I wanted to take a look at what guys might still be around from the last time the Patriots and Rams faced off in the Super Bowl in 2002. I’ll start with where the some of the current players and coaches were back in 2002 then go to where some of the 2002 players and coaches from those teams are now.
Now to Then
Where some current players and coaches were at the time of Super Bowl 36.
Patriots
· Tom Brady, of course the QB of the Patriots
· OC Josh McDaniels was a Personnel Assistant with the Patriots
· DC Brian Flores was a playing linebacker at Boston College
· Stephen Gostkowski just finished his Senior season at Madison Central High School. Lettered in football, soccer, and baseball, kicked a school record 55-yard FG.
· Matthew Slater coming off a junior season at Servite High School where he had 23 catches for 333 yards and 2 TDs.
· Brian Hoyer was about to start his sophomore season of baseball for Saint Ignatius High School where he finished with an 8-1 record and a 1.99 ERA, including being the winning pitcher in the 2002 Ohio Division I State Championship.
· 9 Players age 7 or younger at the time of SB36
Rams
· HC Sean McVay was coming off his sophomore season as QB and defensive back at Marist School.
· DC Wade Phillips sat out the 2001 season after being fired as Bills HC before being hired as the Falcons DC
· QB Coach Zac Taylor just finished his senior season at Norman High School in Norman, OK
· TE Coach/Pass Game Coordinator Shane Waldron just finished his senior year as tight end and long snapper at Tufts University.
· Director of Strength Training and Performance/Get Back Coach Ted Rath just finished his senior season for the Dundee Vikings
· GM Les Snead was a Scout for the Falcons
· Andrew Whitworth was in his redshirt year at LSU
· John Sullivan was finishing 2nd in the Heavyweight Division of the New England High School Wrestling Championships as a Junior
· 13 players age 7 or younger at the time of SB36
Then to Now
Patriots
Where some of the coaching staff from then are now.
· Bill Belichick, obviously still the HC of the Patriots
· Charlie Weis was OC, now doing Sirius XM radio
· Romeo Crennel was DC, now the Texans DC/assistant Head Coach
· Brian Daboll was a Defensive Assitant, now Bills OC
· Pepper Johnson was ILB Coach, now D-line coach for the Memphis Express of the AAF
· Dante Scarnecchia was Asst. Head Coach and O-line Coach, and is still O-line Coach
· Jeff Davidson was Asst. O-line Coach, now Lions O-line Coach
· Ivan Fears was the WRs Coach, now the RBs Coach
· Brad Seely was the Special Teams Coach, now Texans STC
· Scott Pioli was Director of Player Personnel, now Falcons Asst. GM
· Ernie Adams is still the Football Research Director
· Mike Woicik was the Strength and Conditioning Coach, now Cowboys S&C Coach
Where some of the players from then are now.
· Mike Vrabel, Titans HC
· Larry Izzo, Seahawks Asst. STC
· Tedy Bruschi, ESPN Analyst
· Willie McGinest, NFL Network Analyst
· Damien Woody, ESPN Analyst
· Troy Brown, NBCS Boston Analyst
· Adam Vinatieri, on the Colts
Rams
Where some of the coaching staff from then are now.
· HC Mike Martz is now the Head Coach of the San Diego Fleet of the AAF
· John Matsko was Asst. Head Coach and O-line Coach, now the Panthers Run Game Coordinator
· Ken Zampese was WR Coach, recently fired as Browns QB Coach
· Henry Ellard was an Offensive Asst., now HC at San Antonio Christian High School
· Lovie Smith was DC, now HC at the University of Illinois
· Bill Kollar was D-line Coach, now Broncos D-line Coach
· Matt Sheldon was a Defensive Asst. & Quality Control, now Dolphins Director of Football Research & Strategy
Where some of the players from then are now.
· Dre’ Bly, UNC Defensive Asst.
· Kurt Warner, NFL Network Analyst