A former Diocese of Phoenix athlete, who was on the roster for the 2007-08 Super Bowl champs, earned the diocese a spot in the first Super Bowl High School Honor Roll.
The NFL released the honorees as it marks the Super Bowl’s 50th season. Players and coaches of previous Super Bowl match ups — nearly 3,000 of them — are being recognized. They hail from more than 2,000 high schools. That includes former New York Giants punter Jeff Feagles, who graduated from Gerard Catholic High School. He played in Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale in 2008.
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Each honor roll campus receives a golden football. Since Gerard High School was torn down after its closure in 1989, the diocesan Catholic Schools Office received the football. It will be transferred to Seton Catholic Preparatory in Chandler, which houses Gerard memorabilia.
As part of the Super Bowl High School Honor Roll, the diocese will receive an NFL Character Education Curriculum and is eligible to apply for a grant from the NFL Foundation to support football programs.
“Football has always been about more than wins and losses,” Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner said in a letter to the Diocese of Phoenix. “The game teaches valuable skills that can last a lifetime. High school football programs from coast to coast have consistently developed citizens of high character by instilling the values of football in their student athletes.”
Super Bowl 50 kicks off at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and on CBS.
