NEW ORLEANS – Sometimes, the most remarkable stories greet you as if they know you personally.

For instance, it’s interesting to note that there’s no certainty that iconic college football institutions like Ohio State, USC, LSU, Tennessee, Nebraska, or Miami will have a Super Bowl champion from their alumni this Sunday.

However, one distinguished powerhouse from the 1940s, the United States Military Academy at West Point, is guaranteed a winner.

To elaborate, when you cover a Super Bowl, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the tales of quarterbacks, coaches, standout players, and current controversies. I find myself discussing figures like Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce this week, while also thinking about Kansas City’s potential achievement of a historic third consecutive Super Bowl win.

However, immersing ourselves in the familiar stories can lead us to overlook unique details surrounding a game.

So, I was pleasantly surprised on Wednesday morning when Eagles offensive lineman Brett Toth (USMA class of 2018) approached me, shook my hand, and began asking questions in an unusual Super Bowl twist. Noticing my West Point cap (my father graduated from there), he was uninterested in hearing that I took the ROTC path to join the Army. We engaged in conversation, shared experiences about our military service, and then he headed off to team meetings in preparation for Super Bowl 59.

Feeling a bit frustrated that I hadn’t included Toth in my assignments, the encounter sparked some thoughts. Notably, former United States Naval Academy star and 1963 Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach is celebrated as a two-time Super Bowl champion (also a Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboys icon). Additionally, Air Force Academy alumnus Chad Hennings garnered three Super Bowl rings during the Cowboys’ legendary 1990s dynasty.

This led me to realize how fantastic it would be for Toth to finally connect West Point with a Lombardi Trophy.

But here’s the twist: that milestone has already been achieved.

West Point graduate Cole Christiansen (USMA class of 2020) has been part of the Chiefs since 2022. He made his Super Bowl debut last year, contributing 23 snaps on special teams during Kansas City’s thrilling overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 58.

Having two alumni participating in the upcoming Super Sunday is a significant source of pride for West Point.

“I couldn’t be prouder of both of these guys. Competing in the NFL is a massive challenge – they’re up against the best players in the world – and they rise to that challenge. I’m incredibly proud of their development,” said Army head coach Jeff Monken, who brought Toth and Christiansen to West Point, in a statement to YSL News Sports.

“It’s a huge honor for our program to have a representative in the NFL, and we take pride in being able to highlight their achievements”.

“It makes the idea of playing professional football a reality for everyone in our program, and for those considering joining us. It’s just amazing. Watching them compete in the biggest football game on the planet is fantastic. They are both great individuals.”

After speaking with Toth, I managed to catch up with Christiansen on Thursday morning to humorously inform him about my plans to feature Toth in my writing as a potential first Super Bowl champion from West Point.

Christiansen, a former team captain for Army who resembles actor Channing Tatum, smirked knowingly.

“Might’ve beaten him to the punch there,” he quipped, noting their shared history at West Point.

“It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m really grateful,” said Christiansen, who joined the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 after receiving a deferment for his military service until his NFL career finishes. The Department of Defense’s policy allowing service academy graduates to enter the NFL has been inconsistent, but he anticipates serving for five years, likely as a field artillery officer.

“We’ve all exceeded the initial expectations for our timelines, which I’m thankful for,” added Christiansen, who played nine games this season but will not participate on Sunday unless he’s promoted from the practice squad.

Toth hasn’t played during the 2024 regular season, which isn’t overly surprising given the formidable talent and depth of Philadelphia’s offensive line. However, he has been involved in all three playoff games for the Eagles, mostly on special teams, and did take some offensive snaps in their decisive NFC championship victory over the Washington Commanders.

Don’t underestimate his contribution, though.

“Brett is honestly one of my favorite teammates. If we’re talking about underrated players on this team, he’s definitely one of them,” stated Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata.

“He’s exceptionally intelligent. He can discuss football endlessly. I often tell him he should pursue coaching. I’ve said to him, ‘Forget playing – you’ll be an awesome coach once you’re done with your career.’ His ability to analyze defenses and grasp the scheme make him a vital resource for our team.”

