The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Jammer prepares for first Super Bowl
01.31.2014 | Football
Former Longhorn consensus All-American reaches the big game in his 12th NFL season
By Lauren Giudice, Texas Media Relations
Former Longhorn Quentin Jammer is enjoying and taking in this week more than most of the other Super Bowl-bound players. After 12 years in the NFL, and coming close in 2007, the Denver Broncos cornerback has finally made it to the big game.
Since he arrived in New York, the full impact of playing in the Super Bowl has hit the former All-American.
"It's been way bigger than I expected," Jammer said earlier this week. "I never went to a Super Bowl game, but I had a couple experiences when the Super Bowl was in San Diego and in Houston, so I went. You don't get to see the scope of it as a player who didn't make the Super Bowl. When you make it to the Super Bowl, you see just how big this game really is."
The San Diego Chargers, with the fifth overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft, selected Jammer and he played there for the first 11 years of his career.
Jammer was an extremely productive and durable player in San Diego. He played in at least 14 games in each of his 11 he played in 172 games with 161 starts. He finished his career in light blue and gold with 137 passes defended with 21 interceptions.
Jammer made five playoff appearances with San Diego, including a trip to the 2007 AFC Championship game, but the Chargers lost to the New England Patriots, 21-12, in their best chance at reaching the Super Bowl.
Though he was a team veteran and a consistent contributor, the Chargers did not bring him back for the 2013 season and he signed as a free agent with the Broncos. From 2002-12 he posted 710 tackles, which was sixth-best total among cornerbacks and ninth for all defensive backs over that span. He also posted at least 60 tackles in eight of his 11 years with the team.
Going from a starter in San Diego to a role player in Denver was difficult for Jammer, but he is ready to take advantage of the opportunity to finally play in a Super Bowl where he'll take the field with a pair of former Longhorns. Michael Huff is a safety for the Broncos and Earl Thomas plays safety for the Seattle Seahawks.
Fellow Bronco cornerback Champ Bailey, who has played in the NFL for 15 years, will also be appearing in his first Super Bowl. He and Jammer have similar emotions heading into Sunday.
"We're going to enjoy this as much as we can because we both know that you don't get this opportunity very often," Jammer said. "Young guys, they come into the league as rookies and (to) be a part of a great football team, you don't understand that it's hard to get here and if you do get here, if you get close, it could be a long time before you get close or get yourself back in it again."
Jammer's brother, current Longhorn cornerback Quandre Diggs, will attend the game. The last time Diggs was in New York was in 2002 for the NFL Draft. He is hoping Sunday will be another great day in New York for his family.
"It was kind of surreal because after 12 years and being with San Diego for 11 and getting to the AFC Championship one time and not completing it then, it was heart-warming for us and also for him because of the fact that he has been waiting for 12 years to get this opportunity," Diggs said. "It is a great feeling. I am excited to be able to share it with him and go up there and be by his side through the rest of the weekend and hope they go out and get the win."
It has been a momentous year for Jammer. In addition to finally playing in the Super Bowl, he was inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor in October.
Jammer was one of the all-time best cornerbacks in UT history. He was a consensus All-American in 2001 as a senior when he posted a then UT-record 24 pass breakups (still No. 2 on the school's single-season list) and helped the Longhorns post an 11-2 record, including a thrilling Holiday Bowl win. He still ranks second in school history with 57 career pass breakups playing from 1997-2001.
Jammer's successful NFL career is slowly coming to a close and he is enjoying what may be his last opportunity to win a Super Bowl. Jammer's wife and three sons, Kaden, Kaleb and Kasen, will be attending the game and he is excited to share his special day with them. He is also excited to enjoy, what he hopes will be, a victory over the Seahawks.
"I'm going to celebrate for the next week if we win," he said.
