Former Wrestlers competing in the Super Bowl: 2020 Edition
by Mike Willis, USA Wrestling
Photo of Nick Allegretti, a guard on the Kansas City Chiefs and state placer for Lincoln Way East
Wrestlers make excellent football players. If you scour the rosters of NFL teams, you will find many wrestlers making it big at the professional level. At Super Bowl LIV in Miami Gardens, Fl., there will be at least seven former wrestlers suiting up to take the field.
Nick Allegretti
Guard, Kansas City Chiefs
The most accomplished wrestler on the field Sunday will be Nick Allegretti of the Kansas City Chiefs. Allegretti was a four-year letter winner in wrestling at Lincoln Way East in Illinois. His senior season, Alegretti finished third in class 3A with a 45-2 record.
Dorian O'Daniel
Linebacker, Kansas City Chiefs
Dorian O’Daniel wrestled for four years as a youth wrestler. Coming from a wrestling family, O’Daniel’s uncles Romy and Keilan were three-time PIAA place winners for Pennsylvania powerhouse Canon McMillan. Keilan won a state title in 1994. O’Daniel did not compete in high school but stated he was grateful for the experience wrestling gave him.
Xavier Williams
Defensive Tackle, Kansas City Chiefs
Xavier Williams was a three-year starter for Grand View High School in Missouri. Williams qualified for the state tournament his junior and senior seasons.
Khlaen Saunders
Defensive Tackle, Kansas City Chiefs
Another wrestling defensive tackle from Missouri, Khalen Sanders earned varsity letters while wrestling for Parkway Central High School.
Stefen Wisniewski
Guard, Kansas City Chiefs
Stefen Wisniewski is another individual who came from strong wrestling pedigree. His father Leo was a PIAA champion. Wisniewski wrestled briefly in his youth and picked the sport back up in high school, competing for Central Catholic in Pa.
Matt Breida
Running Back, San Francisco 49ers
Before Matt Breida was running the ball into the end zone, he was working for pins at Nature Coast Technical high school in Florida.
Daniel Brunskill
Offensive Tackle, San Francisco 49ers
While Daniel Brunskill would have to shave some weight off his gargantuan 300 pound frame if he wanted to wrestle today, the big man wrestled for Valley Center High School in California.
Read More#
U17 World medalists Castillo, Ryder lead strong U.S. men’s freestyle team at U17 Worlds in Istanbul, Turkey
2023 U.S. U17 Men’s Freestyle World Team biographies
Iowa’s Knaack, Ross win Triple Crowns; Kentucky’s Raney doubles up again; Illinois wins team title in 16U Greco-Roman
Day 7 preview: Junior Greco-Roman and 16U Greco-Roman start up in final tournaments of the week