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Heading into the 2024-25 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs will be looking to become the first team in history to win three straight titles. During their run, they’ve had one of the youngest players to ever play in the big game, but who officially are the youngest NFL players to feature in the Super Bowl? Let’s dive into the top five.
It’s worth noting that each of the players that we’ve shared here were 21 years old when participating in their respective Super Bowls, with the only difference being in terms of the additional days. There have been several others, but of the most notable, we’ll start with Jamal Lewis.
Lewis’ brutal running style was a key factor in the Baltimore Ravens’ first-ever Super Bowl victory in the 2000-01 season, taking down the New York Giants in dominant 34-7 fashion. The Ravens were certainly known for arguably the best defense in NFL history that season led by Ray Lewis, but Jamal was the focal point of their offense given QB Trent Dilfer was labeled as a game manager. Lewis tallied 102 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl XXXV victory.
Sticking with the AFC North, we have a far more recent player with Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase. The LSU product is not only currently one of the best young players in the NFL, but one of the best overall. Many fans certainly know this based on their fantasy drafts.
It was teaming up with his college QB Joe Burrow that propelled the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2022. However, it wasn’t the perfect fairy tale ending for the LSU duo, as they fell at the hands of QB Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams 23-20. Chase finished Super Bowl LVI with 89 receiving yards. Injuries have hindered both Chase and Burrow as of late, but they’re healthy heading into the 2024-25 season.
We mentioned the Ravens taking down the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, but it was New York that shocked the world just a handful of years later in Super Bowl XLII. Not only was their upset over the New England Patriots one of the biggest in NFL history, but it prevented the first-ever 19-0 season.
As much debate as there is regarding former Giants QB Eli Manning and whether or not he is truly elite, he was able to excel thanks to RBs like Ahmad Bradshaw and Tiki Barber, among plenty of others. In that 2008 Super Bowl win, Bradshaw was the leading rusher for the Giants, albeit with just 45 yards.
Right from the top we shared that a Chiefs player would be included in this list, and that would be yet another LSU product in Clyde Edwards-Helaire. It also adds another RB to this list, which is quite interesting in itself, as many feel as though they are not worth top draft picks.
Regardless, CEH was an extremely touted prospect that had the benefit of being drafted by a team that had just won a Super Bowl. Admittedly, he hasn’t seemed to develop since appearing in the Super Bowl with the Chiefs, and this was actually the Super Bowl that KC lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-9. Even still, CEH is worth recognizing, as he led the team with 64 rushing yards in Super Bowl LV.
Wrapping things up is another player that was on the losing end of a Super Bowl. This time, it was the Carolina Panthers going down to QB Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. It was a special one for Manning after leaving the Indianapolis Colts, but Shaq Thompson helped lead the Panthers to an incredible 15-1 record that season.
It was also the year in which Carolina QB Cam Newton won league MVP, but the Panthers’ defense was incredible. In their Super Bowl loss, Thompson was able to record five tackles, four of which were solo, including a tackle for loss.
Mark has been a lifelong fan of all sports, and five years ago turned it into a profession, specializing in the NFL, NHL and MLB. He is a diehard Baltimore Ravens fan and has had his work published in sites such as Sports Illustrated, Pickswise and other top outlets.