UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – For the 50th time, Penn State will have a representative in the Super Bowl with a four lettermen on the rosters of the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Former Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin (53-man roster), offensive tackle Donovan Smith (53-man roster) and center A.Q. Shipley (injured reserve) of Tampa Bay will go against offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski and Kansas City. Super Bowl LV is set for 6:30 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
The Buccaneers earned their spot in the Super Bowl with a 31-26 win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game. Godwin hauled in five catches for 110 yards, including a long reception of 52 yards. Smith, who started at left tackle, helped pave way to the offense gaining 351 yards in the win. Tampa Bay needed three wins to reach the big stage, earning a 31-23 win in Wild Card Weekend over Washington and a 30-20 victory over New Orleans in the Divisional Round. Godwin accounted for five receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown against the Redskins and four grabs for 34 yards vs. the Saints. Smith also started at left tackle in the Wild Card and Divisional Round.
Godwin, in his fourth season, all with Tampa Bay, finished the regular season with 65 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. Smith is in his sixth season, also all with Tampa Bay, and has made 94 career starts. Shipley, who has played in 110 career NFL games with 72 starts, had his season end with an injury in November.
The Chiefs punched their ticket to Super Bowl LV with a 38-24 win over Buffalo in the AFC Championship game. In the Divisional Round, Kansas City claimed a 22-17 win over Cleveland. Wisniewski played in both games, seeing 26 snaps in the AFC Championship (20 on offense, 6 on special teams) and six special teams snaps in the Divisional Round.
Kansas City claimed the AFC West regular season title and the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC. Wisniewski, who is making his third Super Bowl appearance in the last four years (Philadelphia in Super Bowl LII and Kansas City in Super Bowl LIV), is in his 10th NFL season and was signed by the Chiefs midseason.
At least one Penn State letterman has reached 50 of 55 Super Bowls. Forty-one Nittany Lions have claimed 60 Super Bowl rings (including non-Penn State football players). Wisniewski along with Jordan Lucas are the last Penn State football players to win a Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs last season.
