University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Four Former Tar Heels Set for Super Bowl LX
February 4, 2026 | Football
With Super Bowl LX set for Sunday, Feb. 8, in Santa Clara, California, at Levi Stadium, four former Tar Heels are set to take part in the game.
Quarterback Drake Maye, wide receiver Mack Hollins and linebacker Amari Gainer are on the AFC Champion Patriots, while linebacker Chaz Surratt is on the NFC Champion Seahawks.
Super Bowl LX marks the sixth time Carolina has had a player on both teams and the first time since 2016 in Super Bowl 50.
The quartet will be the first Tar Heels on a Super Bowl roster since 2021 when TJ Logan and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9, in Super Bowl LV.
In the midst of a record-breaking season, Maye has also recently made Carolina history by becoming the first former Tar Heel quarterback to lead his team to the Super Bowl and will become the first UNC quarterback to start a Super Bowl as well.
The Huntersville, N.C., native has thrown for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns, ranking among the top five of the NFL in both, and was a finalist for the NFL MVP. Maye led the league in completion percentage (70.9) during the regular season and was third in passer rating (108.5).
Maye was also selected to the 2026 Pro Bowl and was recently tabbed the 67th winner of the Bert Bell Award, which honors the pro football player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club.
At Carolina, Maye finished his career with his name scattered throughout the record books. He went 618-for-952 for 8,018 yards and 63 TDs, while rushing for 1,209 yards and 16 TDs. Maye ranks fourth in school history in total offense (9,227 yards), fifth in passing yards, fourth in passing TDs and sixth in completions.
As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Maye became only the second player in ACC history to sweep all four major awards (ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year).
Hollins is in search of his second Super Bowl, after winning his first championship with the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII. This season, Hollins has 46 receptions for 550 yards with a pair of touchdowns. His receptions and receiving yards are both the third most on the team.
During his career with the Tar Heels, Hollins reeled in 81 receptions for 1,667 yards with 20 touchdowns. His 20 touchdowns still rank fifth all-time in the record books. As a junior, Hollins led the NCAA in yards per reception with 24.8.
With a 20.6 yards per catch average for his career, Hollins is the all-time leader in the UNC football history.
Amari Gainer is a member of the Patriots practice squad, but has not appeared in a game for the team yet. He spent his final year of collegiate eligibility with the Tar Heels and recorded 27 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups in 2023.
Chazz Surratt has appeared in 11 games for the Seahawks this season and was recently activated from injured reserve to participate in the Super Bowl after missing the last few games. He's recorded 11 tackles this season and has been a primary piece of Seattle's special teams units.
At Carolina, Surratt made the position change from quarterback to linebacker between his sophomore and junior season. The transition paid off immediately, as the Denver, N.C., product was a first team All-ACC selection and the runner-up for the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Surratt tallied 115 tackles in 2019 to lead the team and rank second in the conference. As a senior, he was a Butkus Award semifinalist with 91 tackles to pace the Tar Heels and rank sixth in the ACC.
Tar Heels in the Super Bowl
Quarterback Drake Maye, wide receiver Mack Hollins and linebacker Amari Gainer are on the AFC Champion Patriots, while linebacker Chaz Surratt is on the NFC Champion Seahawks.
Super Bowl LX marks the sixth time Carolina has had a player on both teams and the first time since 2016 in Super Bowl 50.
The quartet will be the first Tar Heels on a Super Bowl roster since 2021 when TJ Logan and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9, in Super Bowl LV.
In the midst of a record-breaking season, Maye has also recently made Carolina history by becoming the first former Tar Heel quarterback to lead his team to the Super Bowl and will become the first UNC quarterback to start a Super Bowl as well.
The Huntersville, N.C., native has thrown for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns, ranking among the top five of the NFL in both, and was a finalist for the NFL MVP. Maye led the league in completion percentage (70.9) during the regular season and was third in passer rating (108.5).
Maye was also selected to the 2026 Pro Bowl and was recently tabbed the 67th winner of the Bert Bell Award, which honors the pro football player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club.
At Carolina, Maye finished his career with his name scattered throughout the record books. He went 618-for-952 for 8,018 yards and 63 TDs, while rushing for 1,209 yards and 16 TDs. Maye ranks fourth in school history in total offense (9,227 yards), fifth in passing yards, fourth in passing TDs and sixth in completions.
As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Maye became only the second player in ACC history to sweep all four major awards (ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year).
Hollins is in search of his second Super Bowl, after winning his first championship with the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII. This season, Hollins has 46 receptions for 550 yards with a pair of touchdowns. His receptions and receiving yards are both the third most on the team.
During his career with the Tar Heels, Hollins reeled in 81 receptions for 1,667 yards with 20 touchdowns. His 20 touchdowns still rank fifth all-time in the record books. As a junior, Hollins led the NCAA in yards per reception with 24.8.
With a 20.6 yards per catch average for his career, Hollins is the all-time leader in the UNC football history.
Amari Gainer is a member of the Patriots practice squad, but has not appeared in a game for the team yet. He spent his final year of collegiate eligibility with the Tar Heels and recorded 27 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups in 2023.
Chazz Surratt has appeared in 11 games for the Seahawks this season and was recently activated from injured reserve to participate in the Super Bowl after missing the last few games. He's recorded 11 tackles this season and has been a primary piece of Seattle's special teams units.
At Carolina, Surratt made the position change from quarterback to linebacker between his sophomore and junior season. The transition paid off immediately, as the Denver, N.C., product was a first team All-ACC selection and the runner-up for the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Surratt tallied 115 tackles in 2019 to lead the team and rank second in the conference. As a senior, he was a Butkus Award semifinalist with 91 tackles to pace the Tar Heels and rank sixth in the ACC.
