Former University of Central Florida football players will play in this year’s Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Amari Kight ‘24, Shaquill Griffin ‘16, and Richie Grant ‘20 all have a chance at hoisting the Lombardi trophy. Something thirteen former Knights have done before according to UCF Today.
Rookie Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Amari Kight was a graduate transfer from the University of Alabama when he enrolled at UCF in January 2023.
Kight came out of high school as one of the top rated offensive linemen in 2019 with four stars and ranked one of the top players in Alabama. He ended up redshirting at the end of Alabama’s 2019 season and had minimal playing time in 2020. Kight saw the field a little more coming off the bench in three games the next year. In 2022, he was Alabama’s backup left tackle in 12 games including field goal and PAT units according to UCF Athletics.
During his time at UCF, Kight was a starter on the offensive line for two seasons. Kight went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft and signed with the Seattle Seahawks during the season. He’s played four games and contributed to their playoff run.
Nine-year defensive back and NFL veteran Shaquill Griffin was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Griffin is known as a standout player in UCF’s secondary who successfully transitioned to the NFL. Griffin spent all four years playing football at UCF with his twin brother, Shaquem Griffin, who also made it to the NFL.
Griffin has suited up for multiple teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings. He returned to the Seahawks last June.
Five-year veteran safety Richie Grant was an all-conference selected defensive back who helped lead the Knights during their historic 25-0 unbeaten streak in 2017-18 according to UCF Today.
During his time at UCF, Grant was named Jim Thorpe Award Honorable Mention Player of the Week once, was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award and in his senior year led the Knights with 72 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles to go along with two fumble recoveries.
Grant was drafted to the Atlanta Falcons in the 2021 NFL Draft and signed to the New England Patriots practice squad in 2025.
All three players will play in their first Super Bowl this February. Despite there only being one winner, a former UCF Knight will represent Central Florida by getting the chance to hold the Vince Lombardi Trophy.