With the Super Bowl coming up on Sunday, there are a few former Longhorns that will be participating in the biggest football game in the world. All but Alex Okafor on the side of the San Fransico, the 49ers will have two coaches and a player who all played on the 40 acres.
Kyle Shanahan is the head coach of San Fransico, while Richard Hightower is a special teams coordinator. Okafor and Marquise Goodwin are players for the Chiefs and 49ers respectively, but will both be injured for Sunday’s game.
Before they were #SuperBowl bound, Marquise Goodwin, Kyle Shanahan, Richard Hightower and Alex Okafor suited up on the 40 Acres. 🤘#ThisIsTexas #HookEm pic.twitter.com/XZcL9LChhC
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 31, 2020
Both Shannan and Hightower were receivers for Texas, both playing during the 2001 season. Shannan also played in 2002 and recorded 14 receptions and 127 yards throughout the two seasons.
Goodwin was a more prominent player on the team, playing 2009-2012. Having 120 catches in those four years, he had 1,324 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He was also an effective rusher, averaging 8.8 yards per carry and getting into the end zone three times.
Okafor is the only defensive player, playing on the defensive line. Like Goodwin, he also played for four years, beginning in 2009. He recorded 23 career sacks, with his best season coming his senior year where he recorded 12.5 sacks.
No matter the result of the game, a former Longhorn will be a Super Bowl champion. With the two coaches on the San Fransico side and a player on each team, both the 49ers and Chiefs will have roots from Austin.
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