A closer look at MLB players who appeared in the Super Bowl

While Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson are the most recognizable two-way players in recent memory, 67 people have appeared in at least one MLB and one NFL game. 

Seven of those players — Red Badgro, Paddy Driscoll, Ace Parker, George Halas, Ernie Nevers, Jim Thorpe and Sanders — are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Greasy Neale (outfielder and legendary NFL coach) and Christy Mathewson (pitcher and fullback) were inducted into their respective Hall of Fame but played professional football before the formation of the NFL. Cal Hubbard is the only member of both, being inducted as a defensive tackle in 1963 and an umpire in 1976.

Of that group, only two former major leaguers have appeared in a Super Bowl. Several minor league players or former MLB draft picks, such as Tom Brady, John Elway, Dan Marino and John Lynch, found their way to the championship. Brady holds the record with seven Super Bowl rings, while Lynch made history as the first player to throw a pitch for the Marlins organization.

Tom Brown was the first former major leaguer to appear in a Super Bowl. Brown, a first baseman and outfielder, appeared in 61 games for the 1963 Washington Senators, posting a .147/.222/.207 batting line in his 128 plate appearances, hitting a home run and four doubles. 

Brown found more success as a defensive back for the Packers. He was a two-time Super Bowl champion, winning the title in the first two Super Bowls. In his six years in the NFL, he recorded 13 interceptions. His career ended due to a shoulder injury after one game with Washington in 1969.

Sanders is the more notable of the two. He spent parts of nine years in the majors as an outfielder, suiting up for four different teams. Sanders posted a lifetime .263/.319/.392 batting line in his 2,325 plate appearances, hitting 39 homers and 72 doubles while stealing 186 bases. He led the majors with 14 triples in 1992, although he played in just 97 games.

A Hall of Fame cornerback, Sanders spent 14 years in the NFL. He was named to the Pro Bowl eight times and was a six-time All-Pro. Sanders had 53 interceptions, the 24th most in NFL history, returning nine for touchdowns. He was named to the All 1990s Team and won a pair of Super Bowl rings.

Sanders may be the last major league player to appear in a Super Bowl. Drew Henson was the last player to appear in both leagues, and his final game was in 2008.