Pair Of Former Pirates Head To Super Bowl
January 24, 2011 | Football
Jan. 24, 2011
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Former East Carolina Pirates and current Green Bay Packers C.J. Wilson and Jay Ross will be heading to Super Bowl XLV. The Packers' 21-14 Sunday victory against the Chicago Bears gave Green Bay the NFC Championship and the right to play for the league title versus the Pittsburgh Steelers Feb. 6 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Wilson, a rookie and seventh-round draft pick, has played in 15 games for the Packers this season, collecting 18 total tackles, 12 solo, and one sack. In a week-seven victory over the rival Minnesota Vikings, Wilson booked a career-high five stops. Two weeks later against Dallas, he made his first career sack, dropping Jon Kitna on the game's final play. Wilson also tallied multiple stops (three) against the Miami Dolphins.
Fellow rookie Ross joined the Packers' practice squad Oct. 20. He originally signed with the New Orleans Saints as a non-drafted free agent and spent the preseason with the club before being released during its final roster cuts.
The duo joins 13 East Carolina lettermen who have played in the Super Bowl. Most recently, Guy Whimper won the championship as a member of the New York Giants in 2008, when they defeated the New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII.
Kickoff for Super Bowl XLV is set for 6:30 p.m. with national television coverage provided by Fox.
Super Bowl Participants
| Name (Pos) | Team | Super Bowl | Year |
| Jeff Blake (QB) | Philadelphia Eagles | Super Bowl XXXIX | 2005 |
| Reggie Branch (RB) | Washington Redskins | Super Bowl XXII | 1988 |
| Earnest Byner (RB) | Washington Redskins | Super Bowl XXVI | 1992 |
| DeVone Claybrooks (DT) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Super Bowl XXXVII | 2003 |
| Tony Collins (RB) | New England Patriots | Super Bowl XX | 1986 |
| Steve Hamilton (DE) | Washington Redskins | Super Bowl XXII | 1988 |
| John Jett (P) | Dallas Cowboys | Super Bowl XXVIII, XXX | 1994, 96 |
| Robert Jones (LB) | Dallas Cowboys | Super Bowl XXVII, XXVIII, XXX | 1993, 94, 96 |
| George Koonce (LB) | Green Bay Packers | Super Bowl XXXII | 1988 |
| Emmanuel McDaniel | New York Giants | Super Bowl XXXV | 2001 |
| Jay Ross (DL)^ | Green Bay Packers | Super Bowl XLV | 2011 |
| Vinson Smith (LB) | Dallas Cowboys | Super Bowl XXVII | 1993 |
| Zack Valentine (LB) | Pittsburgh Steelers | Super Bowl XIV | 1980 |
| C.J. Wilson (DL) | Green Bay Packers | Super Bowl XLV | 2011 |
| Guy Whimper (OL) | New York Giants | Super Bowl XLII | 2008 |
^ - On practice squad for Super Bowl
Super Bowl Winners
| Name (Pos) | Super Bowl Year(s) |
| Reggie Branch (RB) | 1988 |
| Earnest Byner (RB) | 1992 |
| DeVone Claybrooks (DT) | 2003 |
| Steve Hamilton (DE) | 1988 |
| John Jett (P) | 1994, 96 |
| Robert Jones (LB) | 1993, 94, 96 |
| Vinson Smith (LB) | 1993 |
| Zack Valentine (LB) | 1980 |
| Guy Whimper (OL) | 2008 |
