For a nation of about 35 million, Canada has managed to produce a great share of elite pro athletes – not just in the NHL.
Names like Steve Nash, Andrew Wiggins, Ferguson Jenkins and Larry Walker stand out as some of the best NBA and MLB players, a role traditionally occupied by athletes from the United States.
As more Canadians get drafted into the NFL, Super Bowl props will start to include odds on a Canadian scoring a touchdown during the big game.
So far, a select few Canadian NFL players have tasted Super Bowl glory, including setting the standard for other football players in Canada by becoming the Super Bowl MVP. Hopefully, this list will ensure you don’t overlook Canadian players for your daily fantasy football team based on preconceptions about our great nation’s Footballing ability.
5. Mitch Berger – Super Bowl XLIII – Pittsburgh Steelers
He had a long career, playing for a third of all teams in the NFL between 1994 and 2009.
His longest stint was with the Minnesota Vikings, where he played from 1996-2001.
He finally lucked out in 2008, when he became a punter for the Pittsburgh Steelers, becoming part of the team that won Super Bowl XLIII.
He earned his spot on the roster by beating out another punter who didn’t perform well during the regular season.
He eventually became known as one of the better tackling punters, scoring five tackles in 2008.
During his time in the NFL, he lofted 847 punts, averaging 42.9 yards for a total of 36,363.
Before his NFL career, he was an all-provincial punter and kicker in British Columbia while holding down the starting quarterback position.
His transition to college went well, where he earned all-American honors before being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994.
After his NFL career, he opened up restaurants and nightclubs in Vancouver. Interestingly, he ended up appearing on Millionaire Matchmaker and meeting his wife Bambi through the reality show.
4. Tom Nutten – Super Bowl XXXIV – St. Louis Rams
Tom Nutten was born in Toledo, Ohio, but ended up moving to Germany with his family, before moving again to Canada.
This center-guard spent his formative football years playing in Magog and Lennoxville in Quebec.
His journey to the NFL included a stop at Western Michigan University, after playing with Champlain Lennoxville Prep School.
He got his call up to the big leagues when he was selected in the seventh round of the NFL entry draft as the 221nd pick.
He didn’t earn a permanent roster spot right away. He left the Buffalo Bills – the team which drafted him – to play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, located across the border only an hour and a half away.
Finally, after a brief stint with the Amsterdam Admirals overseas, he landed with the St. Louis Rams, where he played for four years.
He won Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams, which was one of the most exciting games in NFL history.
Nutten was part of the unheralded but vital offensive line who protected Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner, appearing in two Super Bowls with the Rams.
3. Luke Willson – Super Bowl XLVIII – Seattle Seahawks
A truly talented athlete, Luke Willson was a multi-sport star, playing football and baseball at a high level.
He went as far as signing with the Toronto Blue Jays after playing with the Canadian Junior National Baseball team.
Instead, he decided to rededicate himself to football, and was drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 CFL draft as the 32 pick.
In the 2013 draft, he was selected in the fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks as the 158th pick.
He made the squad right away as a rookie, and quickly carved a solid reputation as a tight end.
Football Outsiders rated him as the second best first-year tight end in the NFL, outperforming several tight ends picked before him.
He won a ring in his first season during Super Bowl XLVIII, which was one of the most lopsided upsets in the history of the big game.
He didn’t really have to do much, but he did catch a pair of passes for 17 yards. He nearly became a back-to-back Super Bowl champion, but Pete Carroll decided to pass instead of running Marshawn Lynch into the end zone, handing the Patriots Super Bowl XLIX.
A popular personality in Seattle, he does a weekly guest spot on a Seattle rock radio channel, called “The End Zone with Luke Willson”.
2. Jon Ryan – Super Bowl XLVIII – Seattle Seahawks
Jon Ryan started his pro football career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, playing in the CFL for a couple of years, becoming a CFL all-star in 2005.
In his first pro season, he finished second in punting average on the highest volume of punts, attracting notice from across the border.
Growing up, he dressed as a punter for Halloween, so when he signed with the Green Bay Packers, he fulfilled a lifelong dream.
He played university ball with the Regina Rams, pulling double duties as a wide receiver and a punter.
On numerous occasions, Ryan has ended up in rushing situations, managing to score a touchdown against the Vikings in 2007.
In the same year, he showed the strength of his leg, booming a 72-yard punt, which was the second longest in Packers franchise history.
The Seattle Seahawks increased the Canadian content of their lineup by signing him for the 2008 season, and Ryan has played there ever since.
Along with Luke Willson, he earned a championship ring during the Super Bowl XLVIII rout against the Broncos. Over his career, he’s averaged 44.7 yards over 814 punts, accumulating 36,426 yards.
1. Mark Rypien – Super Bowl XXII, XXVI – Washington Redskins
The most successful Canadian in the Super Bowl is Mark Rypien, born in Calgary.
He was a legendary pivot with the Washington between 1986-1993.
He reached his peak in 1992, when he lead Washington to a 37-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXXVI.
On his way to being named the Super Bowl MVP, this two-time Pro Bowl member completed 18 of 33 passes for 292 yards, including two TD passes and one interception.
This was the peak of his career, as he ended up bouncing around seven different NFL teams without finding a new fit.
He was known for being one of the best deep passers in the game, and is by far the most influential Canadian to play in the NFL.
