Chris Murray

cmurray@rgj.com

Wolf Pack alums Brandon Marshall and Virgil Green became the first Nevada players to win a Super Bowl ring as active players in 20 years Sunday when Denver knocked off Carolina, 24-10. They also became the fifth and sixth Wolf Pack players to play in a Super Bowl as active players. Here's a look at the six ex-Nevada players to win a Super Bowl ring as active players. In addition to these six, Nevada alums Kyle Roberts and Chris Barker have both won rings as practice squad players, with Roberts doing so this season with the Broncos and Barker doing so last season with the Patriots.

Brandon Marshall

Super Bowl wins: Super Bowl 50 (Broncos 24, Panthers 10)

In short: Marshall has appeared in two Super Bowls in Denver, recording one tackle as a special teams player in his first appearance (a loss to Seattle) and five tackles, including one for a loss, Sunday in the win over the Panthers. Denver's defense was dominant in the win, holding Carolina to 10 points on 315 yards to make up for a poor offensive showing by the Broncos, which mustered just 194 yards, 11 first downs and was 1-of-14 on third down (all lows for a Super Bowl-winning team).

Virgil Green

Super Bowl wins: Super Bowl 50 (Broncos 24, Panthers 10)

In short: Green and Marshall became the second pair of Wolf Pack teammates to win a Super Bowl together (Derek Kennard and Brock Marion won Super Bowl XXX together for Dallas). Green, who plays primarily as a run-blocking tight end and special teams player, didn't record a stat in the win, but did play about one-third of the snaps in the win.

Charles Mann

Super Bowl wins: Super Bowl XXII (Redskins 42, Broncos 10); Super Bowl XXVI (Redskins 37, Bills 24); Super Bowl XXIX (49ers 49, Chargers 26)

In short: The defensive end was on four teams that reached Super Bowls, including two title winners with the Redskins (1988 and 1992) and one with the 49ers (1995). With three Super Bowl rings, Mann is the most decorated of the Wolf Pack alums. And his team's wins were dominant, coming by an average of 22.7 points per game, with no game closer than 13 points. Mann started two Super Bowls and appeared in all four games, recording a sack on John Elway in the 1988 game. A star at Nevada from 1980-82, Mann made four Pro Bowls and had 83 sacks in his NFL career.

Brock Marion

Super Bowl wins: Super Bowl XXVIII (Cowboys 30, Bills 13); Super Bowl XXX (Cowboys 27, Steelers 17)

In short: The three-time Pro Bowl safety won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys. Marion did not play in the 1994 game but started the 1996 Super Bowl at free safety and picked off Steelers quarterback Neil O’Donnell, who threw three interceptions in the game (Dallas CB Larry Brown picked him off twice and was the game's MVP). Marion, who played at Nevada from 1989-92, finished his 12-year NFL career with 681 tackles and 31 interceptions. He started 154 games with three franchises.

Derek Kennard

Super Bowl win: Super Bowl XXX (Cowboys 27, Steelers 17)

In short: The offensive lineman, whose son also played at Nevada, was a center on the Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl-winning squad during the 1995 season. Kennard started four games that season, including the Super Bowl. After the Super Bowl, Kennard played only one more NFL game. He starred at Nevada from 1981-83 before embarking on a productive 11-year NFL career with three franchises, starting 122 games.

Frank Hawkins

Super Bowl win: Super Bowl XVIII (Raiders 38, Redskins 9)

In short: The Raiders' run game crushed the Redskins as the team piled up 231 yards on 33 carries, including 191 and two touchdowns by MVP Marcus Allen. Hawkins, a college football Hall of Famer, had three rushes for six yards and caught two passes for 20 yards as the team's fullback. Hawkins played for Nevada from 1977-80 and is still the school’s all-time leading rusher with 5,333 career yards. Hawkins was the first Wolf Pack player to win a Super Bowl ring.