USAW

Former wrestlers competing in the Super Bowl: 2025 edition

Share:

by Savannah Asmann, USA Wrestling

Wrestling's impact extends far beyond the mat, influencing life, leadership, and sports—particularly football. This year, Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in New Orleans, Louisiana, will feature several former wrestlers showcasing their skills on football’s biggest night.

Kansas City Chiefs #

Creed Humphrey - #52

Center

Creed Humphrey began wrestling when he was four in Shawnee, Oklahoma. His father, Chad, became a three-time All-American at the University of Central of Oklahoma. Humphrey earned a runner-up finish in the Oklahoma state tournament. He played his college ball at Oklahoma and was the Chiefs’ second round pick in 2021.

Read more about Humphrey’s wrestling background in these features:

Nate Taylor of The Athletic: Before Chiefs, Creed Humphrey’s ascending path was propelled by years of wrestling

Chris Low of ESPN: “Country strong’ Creed Humphrey a powerful engine at center of Oklahoma offense

Jack Cochrane - #43

Linebacker (On injured reserve)

Jack Cochrane, an undrafted free agent, earned football All-American honors at South Dakota. He wrestled for Mount Vernon in Iowa and was teammates with Buccaneers All-Pro Tristan Wirfs. Cochrane qualified for the Iowa state tournament in 2016 but did not place.

See this tweet from Wirfs swapping jerseys with Cochrane after the Chiefs played the Buccaneers in October of 2022.

Marlon Tuipulotu - #92

Defensive tackle

Marlon Tuipulotu won an Oregon heavyweight championship at Central High School in 2016. He was a top ranked wrestler in the state but opted to play football at Southern California. In 2022, Tuipulotu was on the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl roster.

Read about Tuipulotu’s state title in this story from Bill Poehler of the Statesman Journal: Central’s Marlon Tuipulotu wins state wrestling championships

Philadelphia Eagles #

Rick Lovato - #49

Long Snapper

Lovato wrestled at Middletown South High School in New Jersey through his junior year, wrestling at 215 pounds. His father Rick Lovato, Sr. was Middletown South’s first New Jersey High School state champion and his uncle Glenn Pritzlaff was a three-time New Jersey state champion. He was a long snapper at Old Dominion. He has been a Pro Bowl player in the NFL and was a member of the Eagles’ 2017 Super Bowl winning team.

Andy Hamilton/TrackWrestling interview: Eagles long snapper Rick Lovato: 'Wrestling pushed me harder than football has'

Note: USA Wrestling posts this article each year to celebrate the strong connection between wrestling and football. The idea is to celebrate all the wrestlers who have reached the Super Bowl each year. If we have missed somebody from either the Philadelphia Eagles or Kansas City Chiefs who wrestled, please let us know. We will add them immediately. Please tell us where they wrestled (and any other data), and send an email to sasmann@usawrestling.org.

Read More#