Super Mavs in the Super Bowl
Did you know that five former Mavericks have played in the NFL's Super Bowl? The list includes Marlin Briscoe, Chris Bober, Chris Cooper, Shaquil Barrett and Greg Zuerlein. A sixth Maverick, Buck Rasmussen, was on the practice squad for New England when it defeated Philadelphia in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Following is a list of those Mavericks who have played in the biggest game in sports.
SUPER BOWL VII & VIII — MARLIN BRISCOE
Briscoe was first, helping Miami to a 14-7 win over Washington in Super Bowl VII in 1973. That capped an undefeated season for Miami, still the only NFL team to win all its games.
Briscoe was a receiver for the Dolphins after starting his career at quarterback with Denver. In his rookie season with the Broncos he became the first black starting quarterback in pro football history.v
Briscoe also played in the following Super Bowl in 1974, getting two receptions for 19 yards in Miami’s 24-7 win over Minnesota.
SUPER BOWL XXXV — CHRIS BOBER
Chris Bober was the next Mav to play in a Super Bowl, as a lineman for the New York Giants in 2001. The Giants lost to Baltimore 34-7. Bober played for the Giants from 2000 to 2003 and for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2004 to 2007.
SUPER BOWL XXXVII — CHRIS COOPER
The third former Maverick to play in the big game was Chris Cooper in 2003. Cooper was a defensive lineman for Oakland, which lost to Tampa Bay 48-21. Cooper was credited in the game with a kickoff return for 6 yards.
SUPER BOWL L — SHAQ BARRETT
Barrett, who played his freshman year at UNO before the program was dissolved, had one solo tackle for Denver in its 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers.
SUPER BOWL LIII — GREG ZUERLEIN
Zuerlein — aka "Greg the Leg" — played for the LA Rams in their 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII. He scored LA's only points on a 53-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Four of the five Mavericks were native Nebraksans who played their high school ball in the state: Briscoe and Bober played and graduated from Omaha South High School; Cooper played for Lincoln Southeast, Barrett for Boys Town and Zuerlein for Lincoln Pius X.