15 Connecticut Players With Super Bowl Rings

HARTFORD, CT — Hartford native Dwight Freeney and his Atlanta Falcons teammates will attempt to win the franchise's first NFL championship Sunday, taking on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI.

Freeney, a Bloomfield High School graduate, has been to the mountaintop before, helping the Indianapolis Colts post a 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI a decade ago.

Should the Falcons prevail, Freeney would become the second Connecticut player to win Super Bowls with two different teams. Bill Romanowski of Vernon won two Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and two more with the Denver Broncos.

A total of 15 players with strong Connecticut ties have earned Super Bowl rings. Curiously, all 15 are still living, ranging in age from 29 to 82.

Here are the state's championship players, listed alphabetically by name, with state affiliation, current age, position played, team and Super Bowls won:

• Joe Andruzzi (Southern Connecticut State University) 41, guard, New England Patriots, XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX
• Will Beatty (UConn) 31, tackle, New York Giants, XLVI
• Ed Bradley (Stratford High School) 66, linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers, IX, X
• John Carney (born in Hartford, grew up in Glastonbury) 52, kicker, New Orleans Saints, XLIV
• Dwight Freeney (Bloomfield High School) 36, defensive end, Indianapolis Colts, XLI
• Nick Giaquinto (Stratford High School, UConn) 61, running back, Washington Redskins, XVII
• Calvin Hill (Yale University) 70, running back, Dallas Cowboys, VI
• Tebucky Jones (New Britain High School) 42, safety, New England Patriots, XLII
• Tyler Lorenzen (UConn) 31, tight end, New Orleans Saints, XLIV
• Chuck Mercein (Yale University) 73, running back, Green Bay Packers, II
• David Reed (New London High School) 29, wide receiver, Baltimore Ravens, XLVII
• Eugene Robinson (Weaver High School) 53, safety, Green Bay Packers, XXXI
• Bill Romanowski (Rockville High School) 50, linebacker, San Francisco 49ers, XXIII, XXIV, Denver Broncos, XXXII, XXXIII
• Bob Skoronski (Derby, Fairfield Prep) 82, tackle, Green Bay Packers, I, II
• Steve Young (Greenwich High School) 55, quarterback, San Francisco 49ers, XXIII, XXIV, XXIX

Photo credit: Tim Jensen