WILLIAMSBURG — Week one of the NFL postseason kicks off this weekend, and William & Mary Tribe football alums are taking to the field for a shot at Super Bowl LX.
Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Sean McDermott, head coach of the Buffalo Bills, have led their squads to the playoffs once again. Tomlin and the Steelers will host the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, while McDermott and the Bills will visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 11.
Tomlin, a Class of 1995 graduate, earned a degree in sociology. Tomlin was a three-year starter for the Tribe, playing wide receiver. He finished his career with 101 receptions for a total of 2,054 yards. In 1994, he was selected first team All-Yankee Conference.
McDermott, a Class of 1998 graduate, earned a degree in finance. McDermott played in all 46 games of his career for the Tribe as a defensive back, starting every game in his junior and senior seasons. He helped the Tribe earn the Yankee Conference title in 1996 and also earned Academic All-Conference Honors in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, he was named a National Strength and Conditioning All-American.
In addition to Tomlin, the Steelers coaching staff also boasts Danny Smith, a former Tribe football graduate assistant coach from 1980-83.
McDermott’s Bills come with a stacked former Tribe coaching roster, including offensive coordinator Joe Brady and assistant coaches DJ Mangas and Christian Taylor.
Other playoff teams with ties to William & Mary include the Philadelphia Eagles, who have a former Tribe coach serving on its staff in passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Christian Parker.
The Los Angeles Rams front office also has ties to the Tribe. Ted Monago, who serves as the team’s senior personnel executive, coached tight ends at the university from 1998-2001.
Matchups
On Jan. 10 at 4:30 p.m. on FOX, the fourth-seeded Carolina Panthers (8-9) will host the sixth-seeded Los Angeles Rams (12-5) at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
On Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. on Amazon Prime, the second-seeded Chicago Bears (11-6) will host the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) at Soldier Field in Chicago.
On Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. on CBS, the third-seeded Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) will host the sixth-seeded Buffalo Bills (12-5) at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.
On Jan. 11 at 4:30 p.m. on FOX, the third-seeded Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) will host the sixth-seeded San Francisco 49ers (12-5) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
On Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. on Peacock, the second-seeded New England Patriots (14-3) will host the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
On Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. on ESPN, the fourth-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) will host the fifth-seeded Houston Texans (12-5) at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
The Seattle Seahawks (14-3) and Denver Broncos (14-3) have first-round byes.