By Rachel Terrill, Player Engagement Insider
As the Denver Broncos prepared to play in Super Bowl 50, former Broncos center, Steve Vallos, reflected on his Super Bowl memories as he prepared to present a commemorative Wilson Golden Football to his alma mater, Boardman High School in Boardman, Ohio.
In the coming month, Vallos and Super Bowl Champion, quarterback Bernie Kosar (Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins), a fellow Boardman High School alum, will present the commemorative Golden Football to the school. The ceremony will honor the school as an official member of The Super Bowl High School Honor Roll.
Vallos played in Super Bowl XLVIII with the Broncos when they lost to the Seattle Seahawks.“There is no bigger stage than the Super Bowl,” Vallos said. “It was amazing. Being a part of the NFL at that level was something I will never forget.”
With the Broncos hitting the Super Bowl field again, Vallos wished them well. “Of course I am cheering for them. The Broncos are a great organization and I still have close friends on the team. I love those guys,” he said.
And of course, he still carries those same emotions for Boardman high school.
“I am so excited to help present the Super Bowl 50 Golden Football to my high school,” Vallos said. “I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without the support of my high school coaches, teachers, and those from my hometown. Deep down, we’re all just kids who were fortunate enough to grow up to live our dreams of playing in the NFL. To play in the Super Bowl with the Broncos was really a dream come true.
Vallos was a standout player at Boardman High School where he earned All State Honors. After high school, Vallos was a four-year starter on the offensive line at Wake Forest University.
Upon graduating from Wake Forest University, Vallos was drafted in the seventh round by the Seattle Seahawks, “Just being drafted was awesome. I fought my way up from the practice squad and competed every season for a spot on a roster,” Vallos said. “It taught me that great things don’t come easily – but playing in the NFL was a dream that I wasn’t going to let slip away without a fight.”
The fight paid off for Vallos who played in Super Bowl XLVIII as the final game of his seven-year NFL career, during which, in addition to the Seahawks and Broncos, he also spent time with the Cleveland Browns.
Following his NFL career, Vallos returned to Wake Forest where he accepted a job as the Regional Director of Development.
“The NFL opened so many doors for me. What I learned as a part of an NFL team continues to serve as the foundation for my professional life today,” Vallos said.
Asked his plans for Super Bowl weekend, Vallos said, “I will be with my wife and our children. I am excited to watch the game. Now, I’m just a fan cheering for the friends and the team I love