University of Pittsburgh Athletics
From the Pro Bowl to the Super Bowl, the Panthers are Everywhere
1/24/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 24, 2012
The Pitt Panthers will be prominently represented on the National Football League's two biggest stages -- the January 29 Pro Bowl followed by Super Bowl XLVI on February 5.
Four former Pitt players have been selected to the Pro Bowl, which annually showcases the NFL's top talent. Pitt's 2012 Pro Bowlers are wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals), running back LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles), cornerback Darrelle Revis (New York Jets) and punter Andy Lee (San Francisco 49ers).
One week later, three former Panthers will vie for a Super Bowl ring in Indianapolis. The New England Patriots have two Pitt products on their roster, fullback Lousaka Polite and receiver Dorin Dickerson, while the New York Giants feature rookie fullback Henry Hynoski.
Prior to this season, 37 Pitt players were on Super Bowl rosters. Pitt's first player to advance to a Super Bowl was linebacker Jim Flanigan, who was a member of Vince Lombardi's 1967 Green Bay Packers team that defeated the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II.
Pitt has had 22 players make a total of 83 Pro Bowl berths since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.
Fitzgerald has been to five consecutive Pro Bowls and six overall, a pace that may likely have him heading to Canton and the Hall of Fame someday. In his 2009 visit to Hawaii - one week following his appearance in Super Bowl XLIII - Fitzgerald was named the Pro Bowl's MVP after catching two touchdowns to lift the NFC to a 30-21 victory.
Fitzgerald finished the 2011 season with 80 receptions for 1,411 yards (17.6 avg.) and eight touchdowns.
Revis will be making his fourth Pro Bowl appearance. He continues to solidify his status as the NFL's elite cornerback with another exceptional season. The Aliquippa native collected 52 tackles, 21 passes defended and four interceptions this year. He has 18 picks for his career.
Referred to as "the best in the business" during the 49ers' run to the NFC title game, Lee led the NFL in both gross punting average (50.9 yards) and net (44.6) this year. This will be the third Pro Bowl of his career.
McCoy will be making his first Pro Bowl trip after rushing for 1,309 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Eagles. In just his third professional season, "Shady" has emerged as one of the league's most versatile and explosive backs.
A Pitt player will be guaranteed a Super Bowl ring for the first time since the 2009 season when New Orleans and Indianapolis faced off for the title. That year linebacker Clint Session played for the Colts while tight end Darnell Dinkins was a member of the Saints. Dinkins and New Orleans would ultimately go on to triumph, 31-17.
While they will be on opposite sides for the Super Bowl, Polite and Hynoski are frequently discussed in the same breath as two of the finest Pitt fullbacks in recent memory. Both are also new to their respective teams as Polite was acquired by the Patriots earlier this season while Hynoski made the Giants as a rookie free agent. Dickerson joined New England's practice squad in early December.
PITT PRO BOWL APPEARANCES (since 1970 AFL-NFL merger)
Years listed reflect calendar year during which Pro Bowl was played.