Mailata mentioned that Toth is adept at “debugging” issues in the game plan, while Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson praised him as a crucial source of insights for both his teammates and coaches.

“Brett is an outstanding teammate with an extremely high football IQ – he truly understands the game,” said Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson. “He’s always eager to help others improve.”

While primarily a center, Toth can play all five positions on the offensive line and will be positioned for field-goal and extra-point attempts on Sunday – a potentially crucial role considering the Chiefs’ tendency to block kicks.

He’s excited about whatever opportunities come his way after fulfilling his military duty. Toth served as an engineer, a role somewhat akin to playing on the offensive line in the Army since both jobs can involve creating passages in challenging situations.

“Unique. Unorthodox,” he described his journey. It has included three separate stints with the Eagles, along with time spent with the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.

Toth has faced his share of challenges, including time spent on the practice squad and recovering from a torn ACL. All this occurred while he was an officer, balancing his military responsibilities and football aspirations, which saw his weight drop to 265 pounds when he joined Philadelphia in 2019. He currently stands 6-6 and weighs about 304 pounds.

“I really wasn’t sure if I’d get to play football again,” he reflected on his experience, yet he expresses gratitude nonetheless. He met his wife, who is also an engineer officer, while they were both stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

Monken was appointed before the 2014 season with a mission to revitalize a program that faced significant challenges in competing at the FBS level due to strict academic standards and the military obligation that cadets must fulfill upon graduation.

Toth was one of Monken’s earliest recruits, who estimated him to weigh around 220 pounds upon joining.

“I had to leap around the shower to get wet,” Monken reminisces.

However, much like the players from Philadelphia, Monken was quickly impressed by Toth’s sharp mind.

“He was posing advanced questions as a freshman. It felt like he was speaking a different dialect,” he mentioned. “He grasped our offense and strategies – he had a comprehensive understanding of everything occurring – just as well, if not better than anyone on our squad. His intelligence is remarkable.”

Whether by chance or design, Monken’s team began to excel once Toth became a starter in 2016, and since then, the Black Knights have only experienced one losing season. (They achieved a 12-2 record in 2024 and claimed victory in the Independence Bowl.)

Toth would argue that he possesses significant game experience for Super Bowl 59 – after all, he boasted a 2-0 record against Navy during his time as a starting player for the Cadets. (Christiansen had a record of 3-1.) Toth mentioned he plans to connect with his former teammate after the game, but for now, his attention is directed towards the Chiefs.

“I’m thankful for the journey,” he expressed. “There’s been a lot of challenges, and the path hasn’t always been easy, but I made it through.”

The same applies to Christiansen, who hails from modest beginnings.

“Cole was raised on a farm,” Monken noted. “He’s the type of person who had to rise early and put in hard work, which instilled a strong work ethic in him. He was quick, tough, exceptionally talented and had an incredible career with us.”

“It’s gratifying to see him achieving great things. Watching that Super Bowl last year, seeing him make tackles on special teams? We feel so proud.”

Although Christiansen wishes he could be playing this Sunday, he keeps a positive outlook on his situation.

“Honestly, I probably shouldn’t even be in the NFL given my background – I never anticipated it. To be candid, it wasn’t even a dream of mine. My sole aim after high school was to obtain a free college education. Then, when I arrived at West Point – my main focus was to become a soldier, and I was fully devoted to that,” he explained.

“This path wasn’t even on my radar. Then, when it did happen, I realized, ‘I’ve got to take a shot at this opportunity, as it’s quite rare.’ I feel immensely grateful and lucky to have this chance – and the possibility of winning three in a row.”

“It’s fantastic.”

So is the sparkling recruiting opportunity Monken can present with Super Bowl 59 as a platform.

“Having players on rosters – especially on both (Super Bowl) teams,” he said, “adds tremendous credibility when trying to convince recruits, ‘Yes, you can achieve this from here.’”