Cal Coach Tosh Lupoi Celebrates Two Super Bowl Golden Bears

New Cal coach Tosh Lupoi is excited about Golden Bear alums Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson playing in the Super Bowl for the New England Patriots.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

New Cal football coach Tosh Lupoi is enthusiastic about two former Golden Bears players, Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson, who will be starting as safeties for the New England Patriots in the upcoming Super Bowl. Lupoi took the opportunity to visit with the players and pick their brains about the Patriots' defensive strategy. He was impressed by their commitment and preparation, and also noted that several other NFL players with Cal connections had visited the coaching offices this week.

Why it matters

Lupoi's excitement about Hawkins and Woodson playing in the Super Bowl highlights the strong NFL pipeline from the University of California, Berkeley. Their success also reflects well on Lupoi's new tenure as Cal's head coach, as he looks to build on the program's tradition of producing professional talent.

The details

Hawkins and Woodson, both fourth-round draft picks, will be starting as safeties for the New England Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Lupoi took the opportunity to visit with the players and pick their brains about the Patriots' defensive strategy, wanting to potentially implement some of their insights into Cal's own program. Lupoi was impressed by the players' commitment, preparation, and mental approach to the game.

  • The Super Bowl LX will be played on February 9, 2026 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
  • Hawkins and Woodson visited the Cal football offices earlier this week, ahead of the Super Bowl.

The players

Tosh Lupoi

The new head coach of the University of California, Berkeley football team.

Jaylinn Hawkins

A former University of California, Berkeley football player who is now a starting safety for the New England Patriots.

Craig Woodson

A former University of California, Berkeley football player who is now a starting safety for the New England Patriots.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“So cool, one just to see how much pride they have in this place and the level of excitement for them and for us as a program as we're getting established here as a new crew, a new chapter.”

— Tosh Lupoi, Head Coach, University of California, Berkeley (si.com)

“I just absolutely grilled them in my office — made sure all the content and cameras were off — about their game plan organized toward the Seahawks. We actually got into game-plan talks, trying to steal something possible for us implement in our program, make us better.”

— Tosh Lupoi, Head Coach, University of California, Berkeley (si.com)

“The level of commitment, what's required there. Two guys, as I've done a little research on them, they're elite when it comes to the mental aspect and the preparation.”

— Tosh Lupoi, Head Coach, University of California, Berkeley (si.com)

What’s next

Lupoi and the Cal coaching staff will continue to monitor the performance of Hawkins and Woodson in the Super Bowl, looking for insights they can apply to their own program. The success of these former Golden Bears will also likely boost Lupoi's recruiting efforts as he looks to build a strong roster for the upcoming season.

The takeaway

Tosh Lupoi's enthusiasm for the success of Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson, two former Cal players now starring in the Super Bowl, highlights the strong NFL pipeline from the University of California, Berkeley. Lupoi's ability to connect with and learn from these players demonstrates his commitment to building a winning program that can develop professional-level talent.