Yes, Christian Roland-Wallace ended his college career at USC, but he spent four years with the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats.
Roland-Wallace was recruited to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in 2019 and was a part of the first official recruiting class under former head coach Kevin Sumlin.
Between 2019-22, Roland-Wallace had five different defensive coordinators at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥: Marcel Yates, Chuck Cecil (interim), Paul Rhoads, Don Brown and Johnny Nansen. Roland-Wallace endured a coaching change between Sumlin and Jedd Fisch, a 20-game losing streak and a 1-11 season, but punctuated his UA career with a Territorial Cup win.
Just over two years since his last game at the UA, Roland-Wallace is a rookie defensive back with the Kansas City Chiefs and is set to play in his first Super Bowl, the rematch between the Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans.
Since the Super Bowl played its first game in 1967, which featured the Pride of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ marching band at the halftime show, 32 Wildcats have played in the big game.
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Here’s who they are in alphabetical order:
Brad Anderson
Position: Wide receiver
Team: Chicago Bears
Super Bowls played in: One — XX (1985)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: The Phoenix-area native — and BYU transfer — caught one touchdown in the NFL.
New Orleans Saints running back Mike Bell (21) runs for no gain against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, on Feb. 7, 2010.
Mike Bell
Position: Running back
Team: New Orleans Saints
Super Bowls played in: One — XLIV (2010)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: After finishing the regular season with 654 rushing yards, Bell had two carries for four yards during the Super Bowl.
Theopolis ‘T’ Bell
Position: Wide receiver
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowls played in: Two — XIII (1979), XIV (1980)
Super Bowl rings won: Two
Notable: Bell caught two passes for 21 yards in his first Super Bowl appearance. He returned two punts for a total of 17 yards in his second.
Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs looks on against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Championship football game, Jan. 21, 2007, in Chicago.Â
Lance Briggs
Position: Linebacker
Team: Chicago Bears
Super Bowls played in: One — XLI (2007)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Briggs posted 11 tackles in the Bears’ loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Tedy Bruschi appeared in a UA-record five Super Bowls as a member of the Patriots.
Tedy Bruschi
Position: Linebacker
Team: New England Patriots
Super Bowls played in: Five — XXXI (1997), XXXVI (2002), XXXVIII (2004), XXXIX (2005), XLII (2008)
Super Bowl rings won: Three
Notable: Along with Glenn Parker and Rob Gronkowski, Bruschi is one of two Wildcats who have played in at least five Super Bowls.
St. Louis Rams' Trung Canidate (24) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter as New York Giants Jessie Armistead and Rams' Adam Timmerman (62) look on.
Trung Canidate
Position: Running back
Team: St. Louis Rams
Super Bowls played in: One — XXXVI (2002)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Canidate rushed for 441 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season but didn’t record any stats during the Super Bowl.
John Fina
Position: Offensive line
Team: Buffalo Bills
Super Bowls played in: Two — XXVII (1992), XXVIII (1993)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Fina, one of the best UA offensive linemen in program history and a first-round draft pick, played alongside another former Wildcat, Glenn Parker.
Philadelphia Eagles' Corey Clement, bottom, celebrates his touchdown catch behind New England Patriots' Marquis Flowers during the second half of Super Bowl LII Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis.
Marquis Flowers
Position: Linebacker
Team: New England Patriots
Super Bowls played in: One — LII (2017)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ native recorded one tackle for loss in the loss to Philadelphia.
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Position: Linebacker
Team: San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowls played in: Two — LIV (2020), LVIII (2024)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Flannigan-Fowles, a ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ native and former safety at the UA, has been a special teams contributor and is a backup linebacker for All-Pro selection Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. Flannigan-Fowles had a forced fumble against the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round this season.
Philadelphia Eagles' Nick Foles holds his daughter, Lily, after beating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis.Â
Nick Foles
Position: Quarterback
Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Super Bowls played in: One — LII (2018)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: On fourth-and-goal against the Patriots, the former UA quarterback walked over to the Eagles sideline, stared at head coach Doug Pederson and muttered, “You want Philly, Philly?†Pederson replied, “Let’s do it.†When the Eagles lined up for the play, Foles pretended to call out audibles to his offensive line, running back Corey Clement took the direct snap and passed it to Foles, who ran a flat route for a touchdown. The famous play, known as “Philly Special,†would be cemented in Eagles lore. Foles became the first ex-Wildcat to earn Super Bowl MVP honors.
Mike Freeman
Position: Offensive line
Team: Denver Broncos
Super Bowls played in: Two — XXI (1987), XXII (1988)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Freeman was the Broncos’ starting center.
Ron Gardin
Position: Wide receiver
Team: Baltimore Colts
Super Bowls played in: One — V (1971)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: Gardin was the Colts’ punt returner. He called for three fair catches in Super Bowl V and returned one punt for four yards.
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski celebrates after the Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX Feb. 1, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz.Â
Rob Gronkowski
Position: Tight end
Team: New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowls played in: Six — XLVI (2012), XLIX (2015), LI (2016), LII (2017), LIII (2018), LV (2021)
Super Bowl rings won: Four
Notable: The last Super Bowl Gronk played in wasn’t exactly a display of offensive fireworks between the Patriots and Rams, but the tight end made one of the most impactful plays of the game when he hauled in a 29-yard catch to set up New England for the first touchdown of the game. Patriots won 13-3. Gronkowski came out of retirement to reunite with longtime teammate and quarterback Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gronk and Brady helped the Bucs win a Super Bowl over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. Gronkowski has the most Super Bowl rings among former UA players.
