Mormons in Super Bowl history

Published: Tuesday, Jan. 29 2013 11:18 p.m. MST

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Associated Press
At 6-feet-4 and 293 pounds, Tukuafu is listed as a defensive end/fullback and is currently on the 49ers active roster. He graduated from East High in Salt Lake City, before playing at Scottsdale Community College and transferring to Oregon.

Seeing time in the 2012 NFC East championship, Tukuafu recorded one tackle and one assisted tackle against the New England Patriots.

Tukuafu served an LDS mission in Jamaica.
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DanB
Portland, OR

Also a Mormon: Mitchell Kent Hoopes had a three-year career in the National Football League from 1975 to 1977 as a punter. He played in Super Bowl X as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

I went to High School with Mitch. He played college at the University of Arizona.

The Dixie Kid
Saint George, UT

2 Highland High School guys too.

sls
Columbia, MO

According to my count, there are 26 former BYU players in this list and 14 from all other schools combined (including Utah). It would have been nice to include the alma mater of each player with the photo, but that might have prompted the usual critical comments that the Deseret News is a BYU newspaper. It is a fact, however, that BYU has produced more Mormon stars in the NFL.

So. Cal Reader
San Diego, CA

Nice list. I enjoyed the stroll down memory lane.

The Skeptical Chymist
SALT LAKE CITY, UT

I would be curious to know how many players on this list have suffered brain injuries as a result of this sport. The incidence of brain injury to professional football players is a terrible price exacted on these players. I hope we can get to the point of either making football safe or getting rid of the "sport".

Hoosier87
American Fork, UT

"The Skeptical Chymist"

I know personally 5 guys on that list and I'm here to tell you - all 5 have suffered severe brain injuries. But I don't think it has anything to do with football...

The Skeptical Chymist
SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Thanks, Hoosier87. I'm sorry to hear it.

Papa Bear Andy
Reno, NV

Bart Oates definitely did NOT participate in SB XVI with the 49ers. Only SB XXIX.

Capsaicin
Salt Lake City, UT

Ugg. Another famous mormon list.

southern son
SHARPSBURG, MD

"...Remember the Sabbath Day, and keep it Holy.."
'nuf said...

Lew Scannon
Provo, UT

I'm an editor. It's easy to get brain damage in my profession too. (:

water rocket
Magna, UT

Did Merlin Olsen ever play in a super bowl?

iNKSpot
Wilsonville, OR

Proving once again that "EVERY day is game day"!

Over the Top
Rigby, ID

@ Water rocket:

Merlin Olsen retired from the LA Rams before they ever made their first Super Bowl Appearance.

VegasUte
Las Vegas, NV

How long was Golden Richards actually at BYU?

thebig1
SLC, UT

how many of these fellows are active in said faith?

Rock
Calgary, Alberta

I think I've got brain damage from reading cranky comments. Always gotta be somebody.....

southern son
SHARPSBURG, MD

Any of you all ever consider the true driving force behind Sunday sports?It sure wasn't the Lord...and good question 'thebig1'.

Gregg Kay
Parker, CO

LDS member Jon Keyworth played tight end for the Denver Broncos in their 27-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XII in 1977. He played his college football for the University of Colorado.

Grannie Annie
American Fork, UT

Your list is not complete. You missed Glenn Cameron who lived in my ward in Cincinnati. The following is from Wikipedia: Glenn Scott Cameron (born February 21, 1953) is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. Cameron played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. Cameron was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round (fourteenth pick overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft,[6] and he spent his entire eleven-year NFL career with the Bengals, playing from 1975 to 1985. He was a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Bengals team that played in Super Bowl XVI in 1982. During his eleven-season career with the Bengals, he played in 159 games, started in eighty-four of them, intercepted five passes, and recovered three fumbles.[1]

maonga1
reno, NV

I know this comment is LATE, but I must comment to clear up the confusion as to Ma'ake Kemoe'atu's religion. He is NOT Mormon, he is Wesleyan/United Methodist. He was baptised and raised as an United Methodist. His paternal grandfather, the late Rev. Viliami Kemoe'atu, was a retired pastor of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, and his father, the Rev. Siketi Kemoe'atu, is currently serving as an United Methodist pastor in the State of Hawaii, under the auspices of the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. All of this info, save for that about Ma'ak'es grandpa, are verifiable. Sorry, didn't mean to burst anyone's bubble, but I couldn't let the error go. Toodles!

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