Ron Rivera could become one of four to win Super Bowl as player and coach

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Few NFL players ever get a chance to play in a Super Bowl, much less win one. Fewer get the Gatorade treatment after coaching a Super Bowl victory.

The 49 Super Bowls have been won by 30 coaches. Just three of those coaches also won as players: Mike Ditka (Cowboys ’71, Bears ’85), Tom Flores (Chiefs ’69, Raiders ’80 and ’83) and Tony Dungy (Steelers ’78 and Colts ’06).

That number could grow to four if coach Ron Rivera (Bears ’85) and his Carolina Panthers are able to defeat the Broncos in Super Bowl 50. Rivera would follow in the footsteps of his former mentor, Ditka, who also won Super Bowls as an assistant coach with the Cowboys.

Denver head coach Gary Kubiak came close, but his Broncos teams lost in each of his three Super Bowl appearances as a player.

Mike Ditka coaching tree