Nebraska Football: Greg Zuerlein kicks Ndamukong Suh, Rams to Super Bowl

Ndamukong Suh has had a great NFL career but thanks to a clutch field goal from Greg Zuerlein, the Nebraska football great is now headed to the Super Bowl.

When it comes to former Nebraska football players currently in the NFL, there may be no one better than Ndamukong Suh. And after years of no success in the playoffs, the former Husker great is now going to the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams.

Suh, who was one of the most dominant players in Nebraska football history, was the No. 2 overall pick of the Detroit Lions back in 2010. However, he has mostly been on losing teams, outside of playoff berths with Detroit in 2011 and 2014 along with a trip to the postseason with the Dolphins in 2016.

Prior to this season, Suh left the Dolphins and joined the Rams, teaming up with Aaron Donald, the NFL’s best pass rusher. Together, the two have been dynamite and Sunday, both Suh and Donald had sacks in the Rams 26-23 overtime win.

While Suh didn’t make the game-winning kick, the guy who did, Greg Zuerlein also has a connection with Nebraska football but not the Cornhuskers. That’s because Zuerlein is a Lincoln, Nebraska native.

Zuerlein went to Missouri Western State before being discovered by the Rams and in the NFC Championship game in New Orleans, the kicker had the game of his life. He connected on a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter, including a 49-yarder that sent the game to overtime.

Then, following an interception by Drew Brees, Zuerlein went out to try a 57-yarder to send Suh and the Rams to the Super Bowl and to use a basketball term — it was nothing but net.

Yet, even though Suh didn’t hit the game-winning kick, he still was highly impactful. He finished the game with four tackles, 1.5 sacks and a key tackle for loss late in the game. Suh also notched two quarterback hits on Brees. The Rams had nine combined sacks/QB hits and Suh was credited with 3.5 of those.

During Suh’s nine-year NFL career, the former Heisman Trophy finalist has racked up 56 sacks, 107 tackles for loss, 166 quarterback hits, 481 tackles, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, one interception and one career touchdown.

Suh has also earned Pro-Bowl berths (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016), as well as being named an All-Pro three times including his rookie season in 2010. Before getting drafted by the Lions, Suh was an absolute force for Nebraska football and is one of the greatest Blackshirts of all time.

The defensive tackle was so good with 12 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in 2009, that he earned the AP Player of the Year Award. He also won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, as well as being a consensus All-American.

When his Husker days were all said and done, he registered 125 tackles, 49.5 TFL, 24 sacks, four interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.

Now, in two weeks at the Super Bowl, Suh will have the chance to add the one thing that is missing from an illustrious football resume — a championship.