Updated: September 15, 2025
Sure, each Super Bowl matchup pits the winner of the AFC against the winner of the NFC. Both teams use a football. There is a game MVP, and even a halftime show which is much more extravagant now than 50 years ago. But, one thing that each Super Bowl has in common involves a high school all-star game that has been played every year since 1957. The Big 33 Football Classic, as it is known, is an annual high school all-star game. It features the best players in the state of Pennsylvania. Over the course of the game’s history, it has also featured players from Maryland, Ohio, and Texas.
The Big 33 Football Classic started in 1957 with a simple goal: showcase the top high school talent from Pennsylvania. Over the years, it became a staple in high school football, drawing top players from surrounding states such as Maryland, Ohio, and Texas. Initially, the game served not only as a prestigious event for participants but also as an avenue for colleges to scout new talent.
[su_quote]Every single Super Bowl, from I through LI, has featured a player who once played in the Big 33 Football Classic. It all began with Green Bay Packers All-Pro DB Herb Adderley. Prior to being a member of the winners of the 1966 ‘World Championship Game,’ Adderley had been a high school star at Northeast HS in Philadelphia. He played in the inaugural Big 33 game in 1957. Adderley would begin a streak that remains intact today.[/su_quote]
Former Big 33 players and Super Bowl 51
In Februa
ry in Super Bowl 51, there was one former Big 33 player on the Atlanta Falcons roster keeping the streak alive. Last year’s NFL MVP
Matt Ryan, of course, was the Falcons starting quarterback and backing him up was veteran Matt Schaub. Prior to earning a scholarship to the University of Virginia, Schaub was a high school quarterback at West Chester East HS outside of Philadelphia. In 1999, he played for the Pennsylvania team that lost 21-14 to Ohio.
Playing in the Big 33 game has been a significant stepping stone for many athletes. It provides high school players with a bigger stage to display their talent, catching the eyes of college scouts. Many participants have taken advantage of this exposure, earning scholarships and opportunities at NCAA powerhouse schools. This game is often a turning point in the careers of young players.
In all the years in between, a number of Big 33 players have gone on to Hall of Fame careers in the NFL. After being the first Big 33 player to play in a Super Bowl, Adderley went on to play in a total of three Super Bowls and finished his career with 48 interceptions. In 1980, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Russ Grimm
Pennsylvania has been known to produce some very good offensive linemen. One of the best played in the 1977 Big 33 game. Russ Grimm was a standout at Southmoreland HS where, ironically, he played quarterback and linebacker. He went on to play college football at the University of Pittsburgh where he became an All-American center. He was drafted in third round of the 1981 NFL Draft and played 11 seasons for the Washington Redskins. Grimm won three Super Bowls as a player with the Redskins. Later on he won another as a coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2010, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Grimm is currently the offensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans.
Chris Doleman
Another standout lineman was Chris Doleman, who played in high school at William Penn in York, Pa. Doleman was a few years younger than Grimm and played in the 1980 Big 33 game. Like Grimm, Doleman played collegiately at Pitt and then enjoyed a 15-year NFL career. He recorded 150.5 career sacks, went to the Pro Bowl eight times and was a three-time All-Pro. He entered the Hall of Fame in 2012.
Notable Coaches Involved with Big 33
Several well-known coaches have participated in the Big 33 game, both in its formative years and recent times. Coaches from high schools across participating states have helped hone the skills of budding athletes. Some of these coaches have later achieved success at the college and professional levels, demonstrating the coaching caliber that the Big 33 attracts.
Joe Namath
Pennsylvania has long been known as the cradle of high school quarterbacks. Several well-known signal callers ended their high school careers playing in the Big 33 game. Hall of Famer Joe Namath, from Beaver Falls, Pa., played in the 1961 edition of the Big 33. He went on to play for Bear Bryant at Alabama, and then famously guaranteed a victory in Super Bowl III. Namath delivered as his New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts, 16-7.
Joe Montana (1974), Jim Kelly (1978), and Dan Marino (1979) all played high school football in western Pennsylvania. They all played in the Big 33 game, and all three played in Super Bowls. All three are also members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jeff Hostetler, who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, played in the 1979 Big 33 game along with Marino. More recently, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, representing Ohio, played in the 2001 game. Roethlisberger has won two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh.
The Big 33 game continues to be played each summer currently pitting the best high school players in Pennsylvania against their counterparts in Maryland. With many of the top high school players now enrolling early or declining an invitation for fear of injury, the game is not what it used to be. Still, it is one of the biggest high school all-star games in the country. You can bet it will produce a few more players that someday will play for the ultimate prize –
the Lombardi Trophy.
The diversity of states in the Big 33 has broadened its impact on American football. Alongside Pennsylvania, states like Texas and Ohio have contributed players to the game. This variety enhances the level of competition and showcases a wider range of talents, making it a true nationwide event. The inclusion of various states has cemented the game's status as an important event in high school football.
