Allegretti Headed to Super Bowl LVIII

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former Illini Nick Allegretti is an AFC champion for the fourth time in his five-year NFL career. Allegretti and the Kansas City Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl with a 17-10 win at Baltimore in Sunday’s AFC Championship.

Allegretti started at left guard in the win for Kansas City. It was the fourth career playoff start and 15th career playoff game played for Allegretti, who has played in 74 regular season games for Kansas City since getting drafted by the Chiefs in 2019.

Allegretti will appear in the Super Bowl for the fourth time in his career, tied for the most Super Bowl appearances by a former Illini football player. Preston Pearson, who played basketball at Illinois, played in five Super Bowls for Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Dallas. 

Allegretti owns two Super Bowl rings, already tied for the most by a former Illini with Jim Grabowski, Ray Nitschke, Pearson, Howard Griffith, Eugene Wilson, Dave Diehl, and Ted Karras. Another Super Bowl victory would make Allegretti the sole leader for the most Super Bowls won by a former Illini.

Super Bowl LVIII is scheduled for Sunday, February 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Kansas City will face off against the San Francisco 49ers.

Most Super Bowl Appearances by an Illini

5 Preston Pearson (Baltimore III, Pittsburgh IX, Dallas X, XII, XIII)

4 Nick Allegretti (Kansas City LIV, LV, LVII, LVIII)

4 Adam Lingner (Buffalo XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII)

Most Super Bowl Victories by an Illini

2 Jim Grabowski (Green Bay I, II)

2 Ray Nitschke (Green Bay I, II)

2 Preston Pearson (Pittsburgh IX, Dallas XII)

2 Howard Griffith (Denver XXXII, XXXIII)

2 Eugene Wilson (New England XXXVIII, XXXIX)

2 Dave Diehl (New York Giants XLII, XLVI)

2 Ted Karras (New England LI, LIII

2 Nick Allegretti (Kansas City LIV, LVII)

Illini in the Super Bowl