RUBEN BROWN, G
9 -- BUFFALO: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004; CHICAGO: 2007
DAN MARINO, QB
9 -- MIAMI: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996
CHRIS DOLEMAN, DE
8 -- MINNESOTA: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994; ATLANTA: 1996; SAN FRANCISCO: 1998
LARRY FITZGERALD, WR
6 -- ARIZONA: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
RICKEY JACKSON, LB
6 -- NEW ORLEANS: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994
CURTIS MARTIN, RB
5 -- NEW ENGLAND: 1996, 1997; NEW YORK JETS: 1999, 2002, 2005
MARK STEPNOSKI, C
5 -- DALLAS: 1993, 1994, 1995; HOUSTON: 1996, 1997
TONY DORSETT, RB
4 -- DALLAS: 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984
BILL FRALIC, G
4 -- ATLANTA: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990
RUSS GRIMM, G
4 -- WASHINGTON: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
Darrelle Revis, CB
4 -- NEW YORK JETS: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
JEFF CHRISTY, C
3 -- MINNESOTA: 1999, 2000; TAMPA BAY: 2001
ANDY LEE, P
3 -- SAN FRANCISCO: 2008, 2010, 2012
JIM COVERT, OT
2 -- CHICAGO: 1986, 1987
HUGH GREEN, LB
2 -- TAMPA BAY: 1983, 1984
BILL MAAS, NT
2 -- KANSAS CITY: 1987, 1988
CARLTON WILLIAMSON, S
2 -- SAN FRANCISCO: 1985, 1986
FRED COX, K
1 -- MINNESOTA: 1971
SEAN GILBERT, DT
1 -- LOS ANGELES RAMS: 1994
CRAIG HEYWARD, RB
1 -- ATLANTA: 1996
MARK MAY, T
1 -- WASHINGTON: 1989
LeSean McCoy, RB
1 -- PHILADELPHIA: 2012
PITT PLAYERS IN THE SUPER BOWL (through 2010-11 season)
Players listed were active roster members
Years listed reflect season
* Denotes victory in Super Bowl
RUBEN BROWN, G
Chicago Bears 2006
GARY BURLEY, NT
Cincinnati Bengals 1981
MATT CAVANAUGH, QB
San Francisco 49ers 1984*
New York Giants 1990*
AL CHESLEY, LB
Philadelphia Eagles 1980
JEFF CHRISTY, C
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2002*
JIM COVERT, T
Chicago Bears 1985*
FRED COX, K
Minnesota Vikings 1969
Minnesota Vikings 1973
Minnesota Vikings 1974
Minnesota Vikings 1976
BILLY DAVIS, WR
Dallas Cowboys 1995*
Baltimore Ravens 2000*
DARNELL DINKINS, TE
New Orleans Saints 2009*
MIKE DITKA, TE
Dallas Cowboys 1970
Dallas Cowboys 1971*
Chicago Bears (Coach) 1985*
ANTHONY DORSETT, DB
Tennessee Titans 1999
Oakland Raiders 2002
TONY DORSETT, RB
Dallas Cowboys 1977*
Dallas Cowboys 1978
LARRY FITZGERALD, WR
Arizona Cardinals 2008
JIM FLANIGAN, LB
Green Bay Packers 1967*
TOM FLYNN, S
New York Giants 1986*
NICK GOINGS, RB
Carolina Panthers 2003
RUSS GRIMM, G
Washington Redskins 1982*
Washington Redskins 1983
Washington Redskins 1987*
Washington Redskins 1991*
KEITH HAMILTON, DT
New York Giants 2000
GERALD HAYES, LB
Arizona Cardinals 2008
GLENN HYDE, C
Denver Broncos 1977
RICKEY JACKSON, LB
San Francisco 49ers 1994*
DIETRICH JELLS, WR
New England Patriots 1996
GORDON JONES, WR
Los Angeles Raiders 1983*
VERNON LEWIS, DB
New England Patriots 1996
DAN MARINO, QB
Miami Dolphins 1984
CURTIS MARTIN, RB
New England Patriots 1996
MARK MAY, T
Washington Redskins 1982*
Washington Redskins 1983
Washington Redskins 1987*
JERRY OLSAVSKY, LB
Pittsburgh Steelers 1995
HANK POTEAT, DB
New England Patriots 2004*
RANDY REUTERSHAN, WR
Pittsburgh Steelers 1978*
Clint Session, LB
Indianapolis Colts 2009
ED SHAROCKMAN, CB
Minnesota Vikings 1969
TONY SIRAGUSA, DT
Baltimore Ravens 2000*
MARK STEPNOSKI, C
Dallas Cowboys 1992*
Dallas Cowboys 1993*
LYNN THOMAS, CB
San Francisco 49ers 1981*
ADAM WALKER, RB
San Francisco 49ers 1994*
CARLTON WILLIAMSON, S
San Francisco 49ers 1981*
San Francisco 49ers 1984*
