10 Players With Strong Connecticut Ties On NFL Playoff Rosters

CONNECTICUT — The NFL regular season has concluded, and 14 teams have survived the grueling schedule and qualified for the league's expanded playoff system. With 53 players on an active roster, of which 46 can suit up for games, there are between 640 and 740 players competing for the sport's ultimate prize: the Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the Super Bowl champion.

Ten players with strong ties to Connecticut are included on this year's playoff rosters. They are:

• Travis Jones (Wilbur Cross HS, UConn), Baltimore Ravens, DT
• Tyler Matakevich (St. Joseph HS), Buffalo Bills, ILB
• Folorunso Fatukasi (UConn), Jacksonville Jaguars, DT
• Foyesade Oluokun (Yale), Jacksonville Jaguars, LB
• Lucas Niang (New Canaan HS), Kansas City Chiefs, OL
• Christian Wilkins (Suffield Academy), Miami Dolphins, DE
• John Jenkins (Maloney HS), Miami Dolphins, DT
• Matt Peart (UConn), New York Giants, OT
• Jason Pinnock (Windsor HS), New York Giants, DB
• Jack Driscoll (Daniel Hand HS), Philadelphia Eagles, OL

Since the inaugural Super Bowl was played in 1967, a total of 20 men who played high school or college ball in the Nutmeg State have emerged as champions. Six Connecticut players have earned multiple championships, led by four for Bill Romanowski of Vernon. The 1988 San Francisco 49ers had three state products on their roster, while the 1967 Green Bay Packers, 1989 49ers and 2009 New Orleans Saints each had two.

Here are Connecticut's Super Bowl champions:

• Bob Skoronski (Derby/Fairfield Prep), Green Bay Packers (I, II)
• Chuck Mercein (Yale), Green Bay Packers (II)
• Calvin Hill (Yale), Dallas Cowboys (VI)
• Ed Bradley (Stratford HS), Pittsburgh Steelers (IX, X)
• Willie Hall (Pulaski HS), Oakland Raiders (XI)
• Nick Giaquinto (Stratford HS/UConn), Washington Redskins (XVII)
• Bill Romanowski (Rockville HS), San Francisco 49ers (XXIII, XXIV), Denver Broncos (XXXII, XXXIII)
• Steve Young (Greenwich HS), San Francisco 49ers (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
• Doug DuBose (Montville HS), San Francisco 49ers (XXIII)
• Eugene Robinson (Weaver HS), Green Bay Packers (XXXI)
• Joe Andruzzi (Southern Connecticut State University), New England Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX)
• Dwight Freeney (Bloomfield HS), Indianapolis Colts (XLI)
• Tebucky Jones (New Britain HS), New England Patriots (XLII)
• John Carney (Glastonbury), New Orleans Saints (XLIV)
• Tyler Lorenzen (UConn), New Orleans Saints (XLIV)
• Will Beatty (UConn), New York Giants (XLVI), Philadelphia Eagles (LII)
• David Reed (New London HS), Baltimore Ravens (XLVII)
• Obi Melifonwu (UConn), New England Patriots (LIII)
• Anthony Sherman (UConn), KansasCity Chiefs (LIV)
• Andrew Adams (UConn), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LV)

Super Bowl LVII is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.