The University of Toledo will be well-represented on the biggest stage in professional football as former Rockets Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs) and Quinyon Mitchell (Philadelphia Eagles) figure to play major roles for their teams in the Super Bowl this Sunday. A third former Rocket, linebacker Dallas Gant, is on the Eagles’ practice squad.
Only 11 college teams have more participants in Super Bowl LIX than Toledo., and only one school from a non-Power Four conference (Memphis).
The University of Toledo will be well-represented on the biggest stage in professional football as former Rockets Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs) and Quinyon Mitchell (Philadelphia Eagles) figure to play major roles for their teams in the Super Bowl this Sunday.
“It’s a huge moment for these young people,” said Toledo Head Coach Jason Candle, who has had 10 of his former players selected in the NFL Draft in his nine seasons as head coach. “This is the pinnacle of sport. This is what they’ve dreamt about since they were little kids.
“You go to college and you think you were a good high school player so now you’re going to be a great college player, which all three of those guys were, and then someday you’re going to be an NFL superstar, and this is where it will end for you. I couldn’t be happier for those guys, super proud of them and their journey. They all have their own separate stories of perseverance and how they got there, but I’m awfully proud of them and I know all of our fans are as well.”
Hunt, Toledo’s all-time leading rusher who played for the Rockets from 2013-16, led the Chiefs with 728 yards rushing and seven rushing touchdowns this season. He added 108 yards rushing and two TDs in playoff wins over Houston and Buffalo. Now in his eighth season in the NFL, Hunt is in his second stint with Kansas City after playing five seasons with his hometown Cleveland Browns from 2019-23. He led the NFL in rushing with 1,327 yards as a rookie with the Chiefs in 2017.
Mitchell has a been a standout as a rookie cornerback for Philadelphia and is a finalist for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He had 46 tackles, one interception and 12 pass breakups in the regular season, adding a pick vs. Washington in the NFC Championship Game. A two-time All-American, Mitchell played for the Rockets from 2020-23 and is the program’s all-time leader with 46 pass breakups. He became the first Rocket in 31 years and only the second overall to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft when Philadelphia took him with the No. 22 pick last April.
Gant played for Toledo for two seasons from 2022-23, leading the team in tackles in both seasons. He signed with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent this year before being picked up by Philadelphia at mid-season.
Toledo will be guaranteed to have at least one player come out of Sunday’s game with a ring. Former Rockets who have played on Super Bowl champion teams include CB Curtis Johnson (Miami Dolphins – 1973, 1974), OL Andy McCollum (St. Louis Rams – 2000) and WR Lance Moore (New Orleans Saints – 2009).
Candle, who was a college roommate at Mount Union with Eagles’ head coach Nick Sirianni, was diplomatic when asked who he will root for on Sunday.
“I’m going to stay impartial and stay down the middle,” Candle said. “I’m pulling for my former roommate, I’m pulling for our guys to play well. Hopefully we’ll see a Kareem Hunt touchdown and a Quinyon Mitchell pick-six, and maybe get Dallas Gant in there making a tackle. It will be a fun time and I’ll be glued to the TV.”
