Wisconsin Badger fans will be happy to see familiar faces this Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA for Super Bowl 50. The two former Badger alumni, Brad Nortman and Owen Daniels, however, will be facing each other as opponents in the NFL’s biggest game of the year.
Brookfield, WI native, Brad Nortman was the punter for Wisconsin from 2008 to 2012. Nortman attended Brookfield Central High School in Southeastern Wisconsin and was ranked in the top ten for high school recruits across Wisconsin and nationally. At Wisconsin, he set new school records, including career punting average (ranked 3rd with 42.1 yards), career punting yards (ranked 4th with 8,383 yards), and career punts (ranked fifth with 199 punts).
Nortman’s most well-known play with the Badgers occurred on October 23, 2010 against the Iowa Hawkeyes. In the fourth quarter, the Badgers faced a 4th & 4 while trailing 30-24. The successful fake punt by Nortman resulted in a 17-yard gain, followed by a touchdown by running back Montee Ball. The Badgers would win the game 31-30 and continue with a successful season, culminating with the Badgers earning their first Rose Bowl berth since 1999.
Nortman was drafted in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers as the 207th pick in the draft. The first punter ever drafted by the Panthers, Nortman became a record-breaking player. In 2013, he broke the Panthers’ record for average punting yards and ranked fourth in the NFL with 41.6 average yards. In 2013 and 2014, he had career long punts of 72 yards, the second-longest in the team’s history.
In the 2015 regular season, his fourth season in the NFL, Nortman averaged 45.4 yards on 70 punts. In the postseason, he averaged 38.4 yards on 8 punts. Nortman will be going into his first Super Bowl game this Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
The other former Badger, Owen Daniels, is a 9-year veteran of the NFL and current tight end for the Denver Broncos.
He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2006 draft by the Houston Texans. After eight seasons with the Texans, he was released by the team in 2014 and signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens. With the arrival of former Texans head coach and Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak to the Broncos in early 2015, Daniels signed a three-year contract with the Denver Broncos.
Daniels played a pivotal role in the AFC Championship against the New England Patriots. He scored Denver’s only two touchdowns, resulting in the Broncos defeating the Patriots 20-18.
The tight end played with the Badgers from 2002 to 2005 under head coach Barry Alvarez. He started as quarterback before moving to special teams and finally to the tight end position. In his Super Bowl media week interviews, Daniels referenced his Madison education when discussing his future career goals.
Daniels received of Bachelor of Science in atmospheric and oceanic sciences from UW-Madison, giving him the nickname of “The Weatherman” in the 2006 NFL draft. In his Monday media conference, Daniels said he hopes to pursue meteorology when his football days are finished.
No matter the outcome, Badger fans will be proud of their two alumni come Sunday night when Nortman and Daniels fight for their first Super Bowl ring.
Featured photo: The Gazette.