From Underdogs to the Super Bowl: FCS Talent Shines Bright Ahead of Super Bowl 60
Ten years ago in Santa Clara, Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos captured Super Bowl 50 behind one of the most dominant defenses of the decade. On the other sideline, Carolina cornerback Josh Norman-an FCS product from Coastal Carolina-was trying to cap off a remarkable journey from relative obscurity to the NFL’s biggest stage.
Fast forward a decade, and FCS talent is once again taking center stage in Santa Clara. Super Bowl 60 will feature more than 10 players from Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programs-something we haven’t seen since that Broncos-Panthers clash. And while the NFL has always been a league that rewards talent regardless of pedigree, this year’s Super Bowl is a reminder that the road less traveled can still lead to the sport’s biggest spotlight.
A Dozen Deep: FCS Representation Reaches a Decade High
The Seattle Seahawks will take the field with eight FCS alumni on their active roster. The New England Patriots will counter with four of their own. That makes 12 players from FCS schools suiting up for Super Bowl 60-the most since Super Bowl 50.
Back then, names like Josh Norman and Jared Allen (Idaho) carried the FCS banner. Today, it’s Cooper Kupp leading the charge.
Kupp, a future Hall of Famer and Eastern Washington legend, has built one of the most impressive résumés of any receiver in the modern era: 681 catches, 8,369 yards, and 59 touchdowns over nine seasons. At 32, he’s aiming to add a second Super Bowl ring to his already glittering legacy.
For younger players like Seahawks rookie guard Grey Zabel, Kupp isn’t just a star-he’s proof that the path from FCS to NFL success is real.
“The guy who truly paved the way was Cooper Kupp,” Zabel said. “Having the career he's had so far, and he's continuing to have as an FCS guy, it just gives guys like me hope.”
Zabel, a North Dakota State product, was one of the late risers in the 2025 NFL Draft after a strong Senior Bowl and combine performance. Seattle took him 18th overall-the second guard off the board-in a deep class for offensive linemen. The Pierre, South Dakota native brought championship pedigree with him, having won two national titles at NDSU.
And he’s not alone in Seattle’s trenches.
Building the Trenches with Bison Grit
Zabel will start Sunday alongside fellow NDSU alum Jalen Sundell, the Seahawks’ starting center. That interior duo has been a major reason why Seattle finished top 10 in rushing yards and allowed the fourth-fewest sacks in the league. Quarterback Sam Darnold has enjoyed the best season of his career behind that line, and the FCS-built foundation has been a big part of that success.
Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak-soon to be the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders-explained what drew the Seahawks to Zabel in the first round.
“Grey just had immense intangibles you couldn't deny. He was from a great family.
A hard-working family. He had a lot of grit.
He had a huge heart. He worked hard at it, he was bright.”
That grit has become a calling card for FCS players across the league.
Shaheed Sparks Postseason Surge
While Kupp remains a go-to option in the passing game, the midseason addition of Rashid Shaheed has added a jolt of electricity to the Seahawks’ offense and special teams. Acquired from the Saints before Week 10, Shaheed-a four-time FCS All-American out of Weber State-delivered one of the defining moments of Seattle’s playoff run with a game-changing kickoff return against the 49ers in the divisional round.
That play didn’t just flip the field-it flipped momentum. And if the Seahawks win it all on Sunday, Shaheed’s return will be one of the signature highlights of their championship journey.
Patriots Lean on FCS Talent, Too
The Patriots aren’t short on FCS firepower either. Linebacker Christian Elliss, a product of Idaho and the son of former NFL defensive lineman Luther Elliss, will start for New England. He’s joined by fellow FCS alumni Marte Mapu (Sacramento State), Elijah Ponder (Cal Poly), and receiver Efton Chism III (Eastern Washington).
In total, four of the Patriots' FCS players are expected to see significant snaps, whether in starting roles, sub-packages, or on special teams.
The FCS Mentality: Earn Everything
There’s a common thread that runs through every FCS player in this Super Bowl: the chip on their shoulder. The need to prove they belong. The hunger that comes from being overlooked.
Tight end Eric Saubert, who played at Drake, spoke candidly about the uphill battle FCS players face just to get noticed.
“We obviously don't have the same resources as a Power 5 would have. So you learn to make things happen without resources. Your mindset has to be a little different because you don't have as much.”
Saubert’s path included a stop at the East-West Shrine Bowl and a late invite to the Senior Bowl before being drafted by Atlanta in the fifth round in 2017. He’s carried that underdog mentality with him every step of the way.
“I used to have to buy my own gloves at the FCS level. Now I can get three pairs of gloves for each game.
You gotta look back and remind yourself where you came from. That's your super power.”
Will NIL and the Transfer Portal Change the FCS Pipeline?
With the rise of NIL deals and the increasing use of the transfer portal, some around the league wonder if the FCS-to-NFL pipeline will start to dry up. Players who flash early at the FCS level often transfer to bigger programs, and the financial incentives to do so are only growing.
NBC’s Chris Simms voiced surprise at just how many FCS players are still making it to the league.
“I'm actually really shocked it's that high even now in this day and age.”
An NFC scout echoed that sentiment, noting that while NFL teams will leave no stone unturned when it comes to scouting talent, the number of players finishing their careers at the FCS level could dwindle.
But the players themselves aren’t buying that narrative.
“You’ll always see FCS players on rosters just with that chip on their shoulder mentality,” Zabel said. “Whatever school is going to give you the best chance to develop and grow as a player and a person, that’s where you should call home.”
And as Saubert put it, the formula is still simple:
“They always say if you’re good enough, they’ll find you. And they did find me.”
FCS Players in Super Bowl 60
Seattle Seahawks
- Cooper Kupp, WR - Eastern Washington
- Jason Myers, K - Marist
- Patrick O’Connell, LB - Montana
- Ty Okada, S - Montana State
- Eric Saubert, TE - Drake
- Rashid Shaheed, WR/KR - Weber State
- Jalen Sundell, C - North Dakota State
- Grey Zabel, G - North Dakota State
New England Patriots
- Efton Chism III, WR - Eastern Washington
- Christian Elliss, LB - Idaho
- Marte Mapu, LB - Sacramento State
- Elijah Ponder, LB - Cal Poly
On Sunday, these players won’t just be representing their teams. They’ll be representing every kid who came up outside the spotlight.
Every player who didn’t get that Power 5 offer. Every athlete who had to buy their own gloves, fight for a roster spot, and prove-again and again-that they belong.
And under the bright lights of Super Bowl 60, they’ll have the perfect stage to show the world what FCS football is all about.