Darian Kinnard is the 32nd Kentucky Football Alum in the Super Bowl

The stars of the National Football League have made their way to Arizona as Super Bowl week kicks off with Opening Night, the rebranded name for the game’s media day. Once again a Kentucky Wildcat will be at the center of the football universe.

A year after he was a Consensus All-American offensive tackle at Kentucky, Darian Kinnard will suit up for the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. A fifth round selection in last year’s NFL Draft, he’s served as a reserve for Andy Reid’s squad. He has not received significant snaps as a rookie, appearing in just one game in a special teams role. Despite the limited action, offensive line coach Andy Heck believes his future is bright.

“Kinnard, really has grown – we’ve seen him grow,” Heck said a few weeks ago. “He played the tackle position and then we’ve been getting him some more guard work. I think he’s got that kind of flex to whether he can play either or, but he’s taken to that guard position in there and looks great.”

Darian Kinnard is the 32nd former Kentucky football alumnus to play in a Super Bowl. Former Wildcats have been in 44 Super Bowls. Some have starred, while others have used a win in the Super Bowl to sail off into the sunset of retirement.

Former Wildcats Retire on Top

Very few athletes can end seasons with wins. Even fewer are lucky enough to end their careers on top in the Super Bowl. Some Kentucky Wildcats earned that privilege.

LB Marty Moore was the first Mr. Irrelevant to play in the Super Bowl. In 1997 the Patriots lost to Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. He left New England for one season but returned when Tom Brady shocked the world and stunned the Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf as 14-point underdogs. The Patriots’ first Super Bowl win was Moore’s last game in the National Football League.

Bob Talamini, a seven-year starting offensive lineman, was assigned to protect Joe Namath when he guaranteed a Super Bowl win. The Jets shocked the heavily favored Baltimore Colts and Talamini decided to call it a career. Another former Wildcat was on the team. After starting for six seasons with the Boston Patriots and winning an AFC Offensive Player of the Year title, Babe Parilli spent the final years of his career as Joe Namath’s backup. He retired a year after the Jets Super Bowl III victory.

Offensive tackle Sam Ball started for the Colts in the loss to the Jets. Two years later he got the last laugh, winning Super Bowl V in his final NFL game.

These names might be more familiar to younger Kentucky football fans. Joker Phillips spent two seasons with the Washington Redskins, winning the Super Bowl in his last. Jared Lorenzen served as Eli Manning’s backup in the “helmet catch” game over the undefeated Patriots. (If somebody has saved audio from our podcast where he discussed his incredible Super Bowl week, I’d love you forever. My podcast archives got erased when we switch hosts.)

Jacob Tamme was so close to ending his career with a win. The Kentucky tight end from Danville went to Super Bowls catching passes for Peyton Manning in Indianapolis and Denver, but always missed the winning seasons. He spent his final year in Atlanta, but an injury sent him to the sideline for the finale. He got a front row seat to watch Tom Brady come back from a 28-3 deficit and win in overtime of Super Bowl LI, Tamme’s final game as a pro.

The Most Surprising Super Bowl Star

Like Jacob Tamme, Chris Matthews got a ring stolen from him by a Tom Brady comeback. An unheard of wide receiver, he received no significant snaps until the Seattle Seahawks needed a miracle in the NFC Championship. He recovered an onside kick in Seattle’s desperate comeback, opening eyes nationwide. With zero career receptions, in Super Bowl XLIX he caught four passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Even Matthews was surprised.

“Even after the onside kick, I didn’t think that would propel me to play offense,” the former Cat told KSR. “I was still the guy in the back of the line. Leading up to the Super Bowl I was just running around honestly, enjoying the festivities. Just having a good time, my mind wasn’t actually in playing the game, just special teams.”

He could’ve been the most unlikely Super Bowl MVP in the game’s history, if the Seawhawks just handed the ball off to Marshawn Lynch at the goal line.

Kentucky is Punter U

The Punter U moniker was a fun self-deprecating term of endearment for Kentucky fans, but it works because it’s true. Long before Max Dufy was the Ray Guy Award winner, Larry Seiple punted in three straight Super Bowls for the Dolphins. They lost following the 1971 season, then capped off an undefeated 1972 season with a win. He averaged 43 yards per punt in the first Super Bowl victory, then 39.7 yards a year later in a Super Bowl win over Minnesota. Tim Masthay kept the Punter U legacy alive by averaging 40.5 yards over 6 punts in the Packers’ 2011 win over the Steelers.

Recent Playmakers on Defense

Mike Edwards is the most recent Wildcat to play in and win a Super Bowl. The Mark Stoops recruit from Cincinnati had four tackles and a pass deflection when Tom Brady and the Bucs beat Patrick Mahomes in Tampa Bay to cap off the 2020 season. A few years prior, Danny Trevathan led the Broncos in tackles with eight in a 24-10 victory over the Panthers in Peyton Manning’s last NFL game.

Kentucky Wildcats to Appear in the Super Bowl

The following was compiled by the UK sports information department for the 2022 Fact and Record Book.