When Deone Bucannon suits up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Kansas City Chiefs for Super Bowl LV, Sunday, he will continue the lineage of Washington State football alumni who have made an impact on professional football's championship game.

Mark Rypien (QB, 1983-85) turned in an MVP performance on football's biggest stage when the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame member completed 18 of 33 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Washington Redskins to a 37-24 victory against the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI.

Rypien's Most Valuable Player honor joined him with another Cougar legend who garnered MVP accolades in a pro football championship game.

WSU Athletic Hall of Fame member Keith Lincoln (HB, 1958-60) earned MVP honors leading the San Diego Chargers to the 1963 AFL Championship.

Lincoln was a dominate force in the Chargers' 51-10 win against the Boston Patriots, rushing for 206 yards and adding 123 more receiving. Lincoln scored two touchdowns, one on a 67-yard run in the first quarter and a 25-yard reception in the fourth.

Rypien and Lincoln are not the only Cougars who are members of world championship teams.

WSU Athletic Hall of Fame member Mel Hein (C, 1928-30), a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, played on the 1934 and 1938 NFL Champion New York Giants teams.

Both seasons were noteworthy in NFL history. The 1934 NFL Championship game is known as the Sneakers Game and in 1938 Hein earned NFL MVP honors as center for the Giants. Hein is the only offensive lineman to win the NFL MVP award. He was featured on the program cover for the '38 championship game.

Hein's 1931 Rose Bowl teammate and fellow WSU Athletic and NFL Hall of Fame member Glen 'Turk' Edwards (T, 1929-31) was a member of the 1937 NFL Champion Washington Redskins.

Several other Cougars captured NFL Championships. Dick Farman (G,1936-38) was a member of the 1942 Washington Redskin NFL Champion team,  Don Paul (RH, 1947-49) (Cleveland, '54 and '55); Harland Svare (e, 1950-52) (New York Giants, '56); Clifford Marker (5, 1923-25) (New York Giants, '27); Al Hoptowit  (G, 1935-37) (Chicago Bears, '43); Bryon Bailey (H, 1949-51)  (Detroit Lions, '52; also won a CFL title with B.C. Lions in 1964) and Jerry Williams (H, 1946-48) (Los Angeles Rams, '51).

LaVern "Torgy" Torgeson (C & LB, 1948-50) played for the Detroit Lions that reached the NFL Championship game in 1952 and 1953, though losing both times. After his playing career, Torgeson was also on the losing end as an assistant coach for the Redskins in Super Bowl VII, Rams in Super Bowl XIV and back with the Redskins for Super Bowl XVIII. However, Torgeson finally was on the winning side, earning three rings as an assistant coach with the Redskins (Super Bowl XVII, Super Bowl XXII, and Super Bowl XXVI). 

Jason David (DB, 2000-03) was a member of the 2006 Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl XLI Championship team and Drew Bledsoe (QB, 1990-92) was a member of the New England Patriots Super Bowl XXXVI championship team. Eric Williams (DT, 1983) joined fellow Coug, Rypien earning a ring for the Redskins in Super Bowl XXVI.

Gail Cogdill (WR, 1957-59) became the first Cougar to play on a Super Bowl team when he suited up for the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III against Joe Namath and the New York Jets.

Bledsoe was the starting QB for the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. Bledsoe suited up with fellow Cougars Chad Eaton (DT, 1992-94) and Ricky Reynolds (CB, 1984-86), who also played for the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. Across the field for Super Bowl XXXI, Chris Hayes (DB, 1993-95) earned a ring with the Green Bay Packers.

Mike Wilson (WR, 1978-80) earned four rings with the San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl XVI, XIX, XXIII, XIV) and Allan Kennedy (OL, 1976, 1978-80) earned two rings with the 49ers (Super Bowl XVI, XIX).  Erik Howard (DT, 1982-85) earned two rings with the New York Giants (Super Bowl XXI, XXV), Eason Ramson (TE, 1974-77) earned a ring with the 49ers (Super Bowl XVI) and Brett Carolan (TE, 1990-93) also earned a ring with the 49ers as a rookie in Super Bowl XXIX.

Most recently, Destiny Vaeao (DL 2012-15) and Dom Williams (WR, 2011-15) were members of the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl LII Championship team.

Other championship game appearances by Cougars include a(RB, 1961-63) who joined Lincoln on the 1964 Charger team that lost the 1964 AFL title game.

Robbie Tobeck (OG/C, 1991-92) played on two Super Bowl teams, the Atlanta Falcons (Super Bowl XXXIII) and Seattle Seahawks (Super Bowl XL) and Marcus Trufant (CB, 1999-2002) also played for the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Lewis Bush (LB, 1988-91) was with the Chargers for Super Bowl XXIX. A

Bernard Jackson (TB, 1970-71), a 2013 WSU Athletic Hall of Fame inductee) started for the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII and Polynesian Football Hall of Fame inductee and WSU Athletic Hall of Fame member Jack Thompson (QB, 1975-78) was a member of the Super Bowl XVI Cincinnati Bengals squad.