Why Darnell Stapleton keeps Super Bowl ring tucked away in front of recruits

Florida assistant offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton can still recall it all. 

The national anthem. 

The opening kickoff. 

The 100-yard interception return. 

The game-winning drive. 

“I remember everything,” Stapleton said of Super Bowl XLIII, where he was Pittsburgh’s starting right guard against Arizona. “Our first touchdown, I think we ran what we call duo here, 22 double.” 

The Steelers led 17–7 at halftime after James Harrison’s Super Bowl-record 100-yard interception return for a touchdown. However, the Cardinals scored 16 consecutive points in the fourth quarter and took their first lead of the game with 2:37 remaining. 

“I remember that last drive and me dapping up my right tackle Willie Colon and saying, ‘Hey, we’ve been here before. It’s time to respond and let’s put together one of the more epic drives in Super Bowl history.’ And being capped by Santonio making a great play,” Stapleton said. 

Santonio Holmes caught four passes for 73 yards on the game-winning drive, including an incredible 6-yard touchdown grab with 35 seconds left. Holmes finished with nine receptions for 131 yards in the 27-23 win and was named Super Bowl MVP.

“A lot of people don’t know we ran the same play the other way the play before and we just missed by inches. And then the next one became history,” Stapleton said. “So one of my fonder memories in my career as a player and as a coach.” 

Stapleton is in his first year in the SEC after coaching at the collegiate level for the past decade at Louisiana (2021), Sam Houston State (2017-20), Bucknell (2014-17), Pace (2014) and Rutgers (2013-14), his alma mater. 

He started all 25 games at center during his two years at Rutgers, earning recognition as a finalist for the Rimington Trophy as a senior. Stapleton anchored an offensive line that blocked for future NFL Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice.

Darnell Stapleton’s NFL journey

Despite his success in college, Stapleton was not selected in the 2007 NFL Draft and made the Steelers’ 53-man roster in his rookie season. 

“It was tough. It was a road that most don’t take,” he said. “Making a roster as an undrafted free agent is not the way most offensive linemen make it. Sitting my first year and being a backup to getting an opportunity to start my second year and end up finishing off in the Super Bowl. 

“It’s not one that most people, when they write the story, is how it goes. But I was very fortunate and blessed to take advantage of opportunities that were afforded to me. And when you give me an opportunity, I’m going to make it count.”

In two years, Stapleton went from UDFA to a starter in one of the best Super Bowl games in NFL history. Stapleton admits he will show his Super Bowl XLIII ring to players and recruits, but would rather not. 

“I do, but I try to keep it tucked away for the main purpose of I think that has no merit to what I’m going to do for that young man,” Stapleton said. “It gives me some credibility in their eyes. But at the end of the day, my playing career really has no effect on my coaching career. I’m a coach that happened to have played. I want those guys to have that type of success and I know what it takes, and they won’t get it by looking at my ring. 

“They’ll get it from me talking to them about how to work, how to how to lock in and be short-term goal-oriented, to stack up to get to those goals. So, it’s a little bit different from me. I may use it at some time in recruiting … but I know it’s not going to win us any games. Me building a relationship with the young men that I coach, and them trusting in me and having the understanding that I’m going to do everything possible put them in a position to win, that’s what’s important.” 

"That has no merit to what I'm going to do for that young man."@darnellru53 on showing off his Super Bowl ring. pic.twitter.com/MhsLhocEgN

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 13, 2022