LAS VEGAS – As millions tune into Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday evening, Rutgers football fans will see three familiar players take the field. It will mark the third career trip to the big game for Sebastian Joseph-Day (49ers) and Logan Ryan (49ers), while Isiah Pacheco (Chiefs) makes his second appearance in as many seasons in the NFL.

Overall, this will make it 41 combined Super Bowls for 25 different Scarlet Knights, as this will be the most from RU in the game since 2019.

"Rutgers nation, be proud," Ryan said at Opening Night on Monday at Allegiant Stadium. "Jersey is represented in this Super Bowl. A Rutgers guy is going to win regardless. A lot of this comes from where we're from and how we are raised. You can get to the Super Bowl and achieve your dreams from Rutgers."

In his 11th season in the NFL, Ryan previously saw action in Super Bowl XLIX and LI with New England, winning both. The Berlin, New Jersey, native was in Florida with his wife, Ashley, a former Rutgers softball student-athlete, and their two children set to board a Disney cruise on Thanksgiving when 49ers president of football operations/general manager John Lynch called.

"It was a huge honor," Ryan said. "I wasn't really trying to be found. I was happy with what I had done, but when a team like the 49ers comes and finds you, I think that spoke to my reputation of playing integrity for a lot of years. I told (John Lynch) to give me a week because I'm not leaving the cruise or my wife would kill me. He gave me a week. I joined the team the next Tuesday or Wednesday and played in a game the following Sunday."

Ryan, who was at Rutgers from 2009-12 and defended 39 passes (32 breakups, seven interceptions), has played a role in the secondary on a stout 49ers defense that earned a bye and defeated Green Bay and Detroit to advance.

"We needed a veteran who could come in, didn't need reps and could learn our system," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He's been exactly what I've hoped for and more."

That preparation is nothing new for Ryan, who credits head coach Greg Schiano with helping lay the foundation for success. It was a common thread he noticed with teammates Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon when he first joined the NFL as a third-round pick by New England.

"Schiano is the hardest, most demanding coach I've ever played for," Ryan said. "But I learned after getting through Rutgers that I can withstand anything, focus through a whole game. I knew I was prepared. My work habits coming from Rutgers were different than a lot of guys in the NFL. I saw a lot of Rutgers guys in the Super Bowl. Devin's habits were like mine and Duron's habits were like mine. These Rutgers guys are different."



On a similar note, Joseph-Day never played with Ryan, but the two instantly bonded after Joseph-Day was released by the Chargers following a change in leadership and signed with the 49ers in late December.

"Sebastian has had a great career," Ryan said. "His story is amazing. He was staying at the same hotel as me going through the same things are me. I took him under my wing, we've been having dinners together and talking it up. I'm really proud of him. He's got a lot of respect in this league."

A sixth-round pick by the Rams in 2018, Joseph-Day played in 50 games for Rutgers from 2013-17, including 49 consecutively at nose tackle. The Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, native wrapped up his collegiate career as a senior earning honorable mention All-Big Ten, splitting the Homer Hazel Award for the team's MVP and being named to the Academic All-Big Ten list for the third time.

He was part of a Rams team that advanced to Super Bowl LIII as a rookie, becoming a two-time captain and winning Super Bowl LVI. Joseph-Day brought that experience to the 49ers, who were immediately interested once he became a free agent.

"This season's been like a fairytale, honestly," he said. "It's been amazing, highs and lows, but a blessing to be here. I've just been trying to contribute any way I can to get another ring, that's what it's all about. Trying to get two.

"Work ethic is what helps you stay in the NFL, learning the intricacies and doing the little things. Rutgers really helped me develop."

As part of his assignment Sunday, Joseph-Day will be tasked with slowing down the Chiefs' running game. That includes facing another Scarlet Knight in Isiah Pacheco on the opposing side.

"I've gone against Pop already, he's a great back, runs so hard," Joseph-Day said. "He's such a great guy and I'm so happy for him. As a late-round pick, I know what that means. I'm always rooting for him, it's going to be real fun going against him. It's all love."



Pacheco has built upon a breakout rookie year that was capped with a rushing touchdown in last year's Super Bowl victory over Philadelphia. He ran for 935 yards and seven scores this past season and added rushing touchdowns in each of Kansas City's three playoff wins in January.

"The pride of Rutgers," head coach Andy Reid said. "I've had two running backs from Rutgers. One last year a fullback (Michael Burton) and the last couple years a half back (Isiah Pacheco). Both of them are dirty tough. They're tough, tough guys. Pacheco brings great energy."

"He's got a unique running style, like a wind-up toy," running backs coach Todd Pinkston added. "He's learning the protections, studying and you can tell he's been in the classroom. He's a patient runner, not always trying to hit the home run, but taking the four, five yards to keep moving."

The seventh-leading rusher in Rutgers history at 2,442 career yards (2018-21), Pacheco was drafted in the seventh round. He served as a team captain for the Scarlet Knights and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2021.

"First, I would say eliminating distractions," Pacheco said of what he learned at Rutgers. "At this level, there's a lot of people pulling you in all directions. It's about focusing on the task, the goal and the bigger picture. Secondly, putting the football as the program. If you take care of it, good things happen. Lastly, F.A.M.I.L.Y.; forget about me, I love you. When you leave it all out there on the field, that shows your teammates how hard you've been working."

Although Pacheco, Joseph-Day and Ryan never overlapped at Rutgers, the trio have plenty in common.

"Rutgers is producing guys to the NFL left and right," Pacheco said. "It's crazy to see the RU players across the league as opponents. That's a great feeling."



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