Semi-Pros in the Super Bowl

[Shipley]

Here's a list of former semi-pro players who went on to play or coach in the Super Bowl. I compiled it for my Semi-Pro Football History FB group, and thought it might interest this audience too. Semi-pro records are spotty at best, so I'd be interested to hear any errors or omissions.

Mike Bass (Detroit Arrows, Redskins), Bill Bergey (Fredonia Orioles, Eagles), Randy Beverly (Jersey City Jets, Jets), Bob Bryant (Des Moines Warriors, Vikings), Jim Clack (Norfolk Neptunes, Steelers), Jack Dolbin (Pottstown Firebirds and Schuylkill Coal Crackers, Broncos), Tom Flores (Bakersfield Spoilers, Raiders), Cliff Harris (Santa Ana Rhinos, Cowboys), Wendell Hayes (Oakland Gladiators, Chiefs), Billy Joe (Waterbury Orbits, Jets), Curt Knight (Virginia Sailors, Redskins), Bob Keuchenberg (Chicago Owls, Dolphins), Vince Lombardi (Brooklyn Eagles, Packers), Chuck Mercein (Westchester Bulls, Packers), Herb Mul-Key (Atlanta Packers, Redskins), Gus Parham (California Football League, 49ers), Bill Rademacher (Jersey City Jets, Jets), John Schmitt (Jersey City Jets, Jets), Ray Seals (Syracuse Express, Steelers), Otis Sistrunk (Norfolk Neptunes, Raiders), Ken Stabler (Spokane Shockers, Raiders), Johnny Unitas (Bloomfield Rams, Colts), Ted Vactor (Virginia Sailors, Redskins), Sam Wyche (Wheeling Ironmen, Redskins and Bengals), Garo Yepremian (Detroit Arrows, Dolphins)

[JameisBrownston]

Surprised it's this many. In football, once you go down to the minors, you usually don't come back. None of these examples seem to be of any recency, though. Do any of these teams even exist anymore?

[Citizen]

Would Charlie Leigh count? Pennsylvania Mustangs, Orlando Panthers, Philadelphia Bulldogs, Norfolk Neptunes, and then eventually the Dolphins from 1971-74.

[Sonny9]

Kurt Warner - Iowa Barnstormers, Amsterdam Admirals

[Bob Gill]

Brad Johnson played in the World League of American Football -- or maybe it was called NFL Europe by then. Whichever.

[John Maxymuk]

Bob Brown Packers, Wheeling Ironmen

[John Maxymuk]

Also, is anyone going to the screening of the SB I broadcast today?

https://www.paleycenter.org/events/2024 ... uper-bowl/

[JeffreyMiller]

Also, is anyone going to the screening of the SB I broadcast today?

https://www.paleycenter.org/events/2024 ... uper-bowl/

Wait, what?

[Brian wolf]

When is this damn game going to be released for everyone to collect? I have been waiting over six years ...

[TodMaher]

Here's a list of former semi-pro players who went on to play or coach in the Super Bowl. I compiled it for my Semi-Pro Football History FB group, and thought it might interest this audience too. Semi-pro records are spotty at best, so I'd be interested to hear any errors or omissions.

Mike Bass (Detroit Arrows, Redskins), Bill Bergey (Fredonia Orioles, Eagles), Randy Beverly (Jersey City Jets, Jets), Bob Bryant (Des Moines Warriors, Vikings), Jim Clack (Norfolk Neptunes, Steelers), Jack Dolbin (Pottstown Firebirds and Schuylkill Coal Crackers, Broncos), Tom Flores (Bakersfield Spoilers, Raiders), Cliff Harris (Santa Ana Rhinos, Cowboys), Wendell Hayes (Oakland Gladiators, Chiefs), Billy Joe (Waterbury Orbits, Jets), Curt Knight (Virginia Sailors, Redskins), Bob Keuchenberg (Chicago Owls, Dolphins), Vince Lombardi (Brooklyn Eagles, Packers), Chuck Mercein (Westchester Bulls, Packers), Herb Mul-Key (Atlanta Packers, Redskins), Gus Parham (California Football League, 49ers), Bill Rademacher (Jersey City Jets, Jets), John Schmitt (Jersey City Jets, Jets), Ray Seals (Syracuse Express, Steelers), Otis Sistrunk (Norfolk Neptunes, Raiders), Ken Stabler (Spokane Shockers, Raiders), Johnny Unitas (Bloomfield Rams, Colts), Ted Vactor (Virginia Sailors, Redskins), Sam Wyche (Wheeling Ironmen, Redskins and Bengals), Garo Yepremian (Detroit Arrows, Dolphins)

Ugh! The Virginia Sailors, Jersey City Jets, Norfolk Neptunes, Pottstown Firebirds, Waterbury Orbits, Chicago Owls, Westchester Bulls, Spokane Shockers, Wheeling Ironman and Michigan (not Detroit!) Arrows were MINOR league teams not SEMI-PRO teams.