First Johnnie to play in Superbowl Sunday

On Super Bowl Sunday, the CSB+SJU community should look for one of their own on the field.

Ben Bartch, who graduated from St. John’s in 2020, will make history as the first Johnnie football alumnus to play in the Super Bowl.

Bartch is currently an offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers. He became the 10th player in SJU program history to be selected in the National Football League’s draft.

Bartch was initially drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round (116th overall) in 2020. He appeared in 36 Johnnie football games and earned first-team All-American and MIAC lineman of the year honors as a senior in 2019. He started as a blocking tight end before transitioning to right tackle during his upperclassmen seasons.

SJU head coach Gary Fasching ‘81 coached Bartch and immediately noticed his athletic ability.

“He’s really athletic for a big man, and we originally saw that when we recruited him,” Fasching said in a Wednesday interview with the St. Cloud Times. “I think it was a combination of everything. He’s got really good feet, good hands; I would say maybe the huge advantage that he has is he’s a really smart, intelligent young man and he picks things up really quickly.”

According to the NCAA, Bartch is only one of six former DIII athletes currently playing in the NFL. He is the second former Division III student-athlete in the past four years to go to the Super Bowl.

“It’s an honor to represent not only my family, but also St. John’s,” Bartch said in an interview on Tuesday with Go Johnnies. “It’s pretty cool. It’s a great opportunity, and I feel very blessed and honored to have the opportunity to play in this game.”

Bartch will wear number 78 when he appears on Allegiant Field in Las Vegas–the same number he wore during his time in Clemen’s Stadium. Bartch is expected to be in uniform and active during the final game of the NFL season. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on CBS.