 different players have won the title 30 times. 

FORMER ILLINI IN THE SUPER BOWL (bold indicates champion)

1967 (I) – Jim Grabowski – Green Bay – W
1967 (I) – Ray Nitschke – Green Bay – W
1968 (II) – Jim Grabowski – Green Bay – W
1968 (II) – Ray Nitschke – Green Bay – W
1969 (III) – Preston Pearson – Baltimore - L
1970 (IV) – Bill Brown – Minnesota – L
1974 (VIII) – Bill Brown – Minnesota – L
1975 (IX) – Bill Brown – Minnesota – L
1975 (IX) – Preston Pearson – Pittsburgh - W
1976 (X) – Preston Pearson – Dallas - L
1978 (XII) – Preston Pearson – Dallas – W
1979 (XIII) – Preston Pearson – Dallas - L
1984 (XVIII) – Darryl Byrd – L.A. Raiders – W
1984 (XVIII) – Jack Squirek – L.A. Raiders - W
1986 (XX) – Tony Eason – New England – L
1986 (XX) – Calvin Thomas – Chicago - W
1989 (XXIII) – Ed Brady – Cincinnati – L
1990 (XXIV) – Jim Juriga – Denver - L
1991 (XXV) – Adam Lingler – Buffalo – L
1992 (XXVI) – Adam Lingler – Buffalo - L
1992 (XXVI) – Henry Jones – Buffalo – L
1993 (XXVII) – Adam Lingler – Buffalo - L
1993 (XXVII) – Henry Jones – Buffalo – L
1994 (XXVIII) – Adam Lingler – Buffalo - L
1994 (XXVIII) – Henry Jones – Buffalo - L
1995 (XXIX) – Greg Engel – San Diego – L
1998 (XXXII) – Howard Griffith – Denver – W
1999 (XXXIII)  – Howard Griffith – Denver – W
2000 (XXXIV) – Robert Holcombe – St. Louis – W
2000 (XXXIV) – Brad Hopkins – Tennessee – L
2002 (XXXVI) – Robert Holcombe – St. Louis – L
2003 (XXXVII) – Jameel Cook – Tampa Bay – W
2003 (XXXVII) – Ken Dilger – Tampa Bay – W
2003 (XXXVII) – Simeon Rice – Tampa Bay – W
2004 (XXXVIII) – Eugene Wilson – New England – W
2004 (XXXVIII) – Walter Young – Carolina - L
2005 (XXXIX) – Greg Lewis – Philadelphia – L
2005 (XXXIX) – Eugene Wilson – New England – W
2006 (XL) – Walter Young – Pittsburgh - W
2007 (XLI) – Kelvin Hayden – Indianapolis – W
2007 (XLI) – Aaron Moorehead – Indianapolis – W
2008 (XLII) – Dave Diehl – New York Giants – W
2008 (XLII) – Eugene Wilson – New England - L
2009 (XLIII) – Carey Davis – Pittsburgh – W
2009 (XLIII) – Neil Rackers – Arizona - L
2009 (XLIII) – Nathan Hodel – Arizona – L
2009 (XLIII) – Rashard Mendenhall – Pittsburgh – W
2010 (XLIV) – Kelvin Hayden – Indianapolis - L
2010 (XLIV) – Pierre Thomas – New Orleans – W
2011 (XLV) – Rashard Mendenhall – Pittsburgh – L
2012 (XLVI) – Dave Diehl – New York Giants – W
2012 (XLVI) – Steve Weatherford – New York Giants - W
2013 (XLVII) – A.J. Jenkins – San Francisco - L
2015 (XLIX) – Michael Buchanan – New England – W
2015 (XLIX) – Michael Hoomanawanui – New England – W
2015 (XLIX) – Tavon Wilson – New England - W
2017 (LI) – Ted Karras – New England - W

ILLINI HISTORY IN THE SUPER BOWL

Ed Brady (1): Cincinnati XXIII
Bill Brown (3): Minnesota IV, VIII, IX
Michael Buchanan (1): New England XLIX
Darryl Byrd (1): L.A. Raiders XVIII
Jameel Cook (1): Tampa Bay XXXVII
Carey Davis (1): Pittsburgh XLIII
Dave Diehl (2): New York Giants XLII, XLVI
Ken Dilger (1): Tampa Bay XXXVII
Tony Eason (1): New England XX
Greg Engel (1): San Diego XXIX
Jim Grabowski (2): Green Bay I, II
Howard Griffith (2): Denver XXXII, XXXIII
Kelvin Hayden (2): Indianpolis XLI, XLIV
Nathan Hodel (1): Arizona XLIII
Robert Holcombe (2): St. Louis XXXIV, XXXVI
Michael Hoomanawanui (1): New England XLIX
Brad Hopkins (1): Tennessee XXXIV
A.J. Jenkins (1): San Francisco XLVII
Henry Jones (3): Buffalo XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII
Jim Juriga (1): Denver XXIV
Ted Karras (1): New England LI
Greg Lewis (1): Philadelphia XXXIX
Adam Lingner (4): Buffalo XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII
Rashard Mendenhall (2): Pittsburgh XLIII, XLV
Aaron Moorehead (1): Indianapolis XLI
Ray Nitschke (1): Green Bay I, II
Preston Pearson (5): Baltimore III; Pittsburgh IX; Dallas X, XII, XIII
Neil Rackers (1): Arizona XLIII
Simeon Rice (1):Tampa Bay XXXVII
Jack Squirek (1): L.A. Raiders XVIII
Calvin Thomas (1): Chicago XX
Pierre Thomas (1): New Orleans XLIV 
Steve Weatherford (1): New York Giants XLVI
Eugene Wilson (3): New England XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLII
Tavon Wilson (1): New England XLIX
Walter Young (2): Carolina XXXVIII; Pittsburgh XL