NEW ORLEANS — It’s a popular trivia question, with an answer most people can reason their way into: Which player has made the most Super Bowl appearances?
The answer, for those with short attention spans, is former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, who played in an astonishing 10 Super Bowls.
You might be unsurprised to learn that one of Brady’s former teammates is tied for second place with six appearances. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski participated in six of the nine Super Bowls Brady piloted in New England.
The player tied with Gostkowski is a slightly deeper pull, former Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos defensive lineman Mike Lodish. Lodish played in and lost four straight Super Bowls to begin his career with the Bills before breaking through with wins with the Broncos in 1997-98.
Those are the top three, but they’re set to welcome another member to the six-timers club Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
Chiefs offensive lineman Joe Thuney, who began his career with three straight Super Bowl appearances in New England playing with Brady, has now appeared in five, thanks to another two with Kansas City the last two years.
Sunday will make six.
“I feel very fortunate being on the teams I’ve been on, and playing with the players I’ve played with,” Thuney said. “I’ve just tried to do my part in those situations on those teams.”
Thuney, 32, is listed as a guard, but he has seen significant time at left tackle of late, sliding into the spot in Week 15 to solidify an area that had become a trouble spot for the Chiefs.
Rookie Kingsley Suamataia and second-year tackle Wanya Morris were charged with manning the role during the offseason, but neither distinguished themselves through a combined 13 starts.
Enter the three-time Pro Bowler, who despite the switch has surrendered just a single sack (regular season and playoffs) in 2024-25.
“I think all O-linemen want to be able to play wherever,” he said. “It’s different. It’s just a different position, and there are different players you’re dealing with, trying to block. I’m trying to make the most of it.”
As for the personal achievement he’s set to reach on Sunday? He’s in pursuit of something even bigger: a win.
“You definitely want to enjoy it, but at the same time keep your priorities straight,” he said. “Sunday is the reason we’re here. It’s great to enjoy it, soak all this in, but still try to keep that focus on Sunday.”
–David Gladow, Field Level Media
