2 St. Rita High School Alumni Represented In 2021 Super Bowl

CHICAGO — St. Rita High School is proud to share a unique and special moment, as two St. Rita alumni are participating in the Super Bowl this year. The graduates are Mike Kafka '05 and Pat O'Connor '12. Kafka is a graduate of St. Mary Star of the Sea and O'Connor from Mt. Greenwood Elementary School, who played for the St. Christina football program.

Kafka is the Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback coach working with MVP Patrick Mahomes. Kafka is a former Northwestern Wildcats standout quarterback from the 2006-2010 era. He played several seasons in the NFL before heading to the coaching ranks. Kafka was a member of the coaching staff in Kansas City last year when they won the Super Bowl. He also is connected to and knows Bears Coach Matt Nagy, from their days on the Chiefs' staff under Andy Reid. Kafka is an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks, and could be a future NFL Head coach.

O'Connor is a backup defensive end and special teams starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. O'Connor played collegiate football at Eastern Michigan, was drafted in the 7th round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, and has been on the roster for Tampa Bay for the past two seasons. He had a blocked punt earlier this year and a QB sack of Minnesota Vikings' Quarterback Kirk Cousins.

It is rare to have two alumni from the same high school represented in the Super Bowl and this is something we don't think many high schools in Illinois — or even the country — can say. We are so proud of Mike and Pat and our St. Rita High School community is ecstatic over the news that we will have a St. Rita alumnus — one way or the other — hoisting a Super Bowl trophy in two weeks.