Tar Heels in the Super Bowl
| No. | Year | Result | Tar Heels |
| I | 1967 | Green Bay 35, Kansas City 10 | |
| II | 1968 | Green Bay 33, Oakland 14 | |
| III | 1969 | New York Jets 16, Baltimore 7 | |
| IV | 1970 | Kansas City 23, Minnesota 7 | |
| V | 1971 | Baltimore 16, Dallas 13 | |
| VI | 1972 | Dallas 24, Miami 3 | |
| VII | 1973 | Miami 14, Washington 7 | Chris Hanburger (Washington) |
| VIII | 1974 | Miami 24, Minnesota 7 | Frank Gallagher (Minnesota) |
| IX | 1975 | Pittsburgh 16, Minnesota 6 | |
| X | 1976 | Pittsburgh 21, Dallas 17 | |
| XI | 1977 | Oakland 32, Minnesota 14 | |
| XII | 1978 | Dallas 27, Denver 10 | |
| XIII | 1979 | Pittsburgh 35, Dallas 31 | |
| XIV | 1980 | Pittsburgh 31, Los Angeles 19 | |
| XV | 1981 | Oakland 27, Philadelphia 10 | John Bunting (Philadelphia) |
| XVI | 1982 | San Francisco 26, Cincinnati 21 | Amos Lawrence (San Francisco) |
| XVII | 1983 | Washington 27, Miami 17 | Jeff Hayes (Washington) |
| XVIII | 1984 | Los Angeles 38, Washington 9 | Jeff Hayes; Ken Huff (Washington) |
| XIX | 1985 | San Francisco 38, Miami 16 | |
| XX | 1986 | Chicago 46, New England 10 | Ron Wooten (New England) |
| XXI | 1987 | New York Giants 39, Denver 20 | Lawrence Taylor; Brian Johnston (NY Giants) |
| XXII | 1988 | Washington 42, Denver 10 | Kelvin Bryant (Washington) |
| XXIII | 1989 | San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16 | Harris Barton (San Francisco) |
| XXIV | 1990 | San Francisco 55, Denver 10 | Harris Barton (San Francisco) |
| XXV | 1991 | New York Giants 20, Buffalo 19 | Lawrence Taylor (NY Giants); Carlton Bailey (Buffalo) |
| XXVI | 1992 | Washington 37, Buffalo 24 | Carlton Bailey (Buffalo) |
| XXVII | 1993 | Dallas 52, Buffalo 17 | Carlton Bailey (Buffalo) |
| XXVIII | 1994 | Dallas 30, Buffalo 13 | Thomas Smith (Buffalo) |
| XXIX | 1995 | San Francisco 49, San Diego 26 | Harris Barton; Antonio Goss (SF); Natrone Means; Deems May (SD) |
| XXX | 1996 | Dallas 27, Pittsburgh 17 | Corey Holliday (Pittsburgh) |
| XXXI | 1997 | Green Bay 35, New England 21 | William Henderson; Bernardo Harris (GB); Jimmy Hitchcock (NE) |
| XXXII | 1998 | Denver 31, Green Bay 24 | William Henderson; Bernardo Harris (GB) |
| XXXIII | 1999 | Denver 34, Atlanta 19 | |
| XXXIV | 2000 | St. Louis 23, Tennessee 16 | Dre Bly; Nate Hobgood-Chittick; Mike Morton (St. Louis) |
| XXXV | 2001 | Baltimore 34, New York Giants 7 | |
| XXXVI | 2002 | New England 20, St. Louis 17 | Dre Bly (St. Louis); Riddick Parker (NE) |
| XXXVII | 2003 | Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21 | Ronald Curry (Oakland) |
| XXXVIII | 2004 | New England 32, Carolina 29 | Julius Peppers; Kevin Donnalley (Carolina) |
| XXXIX | 2005 | New England 24, Philadelphia 21 | Dexter Reid (NE) |
| XL | 2006 | Pittsburgh 21, Seattle 10 | Willie Parker; Jeff Reed; Greg Warren (Pittsburgh) |
| XLI | 2007 | Indianapolis 29, Chicago 17 | Jeff Saturday; Dexter Reid (Indianapolis) |
| XLII | 2008 | New York Giants 17, New England 14 | Madison Hedgecock (NY Giants) |
| XLIII | 2009 | Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23 | Willie Parker; Jeff Reed; Greg Warren (Pittsburgh) |
| XLIV | 2010 | New Orleans 31, Indianapolis 17 | Jeff Saturday (Indianapolis) |
| XLV | 2011 | Green Bay 31, Pittsburgh 25 | Jeff Reed; Greg Warren (Pittsburgh) |
| XLVI | 2012 | New York Giants 21, New England 17 | Hakeem Nicks (NY Giants) |
| XLVII | 2013 | Baltimore 34, San Francisco 31 | |
| XLVIII | 2014 | Seattle 43, Denver 8 | Sylvester Williams (Denver) |
| XLIX | 2015 | New England 28, Seattle 24 | |
| L | 2016 | Denver 24, Carolina 10 | Tre Boston (Carolina); Sylvester Williams (Denver) |
| LI | 2017 | New England 34, Atlanta 28 | |
| LII | 2018 | Philadelphia 41, New England 33 | Mack Hollins (Philadelphia) |
| LIII | 2019 | New England 13, LA Rams 3 | |
| LIV | 2020 | Kansas City 31, San Francisco 20 | |
| LV | 2021 | Tampa Bay 31, Kansas City 9 | T.J. Logan (Tampa Bay) |
| LVI | 2022 | LA Rams 23, Cincinnati 20 | |
| LVII | 2023 | Kansas City 38, Philadelphia 35 | |
| LVIII | 2024 | Kansas City 25, San Francisco 22 | |
| LIX | 2025 | Philadelphia 40, Kansas City 22 |
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