3 Most Recent Canadians to Taste Super Bowl Success

The Super Bowl is not only the pinnacle of American football but also one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Every year, millions of people tune in to witness the spectacle, and the players who take part in it become legends of the game. The Super Bowl is perhaps only behind the FIFA World Cup when it comes to viewership and popularity, a tournament in which Canada starred last November and December, and a competition that the Canadians will host – alongside the US and Mexico – in 2026.

 

While the Maple Leafs starred in Qatar just before Christmas, the country has also provided a number of Super Bowl winners over the years. Admittedly not as many as their counterparts from south of the border, but there have still been plenty of Canadians that have managed to earn themselves a coveted NFL Championship winning ring. In fact, in the early days of the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty, which is spearheaded by the incomparable Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, there were a number of Canadians on Andy Reid’s roster.

 

Bodog’s NFL odds and futures for the coming season make the Missouri-based outfit the favorites for success once again at +550. They, alongside the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Francisco 49ers are the early frontrunners in the betting odds. The next ‘Big Game’ will emanate from Las Vegas’ brand spanking new 65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium and if the Chiefs are to reach the championship game, it will be their fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years.

 

As we mentioned, in the early days of their success, they had a number of Canadians on their roster. Let’s take a look at them and the three most recent Canadians to taste Super Bowl success.

 

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif – Kansas City Chiefs – 2020

Offensive guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, hailing from Montreal, became an NFL Champion at

Super Bowl LIV when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 inside Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. That was the Chiefs’ first taste of success in 50 years, and with Patrick Mahomes taking over the mantle from Tom Brady as the best and most recognizable on the planet in recent years, success has followed. The former Collège Saint-Hilaire standout however hasn’t managed to add to his championship ring collection.

 

Following the Chiefs’ success, Duvernay-Tardif was traded to the New York Jets, and it looked as though they would end their playoff hiatus last term. The MetLife Stadium outfit hasn’t reached the postseason since they reached the conference championships way back in 2010 and last season, they had a record of 7-4 going into the last few weeks of the campaign. Then, a disastrous run of six consecutive losses saw them drop out of contention altogether.

 

Ryan Hunter – Kansas City Chiefs – 2020

Another member of the Chiefs’ early dynasty years, Ryan Hunter, was also born and raised in Canada. He joined his aforementioned compatriot in the Chiefs’ offensive line. The North Bay, Ontario native never truly impressed alongside his illustrious teammates, however, and he was cut at the culmination of the successful 2020 playoff campaign.

 

Hunter was snapped up by the Los Angeles Chargers however he had to settle for a place in their practice squad. He has since made his way to the Canadian Football League where he regularly features for one of the most successful teams in the CFL the Toronto Argonauts, and he became a Grey Cup champion last year as his side defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a nail-biter, with the eventual champions winning out by just one point.

 

Luke Willson – Seattle Seahawks – 2014

Luke Willson, originally from LaSalle, Ontario, was a member of the Seattle Seahawks team that was fired to Super Bowl glory in 2014 courtesy of the brilliance of Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. The tight end was very rarely targeted by his quarterback and ended up catching just two passes in the Big Game, but one of them was a crucial touchdown that helped the Seahawks to victory. Heading into the showpiece tussle much was made of their opponents, the Denver Broncos, brilliant offensive line. They had the veteran Peyton Manning at quarterback, and he was expected to lead his side to glory.

 

Oddsmakers, pundits, and fans alike hadn’t banked on a staunch Seahawks defensive outfit however, The Washington state-based outfit had the best defense in the league that year, and with stars such as Richard Sherman featuring, it’s clear to see why. In the end, Seattle romped to glory by a score of 43-8 in one of the most lopsided Super Bowls in history.

 

The following year, Luke Willson and his teammates would reach the Super Bowl once again and aimed to become the first side in nine years to successfully win back-to-back championships. The last team to do that was the New England Patriots, and it was fittingly the Pats who squared off against the Seahawks at Super Bowl XLIX. In the end, however, it was Tom Brady who stole the show, and the Patriots ran out 28-24 victors in Glendale, in the same stadium that hosted the most recent championship game back in February.