Former BYU legends reflect on their Super Bowl games, talk up Andy Reid, and share a few regrets

F1 São Paulo GP 2026 – Practice 3

Story by

Story by
Former BYU legends reflect on their Super Bowl games, talk up Andy Reid, and share a few regrets

Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) celebrates with center Matt Birk (77) after his 1-yard touchdown reception against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. The Ravens held onto win the game, giving the former BYU great a Super Bowl ring. | Gerald Herbert, Associated Press

Dave McCann · Deseret News

Wed, Feb 5, 2025 ·

9 min read

About Our Ads

Austin Collie and Dennis Pitta are a pair of BYU Hall of Famers who had very different Super Bowl experiences. Pitta's Ravens beat the 49ers 34-31 to win the Big Game in 2013, while Collie's Colts lost to the Saints 31-17 in 2010.

Both best friends own championship rings — but Pitta's shines a little brighter, even as it sits in a dark safe at his home — and they love taking jabs at each other.

"I only bring it out when people ask to see it and then I take a glance at it and think, 'Oh, that is pretty cool,'" Pitta told the "Y's Guys" podcast this week. "Austin has never asked to look at it, but he has an AFC championship ring he'd love to show you."

Collie caught seven passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in the Colts' 30-17 victory against the New York Jets to advance to the Super Bowl.

"The day we got (our AFC championship rings), Peyton (Manning) came up to me and said, 'If I ever see that on your hand, we are going to have some problems,'" said Collie.

Enough said.

Super Bowl week

Both Pitta and Collie remember the week leading up to the Super Bowl as both chaotic and overwhelming.

"The media was nonstop," Collie said. "As a rookie, I was still trying to process being on the team at that point, being productive and seeing the fruits of that. It was a whirlwind."

Pitta's Super Bowl arrived in his third season with Baltimore.

"It's insane how many media outlets flock to the host site. I did interviews with the Food Network, all kinds of outlets that have nothing to do with football," Pitta said. "You start to realize how big this game is. It's way bigger than football at this point and you feel that throughout the week."

The night before

A sense of normalcy returned the night before the Super Bowl in the form of game prep at the hotel. Pitta and the Ravens faced San Francisco in New Orleans in the same Superdome as Sunday's game between the Eagles and Chiefs .

During Baltimore's team meeting, star linebacker Ray Lewis stood up and delivered a moment Pitta will never forget.

"If you have been around Ray, you know how passionate he is about football. He proceeded to tell us all the steps he took to get to this point to play in this game and his singular focus was to win this Super Bowl," Pitta said. "He said, 'What would you be willing to sacrifice to feel that confetti hit you in the face?' That's an incredible line."

The message hit home.

"In football, the ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl. So, what were we willing to sacrifice in the next 24 hours to feel that confetti fall from the rafters?" Pitta said. "The message was very clear and after that, we had a singular focus and knew we needed to play our best come tomorrow."

Game day

Collie and the Colts took the field in Miami to face the Saints.

"The first time it dawned on me that I was actually at the Super Bowl was when I first came out onto the field for pregame warmups," Collie said. "You could feel the energy. It was so thick you could cut it with a knife. The guys you were playing with were far more dialed in and intense. I remember going up to Peyton during our pregame deal and him giving me a little bit different of a look."

During the game, Manning was all business, with a small taint of sarcasm.

"I caught a screen and thought I could get up an alleyway," said Collie, who finished the game with six receptions for 66 yards. When returning to the huddle, Manning said in a dry tone, "That was awesome. Thank you for that two-yard gain."

Collie didn't say a word and kept his head down in the huddle.

Pitta caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco in the second quarter of Baltimore's Super Bowl against San Francisco to give the Ravens a 14-3 lead.

"Most people catch the ball and are aware of the situation and hand it to the equipment manager to make sure they can get it and put it up on their mantle," Pitta said. "I caught the ball and chucked it up in the air and celebrated with my teammates. It felt like every other touchdown."

With some help from the staff, Pitta eventually recovered the not-like-every-other-touchdown ball and still has it today.

Halftime

Collie has two beefs about his Super Bowl. Not only did the Colts come up short on the scoreboard, but the halftime show also left much to be desired.

