DID YOU KNOW? Three Eagles have represented North Carolina Central University on the National Football League's grandest stage - the Super Bowl.

The first NCCU Eagle to make a Super Bowl appearance was Richard Sligh, who was a reserve tackle with the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 14, 1968. Sligh, who holds the distinction as the tallest player in NFL history (7'0"), played at NCCU from 1962-64 and was later drafted by the Raiders in the 10th round of the 1967 NFL draft.

On Jan. 24, 1982, former NCCU Eagle Louis Breeden was a starting cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI against the San Francisco 49ers. Earlier in the season (Nov. 8, 1981), Breeden intercepted a pass thrown by San Diego Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts and returned it a team-record 102 yards for a touchdown. The following year, he was selected as a First-Team All-Pro. A two-time all-conference pick during his NCCU career from 1973-76, Breeden was chosen by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 1977 NFL draft. He completed his 10-year NFL career with 33 interceptions for 558 return yards and two touchdowns.

On Feb. 7, 2021, Ryan Smith represented NCCU as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV, hosted inside Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. With the Bucs defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, Smith became NCCU's first Super Bowl champion. A fourth-round pick in 2016 by the Buccaneers, Smith capped his standout NCCU tenure from 2012-15 with a school career record 168 solo tackles, while finishing sixth in career tackles with 263 and 11th in passes defended with 31 (seven interceptions and 24 pass break-ups). He also helped lead the Eagles to back-to-back Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships.