Four Big 33 Alumni Will Play in Super Bowl LV, Extending Historic Streak

Did you know that every Super Bowl has included at least one alumnus from Pennsylvania's Big 33 Football Classic on one of the team's rosters?

The Big 33 is an all-star high school football game played annually in Pennsylvania since 1958. Over the years, Pennsylvania high school all-stars have squared-off against all-star teams from Maryland, Ohio and Texas. On other occasions, Pennsylvania has faced an all-USA team.

The streak started when Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Herb Adderley played for the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I. Adderley was a Big 33 alum who played at Northeast High School in Philadelphia. At least one former Big 33 player has taken part in every Super Bowl since. 

One of the most incredible streaks in high school football is alive and well after Sunday's AFC and NFC Championship games. Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay, Florida on Feb. 7 will feature four former Big 33 players:

• Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark represented the Ohio All-Star team in the 2011 Big 33. The former Glenville High School (OH) star is now a two-time Pro Bowler for Kansas City. 
• Chiefs backup quarterback Chad Henne played for the Pennsylvania All-Stars in 2004, representing Wilson High School out of West Lawn, PA.
• Chiefs rookie offensive lineman Yasir Durant played at Imhotep Charter High School in Philadelphia and participated in the 2016 Big 33 game.
• Chiefs General Manager Bret Veach also is a Big 33 alumnus. He played for the Pennsylvania All-Stars in  1997 after an outstanding high school career at Mt. Carmel High School.

The game would likely have featured a fifth Big 33 alum — Tampa Bay Buccaneers center A.Q. Shipley — but Shipley suffered a neck injury near the end of the regular season and has since retired. Shipley, who played high school ball at Moon High School, participated in the Big 33 game in 2004, snapping the ball to Henne.

Photo courtesy of Big 33 via Twitter.