The AFC and NFC Championship games, which will both be played on Sunday, January 26, are going to feature a pair of former UNC football stars in Dyami Brown and Mack Hollins.
If the Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills win, Brown and Hollins will face off in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, February 29 in New Orleans.
Even if Brown and Hollins don’t advance, there will be at least one Tar Heel alum in the Super Bowl.
Mike Morton, who played at North Carolina from 1991-1994 under former head coach Mack Brown, was assigned to referee Super Bowl LIX.
Morton will make history with his assignment, becoming the first referee to officiate a Super Bowl after winning one. Morton helped the St. Louis Rams (now Los Angeles Rams) capture Super Bowl XXXIV, his fifth of seven seasons in the NFL and lone year in St. Louis.
Originally drafted by the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders, Morton compiled 183 tackles, two interceptions and a sack in his NFL playing career.
Congratulations to @UNCFootball alum–and former @carolina_pod guest (link below)–Mike Morton on his Super Bowl assignment.https://t.co/xWLmhc0YHR https://t.co/hrtBG73Fzo
— Adam Lucas (@jadamlucas) January 21, 2025
Morton was a part of four winning teams at UNC, highlighted by a win over Mississippi State in the 1993 Peach Bowl. The Tar Heels barely squeaked by in that game, 21-17, a game in which Natrone Means won MVP honors.
Morton’s refereeing history dates back to 2014, when he started officiating ACC football games. Morton’s first NFL game came back on September 11, 2022 when the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons faced off in Atlanta.
Even if you’re not a huge pro football fan, you should watch the next two weeks of postseason football. There’ll be at least one Tar Heel in the Super Bowl.
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