"I don't want to throw any band under the bus, and I don't want be disrespectful, but (we had) by far the worst halftime guest at the Super Bowl ever," Collie said. "It was The Who. Somebody had to tell me who they were. I was like, 'Who?' They said 'The Who?' I said 'No, I'm asking you, who?"

Pitta's Super Bowl had all the pizzazz of Beyonce — followed by some bad luck.

Shortly after the third quarter began, the lights went out and stayed out for 45 minutes. Pitta and his teammates sat down on the field and made small talk in the dark until they came back on.

Indianapolis Colts receiver Austin Collie is chased by New Orleans Saints cornerback Malcolm Jenkins during Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. | Chuck Burton, Associated Press

"It was really bizarre to be (sitting) on the turf during the Super Bowl, just having regular conversations," Pitta said. "We did not handle the moment well. We were up 28-6 when the lights came back on and (San Francisco) came storming back."

Just as strange as the faulty lights was the fact that nearly two hours had passed between Baltimore's final play on offense in the second quarter and their first offensive play in the third. The Ravens held on for a 3-point win.

Postgame

When the Super Bowl ends, the winning team stays on the field for the trophy presentation while the losing squad heads to the locker room.

"I remember a bunch of our captains got up and I believe it was Jeff Saturday who said, 'Nobody ever remembers the loser of the Super Bowl,'" said Collie. "Sure enough, the day after it felt like that."

Collie was disappointed, but convinced this wouldn't be his last Super Bowl.

"When you are with that type of team, when you get done, you think, 'Hey, we are going to be back here again, especially with this group of guys,'" Collie said. "(But) it gets decimated once Peyton had his neck injury and you never have an opportunity to go back. (Because of that) every year, watching the Super Bowl gets tougher and tougher."

Pitta's postgame was a celebration with family and friends, and a flurry of interviews all while the coveted confetti that Lewis wanted to feel on his face fell from the sky. But for the former BYU star, something was missing.

"In any win in the NFL or in any team sport, the best moment is in the locker room and being able to celebrate with your teammates when you are all there together. That's one of the coolest moments in sports. We never got that," Pitta said of the postgame chaos. "You feel a little shortchanged because you didn't have that locker room experience with the team."

Andy Reid

Another former Cougar can make a Super Bowl memory on Sunday by becoming the first head coach in NFL history to win three straight championships. Andy Reid can do that if the Chiefs beat the Eagles.

"It's kind of obnoxious to be that good and be winning that much," joked Collie. "With what he's been able to do and what Patrick Mahomes has been able to do, it's the same script over and over again."

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, left, talks to field judge Anthony Jeffries during game against the New Orleans Saints, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo. | Reed Hoffmann, Associated Press

Pitta believes Reid's success has come through hard work, talented players and some timely fortune — three needed requirements in a Super Bowl run.

"Yes, you have to be good. Yes, you have to be prepared for those moments and yes, you have to be able to perform at your best when your best is needed at the end of a game — which Mahomes and Andy Reid and all those guys do better than anybody," Pitta said. "But it also takes a little bit of luck, and they have gotten the breaks when they needed them, and sometimes the ref has to spot the ball back a little bit when you are playing against the Bills ."

Joking aside, Pitta and Collie respect Reid's accomplishments.

"When you start to think about all those moments that have to go right, and they do, that's what makes this potential three-peat so remarkable," Pitta said. "Nobody has more respect for that than we do as former players because we know how difficult it is to get to that point."

Sunday picks

Pitta and Collie have ties that bind them to both teams. They admire Reid as a former Cougar and they are loyal to Philadelphia 's offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who is also member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"This will be (Kellen's) first Super Bowl as a member of the church," Collie said. "Let's support that. Let's support our new members!"

Moore and his family lived next door to the Pittas when he was with the Chargers in San Diego. "I'm gonna root for Moore to get his first Super Bowl," Pitta said. "Even though, if Andy wins his third — what an accomplishment. That would be great, but I'm riding with the Eagles."

Pitta's keys:The Chiefs win if they protect the football. The Eagles win if they can establish the run and keep Mahomes off the field.

Winner:Eagles

Collie's keys:The Chiefs win if they hold Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley to 100 yards or less. The Eagles win if they create turnovers and capitalize on them.

Winner:Eagles

Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts "Y's Guys" at ysguys.com and is the author of the children's book "C is for Cougar," available at deseretbook.com.

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: