Purdue Football: Boilermakers in Previous Super Bowls
· Yahoo Sports
If you walk through the football facilities in West Lafayette, you’ll hear a lot about the “Cradle of Quarterbacks” or the “Den of Defensive Ends.”
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But there’s a simpler way to describe Purdue’s impact on the NFL.
As of 2026, the Boilermaker pipeline to the Super Bowl remains one of the most consistent forces in pro football. For over a quarter-century, it has been almost a statistical certainty that if the Lombardi Trophy is being hoisted, a former Purdue player is under the confetti.The Gold Standard: Most Rings by a BoilerWhile the quarterbacks get the statues, the “Lord of the Rings” in West Lafayette is a linebacker. Keena Turner set a pace that may never be matched, winning 4 super bowls with the San Francisco 49ers.
Following 4 Super Bowls from Turner is Matt Light, who won 3 with the Patriots Dynasty in the 2000s. Then, there are several Boilermakers that have won 2 each. George Karlaftis, Dave Butz, Rob Ninkovich and Bob Griese.
The “Cradle” Delivers on the Big Stage.
Purdue is elite company. It is one of only two schools (along with Alabama) to produce three different starting quarterbacks who have won a Super Bowl.
Len Dawson (SB IV): The pioneer. Dawson didn’t just win; he was the MVP of Super Bowl IV, proving the AFL could hang with the NFL.
Bob Griese (SB VII, VIII): The tactical brain behind the only perfect season in NFL history. Griese’s back-to-back titles in the 70s cemented the “Cradle” nickname in West Lafayette.
Drew Brees (SB XLIV): In a performance for the ages, Brees dismantled the Colts to bring a title to New Orleans, earning MVP honors and a first-ballot ticket to Canton (Class of 2026).
The tradition isn’t just ancient history. Defensive end George Karlaftis has become the modern face of Purdue’s “Den of Defensive Ends.” By winning back-to-back titles with the Kansas City Chiefs (Super Bowls LVII and LVIII), GK achieved more in his first two NFL seasons than most players do in a career.
Despite the recent struggles of Puedue Footballz there is no way to argue against that there has been NFL success from Boilermaker Alum.
There has been at least one Boilermaker has been on a Super Bowl roster in 25 of the last 26 years.
Fullback Mike Alstott (SB XXXVII) holds the honor of scoring the first Super Bowl touchdown by a Purdue alum.
From Rod Woodson’s lockdown secondary play for the Ravens to Cliff Avril’s game-changing safety for the Seahawks, Boilers have defined the defensive side of the ball for decades.
Whether it’s protection from Matt Light, sacks from Roosevelt Colvin, or late-game heroics from Drew Brees, the path to the NFL title has run through West Lafayette for over 50 years, even with the recent struggles in the past ten years.