Two former Buffs to play in Super Bowl LX

Brady Russell (left) and Christian Gonzalez (right) were teammates with the Colorado Buffaloes for two seasons from 2020 to 2021. (Photos via NBC Sports (left) and 98.5 The Sports Hub (right)) 

Super Bowl LX is set to kick off today, and two former Buffs will take center stage at the big game.

CB Christian Gonzalez (New England Patriots)

Christian Gonzalez lines up against his future team in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Casey Paul/CU Athletics)

Although he spent his final collegiate season as an Oregon Duck, Christian Gonzalez spent the majority of his career with the Colorado Buffaloes. 

The native of Carrollton, Texas, started every game as a freshman in 2020 as he helped Colorado reach that year’s Alamo Bowl. Gonzalez recorded 25 total tackles and five pass breakups as a rotational cornerback that season.

During his sophomore season in 2022, Gonzalez established himself as a cornerstone of Colorado’s defense. He recorded a career-high 53 total tackles that season while breaking up another five passes. 

Looking to take his play to the next level, Gonzalez transferred across the Pac-12 to the Oregon Ducks in 2022. There, he became a blue-chip NFL prospect. While he continued to fly to the ball-carrier as a tackling machine, he also saw a major increase in turnovers forced. Gonzalez recorded four interceptions in his lone season at Oregon, and that, alongside his 51 total tackles that season, made him a first-round NFL Draft pick.

Gonzalez was selected 17th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots and has carved out a career as a star corner in Foxborough. Despite missing most of his rookie year due to injury, Gonzalez has recorded 128 tackles in the last two seasons, along with two interceptions and a fumble recovery to boot.

Gonzalez has been an anchor for New England’s defense on its run to the Super Bowl. He will now be tasked with lining up against the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

FB Brady Russell (Seattle Seahawks)

Brady Russell hauls in a reception during his career game against the USC Trojans. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Brady Russell was a committed Buff in his college days, and it started in his recruitment process. He was a two-star recruit out of Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colorado, and elected to walk on at CU over a scholarship offer from the Northern Colorado Bears.

Russell played for the Buffs from 2018 to 2022, operating as a hybrid tight end and fullback. He was mostly used in a blocking role, but factored into the pass game from time to time. He recorded 799 career yards with the Buffs, along with three touchdowns.

Russell’s most memorable game in a Buffaloes uniform came against the USC Trojans on Oct. 2, 2021. In that game, Russell recorded a career-high 87 receiving yards on three catches. Despite his efforts, Colorado went on to lose that game 37-14.

While Russell went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, he’s carved out a nice NFL career for himself. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent and made their practice squad after the preseason. But midway through the 2023 season, Russell was signed off Philly’s practice squad to the main roster of the Seattle Seahawks.

Russell has remained there as their fullback ever since. 

While he hasn’t contributed to any offensive stat sheets in his NFL career to this point, he’s been quite valuable on special teams for the Seahawks. He’s recorded 31 total tackles on the kickoff and punt teams, a role he will be in once again on Super Bowl Sunday.

Super Bowl LX will air at 4:30 p.m. MT (NBC), as both former Buffs look to reach the ultimate career mountaintop: being crowned Super Bowl champion.