The Muskingum University football program has two former standout student-athletes who are representing the Long Magenta Line in the National Football League (NFL) playoffs during this weekend's games. Josh Boyer ('00) and Darrell Hazell ('86) are both former Muskies who are each preparing their teams to win the biggest achievement in the NFL, the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy. Super Bowl LII will be taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 4, 2018.

Representing the American Football Conference (AFC) is Josh Boyer, who has been the cornerbacks coach for the past six seasons for the New England Patriots. Boyer started working for the Patriots in 2006 and started off as a coaching assistant for three years and then moved to coaching the defensive backs for the next three years. During his time in New England, Boyer has helped the defensive unit lead the NFL in statistical categories, such as, interceptions and turnover differential. Boyer has helped lead the Patriots to two Super Bowl wins (2015, 2017). New England will welcome the Tennessee Titans to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Saturday, January 13 at 8:15 p.m. The game will be televised on CBS.

While Boyer was at Muskingum, he as was a two-time Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference honoree in 1998 and 1999, while also earning All-Ohio Athletic Conference accolades as a defensive back for the Muskies in 1999. He graduated from Muskingum in 2000 with a degree in physical education and health.

Representing the National Football Conference (NFC) is Darrell Hazell, who is in his first season as a wide receiver coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Hazell served as an assistant and head coach for numerous college institutions before heading to Minnesota. His most recent head coaching stints were at Purdue University from 2013-2016 and at Kent State University from 2011-2012, where he was named the Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year. Minnesota will take on the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday, January 14 at 4:40 p.m. The game will be televised on FOX.

During his time at Muskingum, Hazell was a three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference award winner as a wide receiver. Hazell was inducted into the Muskingum University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993 and still holds numerous football records. He graduated from Muskingum in 1986 with a degree in speech communication/business.

The Minnesota Vikings will take on the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday, January 14 at 4:40 p.m. The game will be televised on FOX.

In order for the Patriots and Vikings to get to the Super Bowl, each team needs to win the Divisional Round this weekend and Conference Championship next weekend.