The Opening Drive 2/7: Buckeye Super Bowl Ties and More NFL Awards for OSU Alumni
Which Buckeye will get a ring? 2 Former Buckeyes take home NFL Honors
It’s Super Bowl Weekend
The 60th edition of the Super Bowl will kick off Sunday Night in San Francisco, and the game will have some significant Buckeye flavor. The Patriots are coached by former Buckeye Mike Vrabel, and the Seahawks have former Buckeye great Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They aren’t the only ties to the OSU program in the game, let’s take a look at the Buckeye Breakdown for the Super Bowl.
The Patriots:
As mentioned in the open, the Patriots are led by two-time All-American Mike Vrabel. Vrabel played at OSU from 1993 to 1996, and has the hardware to show just how good he truly was. A 3-time All Big Ten honoree, and an OSU Hall of Famer Vrabel also spent time coaching at OSU. OSU was the first stop in a coaching career that has now led him to coaching in the biggest game he will ever coach in. Despite spending only 3 years at OSU, it was obvious that his coaching chops were going to take him places. In his first year, with the same team that he won multiple Super Bowl rings with, Vrabel led the Pats to a 14-3 record and the AFC crown.
Running Back TreVeyon Henderson was selected in the 2nd round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite a lackluster beginning to the season, partially due to splitting time with multiple backs, Henderson emerged as a legit NFL running back, and showed the same explosiveness and home run potential that we came to love at Ohio State. He managed to finish the season with 911 yards rushing and 9 TD’s.
Former Buckeye Offensive Lineman Thayer Munford joined the Patriots via the Browns practice squad in November of 2025. Munford is currently listed as the third string LT on the depth chart. Munford spent 5 years in Columbus, including being a 1st team Coaches Association All American in the covid shortened 2021 season.
The Seahawks:
Despite only having one former Buckeye, the Seahawks have the most accomplished former Buckeye wearing a jersey in the game, with regards to NFL success. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is quickly inserting himself into the “best receiver in the league” discussion. The third year wideout has shown the NFL world what Buckeye fans knew from the time the Rockwall, TX native came to OSU. 119 catches, 1793 yards, and 10 touchdowns this season helped the Seahawks to the NFC championship and the NFC West crown. Despite having played only one full season at OSU, Njigba will always be remembered in OSU lore for his phenomenal performance in the 2022 Rose Bowl Game. In the 48-45 win over Utah, JSN finished with 15 catches, 347 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Unfortunately, an plaguing injury led to him only playing 3 games in the 2022 season that would be his final season in Columbus.
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NFL Honors for Former Buckeyes
On Thursday night, the NFL handed out their honors for the season. For only the second time ever, a former Buckeye won the award for NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Jaxon Smith-Njigba joins Michael “ Can’t Guard Mike” Thomas as the second former Buckeye to win the award.
JSN wasn’t the only former Buckeye to take home hardware. The guy who will be trying to contain JSN on Sunday night, Mike Vrabel took home his second Coach of the Year award. Vrabel was a no-brainer to win the award, with leading the Pats to the Super Bowl in his first year with the team. He is only the seventh coach to win the award multiple times. He is the second former Ohio State player to win the award, joining Don McCafferty who won the award while coaching the Baltimore Colts in 1970.
Buckeye Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh content.