Brad Henke
Position: Defensive tackle
Team: Denver Broncos
Super Bowls played in: One — XXIV (1990)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Denver’s 45-point loss to the 49ers is the worst loss in Super Bowl history.
Mitch Hoopes
Position: Punter
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowls played in: One — X (1976)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: One of Hoopes’ punts during the game was blocked, resulting in a safety.
Ricky Hunley
Position: Linebacker
Team: Denver Broncos
Super Bowls played in: Two — XXI (1987), XXII (1988)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Hunley, arguably the greatest defensive player in UA football history, started at inside linebacker in both of his Super Bowls.
New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk (33) is tackled by New York Giants' Antonio Pierce, left, and Michael Johnson during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium on Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz.Â
Michael Johnson
Position: Defensive back
Team: New York Giants
Super Bowls played in: One — XLII (2008)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: Johnson recorded one tackle during the game, which was decided by David Tyree’s miracle catch in the fourth quarter.
Vance Johnson
Position: Wide receiver
Super Bowls played in: Three — XXI (1987), XXII (1988), XXIV (1990)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: In his first Super Bowl in 1987, “The Vance†grabbed five catches for 121 yards and a touchdown.
St. Louis Rams tight end Brandon Manumaleuna (86) catches a pass from quarterback Mark Bulger against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Farrior (51) in the third quarter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 26, 2003.
Brandon Manumaleuna
Position: Tight end
Team: St. Louis Rams
Super Bowls played in: One — XXXVI (2002)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Manumaleuna played against former Wildcat Tedy Bruschi in the 2002 Super Bowl.
Baltimore Ravens Keith Washington (93) and Chris McAlister (21) celebrate the Ravens Super Bowl win over the New York Giants in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 28, 2001. The Ravens beat the Giants 34-7.
Chris McAlister
Position: Cornerback
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowls played in: One — XXXV (2001)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: McAlister intercepted a Kerry Collins pass during the Ravens’ 27-point Super Bowl win.
Frank Middleton
Position: Offensive line
Team: Oakland Raiders
Super Bowls played in: One — XXXVII (2003)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Middleton started at left guard in the 2003 Super Bowl.
Josh Miller
Position: Punter
Team: New England Patriots
Super Bowls played in: One — XXXIX (2005)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: Miller played alongside former Wildcat Tedy Bruschi in the 2005 Super Bowl.
Edwin Mulitalo
Position: Offensive line
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowls played in: One — XXXV (2001)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: Mulitalo was the starting left guard for the Ravens. Teammate Chris McAlister, another former Wildcat, started on defense.
Glenn Parker made five trips to the Super Bowl, tied for second-most among UA players.
Glenn Parker
Position: Offensive line
Team: Buffalo Bills, New York Giants
Super Bowls played in: Five — XXV (1991), XXVI (1992), XXVII (1993), XXVIII (1994), XXXV (2001)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Parker made five trips to the Super Bowl, tied for second-most among UA players, but did not win a ring.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) stands next to New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce (58) during Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium on Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz.
Antonio Pierce
Position: Linebacker
Team: New York Giants
Super Bowls played in: One — XLII (2008)
Super Bowl rings won: One
Notable: Pierce, now head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, recorded 10 tackles in the Giants’ Super Bowl win over the Patriots. Another former Wildcat, Michael Johnson, played safety for New York in that game.
Jose Portilla
Position: Offensive line
Team: Atlanta Falcons
Super Bowls played in: One — XXXIII (1999)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Portilla only played two seasons in the NFL before the Falcons cut him. He played in the XFL in 2001.
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Brooks Reed (50) rushes in against the Carolina Panthers offense Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta.
Brooks Reed
Position: Linebacker
Team: Atlanta Falcons
Super Bowls played in: One — LI (2017)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Reed had three tackles in Atlanta’s crushing Super Bowl loss to New England. Falcons frittered a 28-3 lead in the second half and lost in overtime.
Randy Robbins
Position: Safety
Team: Denver Broncos
Super Bowls played in: Three — XXI (1987), XXII (1988), XXIV (1990)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Robbins came off the bench in all three Super Bowls.
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace (30) drops back into coverage during a game against the Houston Texans Dec. 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo.
Christian Roland-Wallace
Position: Defensive back
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowls played in: One — LIX (2025)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Roland-Wallace has 34 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble as a reserve nickel back.
Joe Salave’a
Position: Defensive tackle
Team: Tennessee Titans
Super Bowls played in: One — XXXIV (2000)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Salave’a came off the bench in the 2000 Super Bowl, which ended with the Rams stopping Tennessee from scoring the game-winning touchdown on the 1-yard line.
Joe Tafoya
Position: Defensive end
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowls played in: One — XL (2006)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: Tafoya was a reserve defensive lineman in the 2006 Super Bowl.
Ernie Jones of the New York Giants pulls down the Los Angeles Rams Jackie Wallace, right, to stop a punt runback and save a touchdown in the first quarter at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Dec. 5, 1978.Â
Jackie Wallace
Position: Cornerback
Team: Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams
Super Bowls played in: Two — VII (1974), XIII (1979)
Super Bowl rings won: None
Notable: During the 1978 season, Wallace led the NFL with 52 punt returns for 618 yards.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star’s ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
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