Two Former Minnesota Standouts Capture Super Bowl Ring With Seahawks

Boye Mafe and Nick Kallerup win their first Super Bowl title with the Seattle Seahawks.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Two former University of Minnesota football players, Boye Mafe and Nick Kallerup, have won their first Super Bowl championship with the Seattle Seahawks. Mafe, a defensive end, was a second-round draft pick by the Seahawks in 2022 after a standout college career with the Gophers. Kallerup, a tight end, joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2025 after playing four seasons at Minnesota.

Why it matters

The Gophers football program has a proud history, with 21 former players having now won Super Bowl rings. Mafe and Kallerup's success highlights the continued pipeline of talent from the University of Minnesota to the NFL, and their championship win will inspire current and future Gophers players.

The details

Mafe had one tackle in the Seahawks' Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, while Kallerup did not record any stats but earned a championship ring in his rookie season. Both players were key contributors for the Gophers during their college careers, with Mafe compiling 87 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks from 2017 to 2021, and Kallerup playing in 57 games as a blocking specialist.

  • The Seahawks defeated the Patriots 27-24 in Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026.
  • Mafe was selected by the Seahawks in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
  • Kallerup joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft.

The players

Boye Mafe

A defensive end who played 42 games for the University of Minnesota Gophers from 2017 to 2021, compiling 87 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Nick Kallerup

A tight end who played 57 career games for the University of Minnesota Gophers, mostly as a blocking specialist. He joined the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft.

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What they’re saying

“OMO NAIJA!!! 🇳🇬 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION, BOYE MAFE 🏆”

— NFL Africa (Twitter)

The takeaway

Mafe and Kallerup's Super Bowl victory with the Seahawks demonstrates the continued success of University of Minnesota football players in the NFL. Their championship win will inspire current and future Gophers to strive for the highest levels of achievement in their careers.