5 Super Bowl LX Players With Ties To NorCal

These players were either born, grew up in or attended a university in Northern California.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Several players in this year's Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks have ties to Northern California. Five Patriots players in particular - Jaylinn Hawkins, Craig Woodson, Austin Hooper, Marte Mapu, and Lan Larison - either attended a university in the region or are from NorCal.

Why it matters

The presence of these NorCal-connected players in the Super Bowl highlights the talent pipeline from the region to the NFL. It also generates local interest and pride in the big game for fans in Northern California.

The details

The five Patriots players with NorCal ties include: Jaylinn Hawkins, a safety who played at Cal from 2015-2019; Craig Woodson, a rookie safety who played at Cal from 2019-2024; Austin Hooper, a tight end who grew up in San Ramon and played at Stanford; Marte Mapu, a linebacker from Sacramento State; and Lan Larison, a running back who attended UC Davis and holds several school records.

  • Super Bowl LX will be played on Sunday, February 9, 2026 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

The players

Jaylinn Hawkins

A 28-year-old safety who played for Cal from 2015 to 2019. He was selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Craig Woodson

A 24-year-old rookie safety for the Patriots. He played at Cal from 2019 to 2024 and was drafted in the fourth round by the Patriots.

Austin Hooper

A 31-year-old tight end for the Patriots. He grew up in San Ramon and was drafted out of Stanford in 2015 by the Atlanta Falcons.

Marte Mapu

A 26-year-old linebacker for the Patriots out of Sacramento State. The SoCal native attended Sac State from 2017 to 2022.

Lan Larison

A 24-year-old running back for the Patriots who attended UC Davis. Larison holds the university's record for career all-purpose yards and single-season all-purpose yards.

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The takeaway

The presence of these five NorCal-connected players in the Super Bowl showcases the region's ability to produce top-tier NFL talent. It will likely generate excitement and local pride among fans in Northern California ahead of the big game.