Alaskan Football Player Reflects on Super Bowl Experience

Mark Schlereth, a three-time Super Bowl champion from Anchorage, discusses the journey of fellow Alaskan Brandon Pili to the big game.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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As another player from Alaska, Brandon Pili, prepares to play in the Super Bowl for the Seattle Seahawks, Mark Schlereth, a three-time Super Bowl champion also from Anchorage, reflects on his own experience reaching the pinnacle of the NFL. Schlereth, who won titles with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos in the 1990s, offers advice to Pili about staying focused and treating the big game like any other. He also shares some of his most memorable Super Bowl moments.

Why it matters

Alaska has produced very few NFL players, so seeing two Alaskans reach the Super Bowl is a rare and significant accomplishment. Schlereth's perspective provides insight into the challenges faced by undrafted players like Pili who have to fight to make NFL rosters, as well as the mental approach required to excel on the biggest stage.

The details

Pili, a former Dimond High star, signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent out of USC in 2023 and has since found a home with the Seahawks. Schlereth, who was a 10th-round draft pick out of the University of Idaho, won three Super Bowls in the 1990s - one with Washington and two with Denver. He says he admires Pili's journey and is excited to see another Alaskan get a chance to win the big game.

  • On Sunday, February 9, 2026, Brandon Pili will play in Super Bowl LX for the Seattle Seahawks.
  • Schlereth won his three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos.

The players

Brandon Pili

A former Dimond High star from Anchorage, Alaska, who signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent out of USC in 2023 and is now playing in the Super Bowl for the Seattle Seahawks.

Mark Schlereth

A three-time Super Bowl champion from Anchorage, Alaska, who won titles with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos in the 1990s.

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What they’re saying

“I love it when I see guys that are not only from my hometown in Alaska but also the guys that journey that way and have all the odds stacked up against them.”

— Mark Schlereth (adn.com)

“It's really cool to see him get an opportunity to win this thing because the Seahawks are legit. They're a really good football team. I know that's a team that most people in Alaska follow, and they're a damn good team, so that's exciting.”

— Mark Schlereth (adn.com)

What’s next

The Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will take place on Sunday, February 9, 2026.

The takeaway

Schlereth's journey to three Super Bowl championships as an underdog draft pick provides inspiration for Pili and other Alaskan athletes striving to make it in the NFL against long odds. Their shared hometown pride and determination to succeed at the highest level of the sport is a testament to the resilience of Alaskan athletes.