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Former Cal Players Featured in Super Bowl XLI

Tarik Glenn, Matt Giordano, and Ron Rivera highlight the Bear Alumni

Jan. 29, 2007

BERKELEY - Three California football alumni will be a part of Super Bowl XLI in Miami, Fla., on February 4. Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn and defensive back Matt Giordano are both members of the Indianapolis Colts, while Ron Rivera serves as the Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator.

A 10-year veteran in the NFL, Glenn is the starting left tackle this season, while Giordano has made 25 defensive tackles, including eight on special teams in the postseason. With Glenn and his other teammates anchoring the offensive line, quarterback Peyton Manning was able to throw for over 4,000 yards, while rookie running back Joseph Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards. Glenn started all 16 games for the Colts in 2005 and earned Pro Bowl honors for second consecutive season.

Glenn was a first team all-conference selection for the Golden Bears in 1996 and was drafted by the Colts in the first round in 1997, while Giordano was a first team All-Pac-10 selection in 2004.

Giordano, whose playing time increased from last season, has 31 career tackles with Indianapolis.

Since Rivera's arrival in Chicago three years ago as defensive coordinator, the Bears have had one of the most dominating defenses in the league. This season the Bears rank first in the league in forced fumbles, second in interceptions and third in points allowed per game. Rivera helped guide the Bears' defense to a No. 2-ranking in the NFL in 2005 while allowing the fewest points in the league. Rivera, who played nine seasons for Chicago (1984-92), was a member of Chicago's Super Bowl championship team in 1985 and began his coaching career as a defensive quality control assistant with the team in 1997. He returned to Chicago in January of 2004, after spending five seasons as linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles (1999-2003).

A consensus All-America selection as a linebacker at Cal, Rivera is sixth all-time in sacks with 22 and fourth in career tackles with 336. He still holds the Cal record for most tackles for a loss in a season with 26.5 in 1983.

There are currently 27 former Cal players active in the NFL.