For the first time ever a pair of former Portland State football players will meet in the Super Bowl. Julius Thomas of the Denver Broncos and DeShawn Shead of the Seattle Seahawks will both play in Super Bowl XLVIII on Feb. 2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

Thomas, a Pro Bowl tight end with the Broncos this season, was a winner on Sunday as Denver beat New England, 26-16, in the AFC Championship. A 6-5, 250-pounder who played both football and basketball at Portland State from 2007-10, Thomas had a team-high eight receptions for 85 yards in the game.

Shead, a special teamer and backup defensive back for the Seahawks, was a winner as Seattle defeated San Francisco, 23-17. Shead, a 6-2, 220-pound DB played for the Vikings from 2008-11. He did not record any statistics in Sunday's NFC Championship game but played on kick and punt return teams for the Seahawks.

The meeting of the former Portland State Viking teammates in the Super Bowl means one of them is guaranteed to be a Super Bowl Champion.

One other former Viking came close to the Super Bowl this season. Linebacker Jordan Senn (2004-07) plays for the Carolina Panthers. The Beaverton native was still alive until last week when Carolina lost to San Francisco, 23-10, in the NFL playoffs.

Only two other former Portland State Vikings are believed to have played in a Super Bowl game, and both were tight ends.

Clint Didier played in three Super Bowls for the Washington Redskins during the 1980s. He was a winner Super Bowl XVII and XXI. Ted Popson was a member of the 1995 Super Champion San Francisco 49ers as they won Super Bowl XXIX.