Touchdown the Bear holds a football in Schoellkopf

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Big Red at the Big Game

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The Chiefs’ Hunter Nourzad ’22 and the Eagles’ Jalyx Hunt ’23 are set to compete during the big game in New Orleans

By Melissa Newcomb

When the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles face off at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on February 9, a Cornellian will emerge victorious—no matter which side wins.

Why? Because each team boasts a former Big Red player who has made it to the big game during his rookie season.

Engineering alum Hunter Nourzad ’22 joined the Chiefs in 2024, selected in Round 5 of the NFL draft as the 159th overall pick. The Eagles drafted Jalyx Hunt ’23 (who played two seasons for the Big Red but transferred out before earning a degree) in Round 3 of that year, as the 94th overall pick.

Nourzad, an offensive lineman, was a two-time All American during his collegiate career—including during the 2021 season, when he was the lone Ivy player to receive the honor.

In his senior season on the Hill, he was an All-Ivy first-teamer and was named the league’s Offensive Lineman of the Year.

After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, Nourzad—whose Cornell career was curtailed by the COVID pandemic—still had two years of eligibility.

Hunter Nourzad and the football team competing against Penn.
Nourzad on the line against Penn.

He used them at Penn State while earning an MBA, helping the Nittany Lions to a 21-5 overall record, including two appearances at New Year's Six bowl games.

In his first NFL season, Nourzad has primarily served on the Chiefs’ special teams—for the uninitiated, those are players who are only on the field during kicking plays—as an offensive lineman, playing in all 17 regular season games.

In Nourzad's senior season, he was an All-Ivy first-teamer and was named the league’s Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Hunt studied in Cornell’s Dyson School and began his collegiate football career with the Big Red in 2019 (the single varsity season he and Nourzad shared). He started off as a safety, but later transitioned to the defensive line after a growth spurt.

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Big Red at the Big Game

After the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID, he suited up for the Big Red again in 2021 before transferring to Houston Christian University, where he was voted the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2023—eventually earning an invitation to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

The Cornell Big Red football team competes against Brown at Schoellkopf Field.
Hunt leaps for the ball during a game against Brown.

In Hunt’s NFL rookie season, the Eagles utilized him as an outside linebacker; he played in 16 out of 17 regular season games, recording 21 tackles and forcing two fumbles. He has played in every game of the playoffs, contributing eight tackles.

When Hunt and Nourzad were tapped by the NFL in 2024, it marked the first time in nearly three decades that two players who’d worn the Big Red jersey were drafted in the same class: in 1997, Seth Payne ’97 and Chad Levitt ’97 were each selected in the fourth round.

When Hunt and Nourzad were tapped by the NFL in 2024, it marked the first time in nearly three decades that two players who’d worn the Big Red jersey were drafted in the same class.

Of course, Hunt and Nourzad are hardly the first Cornellians to play in the Super Bowl.

Others who’ve made it to the big game include Ed Marinaro ’72, BS ’73 (with the Minnesota Vikings in 1974 and 1975); Derrick Harmon ’84 (who became the first Big Red alum to earn the championship ring when the 49ers won in 1985); Kevin Boothe ’05 (New York Giants, 2008 and 2012); and Bryan Walters ’10 (Seattle Seahawks, 2014).

Hunter Nourzad during a football practice.
"We knew them when": Nourzad at a practice in Schoellkopf, and ...
Jalyx Hunt smiles and high fives a player during a game.
... Hunt congratulating a teammate during a game.

And as our Big Red history columnist Corey Earle ’07 observed prior to the 2024 contest, Cornellians have contributed to the Super Bowl in numerous other ways over the decades, including playing a key role in its creation.

So if you’re not sure who to root for as you dig into your guacamole and chicken wings on the big day—like, for instance, the many heartsick Bills fans here in Upstate New York—fear not: no matter which team you choose, you’re still (sort of) cheering for the Big Red!

Top: Touchdown displays Big Red football spirit in Schoellkopf. (Lindsay France / Cornell University; all player photos courtesy of Cornell Athletics.)

Published January 28, 2025


Comments

  1. James D. Wanderstock '71

    I witnessed Super Bowl 8 in 1974 in New Orleans, walking some 20 blocks from my apartment to the Sugar Bowl to buy a ticket for $15.00. The Superdome was in its final stages of completion.

    This game was supposedly the third coldest in Super Bowl history, with temperatures in the low 40’s, on a dark somewhat foggy and misty late afternoon. It did not affect Chuck Noll and the Steelers, who unveiled their “Steel Curtain” defense, led by Mean Joe Greene, to absolutely shut down the Minnesota Vikings, and its QB Fran Tarkenton, and one of his running backs, Ed Marinaro ’72. A hare fought defensive 16-6 win.

    Recent Super Bowls have obviously become much bigger affairs, but the quality of play in the NFL today, ironically, is similar and not much improved from what it was fifty (50) years ago.
    S

  2. John Webster

    With all due respect to the generous and loyal friend from the great Class of `71, I beg to differ. Quarterback play is so much better today… Fran Tarkenton would be hard pressed to find a job in today’s NFL. He was six feet tall and weighed 190 lbs. Ave QB today is 6’3, 220. Tark said he ran a 4.9 forty. I’m guessing that was downhill with the wind at his back. Overall, today’s athletes are bigger, faster, stronger, better coached, and enjoy strength and conditioning programs/coaching that is much more sophisticated. Lastly, consider this… In 1974, the Minnesota Vikings’ starting offensive line consisted of:

    Grady Alderman (Offensive Tackle): 6’2″, 247 lbs
    Mick Tingelhoff (Center): 6’2″, 237 lbs
    Ed White (Offensive Guard): 6’1″, 269 lbs
    Ron Yary (Offensive Tackle): 6’5″, 255 lbs
    Milt Sunde (Offensive Guard): 6’2″, 250 lbs

    … average weight of the 1974 Vikings’ starting offensive line was 251.6 pounds.

    In contrast, the 2024 (last year’s) Philadelphia Eagles’ starting offensive line included:

    Jordan Mailata (Left Tackle): 6’8″, 365 lbs
    Landon Dickerson (Left Guard): 6’6″, 332 lbs
    Jason Kelce (Center): 6’3″, 295 lbs
    Mekhi Becton (Right Guard): 6’7″, 363 lbs
    Lane Johnson (Right Tackle): 6’6″, 325 lbs

    Averaging 336 lbs

    Always fun to debate these things. Love hearing when people talk about the 1956 Boston Celtics and how good they were. I contend the 2010 Big Red Basketball team would have spanked the `56 Celtics. No contest. :-).

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